PV monitoring Options.

[LeeH]

I'm looking at the OWL system but would like to know what is the current best hardware/software on the market?

Also, since the drives such as the Solax (which I'm considering) have an online system anyhow. Is a secondary system just 'nice to have' for the geek inside of me?

Thanks.

 

[Worcester]

All depends what they monitor.

You should really monitor generation, import, export, house usage and diverted (e.g Immerson/Apollo Gem) the simplest was the Immersun add-on by adding in one extra CT clamp and an internet bridge it did all of that, unfortunately it is not currently available. Maybe in the future it will appear again.

If you have a bit of geek in you, you could also do that with the open energy monitor running off a Raspberry Pi https://openenergymonitor.org/emon/ , - I've got both

 

[SibertSolar]

The best? SolarLog - https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Who-Leads-the-Residential-PV-Monitoring-Market

It's a subjective thing, and depends on your wants and perceived needs.

I am biased, but for good reason.


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[The Solar King]

Also have a look at Smappee:

Solar energy monitor - Smappee

If you prepared to spend the time setting up and 'training' can identify individual loads in a property.

 

[sgt_woulds]

My preference is the simpler the better.

With on-line monitoring you are beholden to the supplier or manufacturer maintaining the website and your access for 20 - 60 years. Not really likely is it?

In 16 years of PV installation I've seen online support lost for at least 10 different products.

That doesn't sound like a lot, but if you times it by the number of installation per year it is a lot of customers starting from scratch with zero paper record back-up.

Just my tuppence worth!

 

[Worcester]

For long term analysis : pvoutput.org

I feed mine direct from solaredge inveter and a small free vbasic programme running on my pc that uses sunny explorer to interrogate the SMA inverters.

You can also dowload the data from pvoutput.org

For short term / instantaneous results, openenergymonitor,org also updating to emoncms

Others think the sun shines from:
Owl
Eco eye smart pv (can also upload to pvoutput.org)

So if you want long term analysis, results and data downloads - anything that interfaces with pvoutput.org

it will also upload direct from sunny webbox - great for 3rd party analysis across multiple large commercial pv sites running sma

http://pvoutput.org/help.html#overview

and http://pvoutput.org/help.html#autoupload

[FONT=&amp]Auto Uploader[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]The Auto Uploader service is an online facility that automates live data uploads from multiple sources to PVOutput. The service is configured online and removes the need to run additional monitoring software on local hardware.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]It can be used in conjunction with the API for combining solar, consumption and temperature data from different sources into a single view.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]The following devices are supported by the Auto Uploader -[/FONT]

• AlertMe
• Eagle
• Efergy
• EKM Meter
• Enphase
• Flukso
• SolarEdge
• TED5000
• Wattvision
• Weather
• Webbox
• Xively

You just need to ftp a csv file to it, simples

 

[midsummerenergy]

You ask about the Owl. I had a go at comparing the Owl with some of the alternatives on the market the other day and produced a table of all the differences: It's here in case that helps you look at the options.

http://www.midsummerwholesale.co.uk/pdfs/compare-solar-pv-monitors.pdf

It is by no means comprehensive as there are many more monitors out there.

 

[sgt_woulds]

We (Chelsfield Solar) were given a stack of owl intuitions by Panasonic to monitor their systems for advertising purposes. (we were their first premium installers - apparently we fit more of their panels than anyone else).

My opinion is they are good when they are working, but an absolute arse to set up.

Back-up is via email response (they promise to get back within 48hours) No phone number.

If you have anything other than a bog standard meter, fuseboard, henly block, PV set up then installation can be 'interesting'.

Duel rate, multiple Cu's with parallel connections of PV to one board only will cause all sorts of headaches.

I haven't installed one for a year now - anyone know if they got better customer support?

Hey Midsummer, have you managed to get rid of all your Renesola bits yet?

 

[SibertSolar]

One missing off that list - SolarLog. Even though the range is geared towards commercial applications, the smaller SL300Meter variant has a built in kWh meter and multiple configurable CT inputs (supply and load) so, along with direct RS485 comms with over 100 brands of inverters, this means that not only can you accurately monitor generation, consumption, self-consumption and grid exchange (import/import), you can also implement smart control too,

Monitoring is all well and good but if the data is inaccurate or only giving the client part of the energy-flow story, then it's of no benefit. Self consumption is to be encouraged, and automated if at all possible, so a 360-degree overview of the property is a good start.

That's not even mentioning the post-installation benefits that the online portal provides, whether for the system owner, the installer or a party responsible for O&M.

It's horses for courses, true, and does depend on your and the client's requirements, but the value of such a relatively low cost solution is huge, whilst offering a scalable level of deployment,

Sorry for coming across as a big pitch, just trying to provide some insight into some of what SolarLog offers

PS: FTP export in csv format is also a feature, for a one-off license fee




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