Real time monitoring of PV system

[fiesata]

I have a PV system which was installed for free so am very greateful to have it

The only problem is I have no way of monitoring output in real time so can only guess what the output of the solsr system is which doesn't help us use the sytem efficiently

I have contated the installers on numerous occasions and offered to pay for a monitor but they have so far been unhelpful

It is a 2.5 Kw system with a Fronius IG30inverter

The meter is Landis GYR+ E470 with LED

Can anyone advise of a suitable way to monitor this system in real time please

Many Thanks

Paul

 

[GaryM]

A Geo Solo PV monitor is an option. I have one myself and find it to be very good.

 

[Earthstore]

The starting point would be someting like an Owl meter, not very technical, and not totally acurate, that said they will give you a good idea of output and good value at about £40.

I hope this helps

 

[fiesata]

The starting point would be someting like an Owl meter, not very technical, and not totally acurate, that said they will give you a good idea of output and good value at about £40.

I hope this helps

Thanks for the replies

I tried an Owl meter and connected it around the cable from the inverter but no output recognised was I doing someting wrong?

A Geo Solo PV monitor is an option. I have one myself and find it to be very good.

I saw these are they available for any less than the £150 or so I've seen them advertised for, this may be the best option I canasee the moths flying out of my wallet already

Found this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Geo-MINIM..._Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item3f1366730f

Does anyone know if this would work?

 

[Earthstore]

An Owl meter needs to be connected to the live only, so the live needs to be seperated from the neutral, so if you clamped it around the 3 core AC cable from the inverter that would be why you had no reading..

 

[fiesata]

Thanks Earthstore I wondered why it wouldn't work

Obviously I can't go removing the outer sleeve so it looks like the GEO - will this work with the meter I have (above)

 

[Earthstore]

It should be OK as long as that meter has an LED that flashes when your system is producing, ( I believe yours does ).

Hope this helps.

 

[SibertSolar]

The L&G E470 meter is primarily intended to be a single-phase Smart meter so it may be that your installer has fitted one with the integrated GSM modem and SIM card. Now, if they have, they are likely to have their own remote monitoring service managed by MeterOnline (data logging/viewing website) which allows the installer to monitor all their installed Smart meters BUT normally only allows the home-owner to log in and access generation data for their specific installation/meter.

If it's a rent-a-roof arrangement then perhaps the meter doesn't actually belong to you but it might be worth your while calling MeterOnline and giving them the serial number of the meter and asking them if you can log-in to view it......failing that, ask your installer if you can have permission to log-in and view the data. Can't see why they would refuse, you wont have access to anyone else's meter...

And yes, the E470 has 2 optical LEDs, which tends to be a better set-up for getting the GEO Solo PV units to actually read from the flashing LEDs. I've heard that meters with single LEDs can be a complete pain to get the GEO units working with.....apparently...

 

[fiesata]

The L&G E470 meter is primarily intended to be a single-phase Smart meter so it may be that your installer has fitted one with the integrated GSM modem and SIM card. Now, if they have, they are likely to have their own remote monitoring service managed by MeterOnline (data logging/viewing website) which allows the installer to monitor all their installed Smart meters BUT normally only allows the home-owner to log in and access generation data for their specific installation/meter.

If it's a rent-a-roof arrangement then perhaps the meter doesn't actually belong to you but it might be worth your while calling MeterOnline and giving them the serial number of the meter and asking them if you can log-in to view it......failing that, ask your installer if you can have permission to log-in and view the data. Can't see why they would refuse, you wont have access to anyone else's meter...

And yes, the E470 has 2 optical LEDs, which tends to be a better set-up for getting the GEO Solo PV units to actually read from the flashing LEDs. I've heard that meters with single LEDs can be a complete pain to get the GEO units working with.....apparently...

Thanks for the replies - it is a 'rent a roof' arrangement I assumed the solar company must have some way of monitoring the system

When you say the serial number of the meter is that the Landis meter? Mine only has one LED the other one hasn't been fitted

I will try Meter online to see if they can help

 

[puddy]

Have a look at the solar-log system its not cheap but should give a real-time display of how much your system is generating/doing. It will work with most inverters

 

[fiesata]

Have a look at the solar-log system its not cheap but should give a real-time display of how much your system is generating/doing. It will work with most inverters

Thanks for the reply


I have had a look on Google seems like the sort of thing I need

My questions are:- what sort of priice would I be looking at for a system to work with a Fronius Inverter and would I be able to connect the system myself the web mentions a RS485 interface what is this? There seem to be a lot of different options for thi s interface

Thanks

Paul

 

[mdovey]

I presume you've found the installation manual at http://www.solar-log.com/index.php?eID=tx_mm_bccmsbase_zip&id=7118697294f4023e33b60f

It looks as if you need to fit a RS485 card to the Fronius if you don't have it already - something like this: Fronius COM Card Retrofit IG - Saving Energy Online but I'd suggest you check compatibility with your particular inverter before buying. For the solar log itself you can try here: Solar Log 200 Solar Monitoring System - Saving Energy Online (for the 200); Solar Log 500 Solar Monitoring System - Saving Energy Online (for the 500); Solar Log 1000 Solar Monitoring System - Saving Energy Online (for the 1000). You don't need the bluetooth models (those are for connecting to SMA bluetooth enabled inverters).

You'll find other suppliers if you google, but th will give you a rough ball park as to cost.

 

[fiesata]

I presume you've found the installation manual at http://www.solar-log.com/index.php?eID=tx_mm_bccmsbase_zip&id=7118697294f4023e33b60f

It looks as if you need to fit a RS485 card to the Fronius if you don't have it already - something like this: Fronius COM Card Retrofit IG - Saving Energy Online but I'd suggest you check compatibility with your particular inverter before buying. For the solar log itself you can try here: Solar Log 200 Solar Monitoring System - Saving Energy Online (for the 200); Solar Log 500 Solar Monitoring System - Saving Energy Online (for the 500); Solar Log 1000 Solar Monitoring System - Saving Energy Online (for the 1000). You don't need the bluetooth models (those are for connecting to SMA bluetooth enabled inverters).

You'll find other suppliers if you google, but th will give you a rough ball park as to cost.

Great reply, thanks for the links I will look into these

Thanks for your help

 

[mdovey]

P.S. just a few caveats. The solar log would need to be physically wired to the inverter, and it requires to be plugged into a power socket. This may be an issue is the inverter is in the loft - in such a case you would either need to have a power socket fitted in the loft, run the communication cable through the ceiling into the room which the solar log would be (also you'd need to check the maximum length for the communication cable).

Secondly, somewhat obvious but important, you must isolate both the DC and AC inputs to the inverter before fitting any retrofit RS485 card or cabling in the solar log.

 

[puddy]

You dont need to run cables through the ceiling because some models are is wi-f like mine. Solar-log provide cross over cables for the fronius com card they will get the correct one for you. But as you say you do need a power socket mine cost £60