What Is The Best Technology Available To Monitor Solar PV Arrays?

[GaryM]

So that replaces the current generation meter?

What's the full cost?

 

[easi al]

Yes this would replace current generation meter. EG replacing an Elster A100C which is common to many PV installers .

Meter cost approx = £90
Hub cost approx = £130
Handheld display ( not required but nice extra ) = £105

Depending on distance between items you may need a signal booster £35

 

[easi al]

Also , the cost to customer can be between 750 and 1250 . decent return

 

[screwdriver]

Also , the cost to customer can be between 750 and 1250 . decent return

Unfortunately that rules out the domestic market unless I am missing what the benefits to the customer are in comparison to price as that would knock down the return for the customer by quite a large margin (especially at the 21p rate) how would you pitch this to the customer? (not being pessimistic but from experience if you offer an extra bit of gear that reduces the customer's return on investment then it needs to clearly have some very good benefits to them otherwise they won't purchase it).

 

[aferguson]

Thanks Vegelen - the info on this thread is exactly what I was looking for, as my installer promised me a Geo monitor but never delivered.
I'm going to go with the EnviR system - just for the PV output, as it looks accurate and relatively cheap.
I'm assuming it will work on my generation meter LED (DMM), despite the Current Cost website saying they are not designed for microgeneration?

 

[Vegelen]

I'm assuming it will work on my generation meter LED (DMM), despite the Current Cost website saying they are not designed for microgeneration?

Current Costs: Optismart Meter Compatibility List:

Current Cost - Reducing your energy bills so you can live a greener life!

NB: Current Cost Netsmarts need a software update to work with solar generation meters.

At night solar systems turn off, at which point solar generation meter lights stay constantly on and dont flash.

Optismarts read this constantly on light as constant generation, until they have

a software update installed on them, which accounts for this behaviour.

Netsmarts require their software to be updated for this "solar generation meter scenario"

to mitigate this constantly on light, to ignore readings attained when no power is being

created.

Before you buy their products, ask them if they will work with your respective generation meter.

Also consider the location of your generation meter.

Optismart transmitters have to be a reasonable distance from the EnviR for this system to work.

If your house is very large, with thick walls or you use this system to monitor an external

generation meter, the transmitter may not be powerful enough to transmit to your EnviR.

Occasionally the Netsmarts crash and need rebooting.

Settings can be set on the PVOutput website to send an email to your email address when

no generation is being recorded, helping to inform you that your Netsmart may need

rebooting.

Current costs system is a cheap, easy method to record your solar systems generation,

without having a dedicated always on 24 hour PC.

Optismart>EnviR>Netsmart>Router

What it is not is a "failsafe" highly reliable monitoring solution purposely designed

for your manufacturers inverter - Such solutions come at a far higher price.

Current Costs system is inexpensive and fairly reliable at what it does, but does come

with limitations i.e Reliability, Transmission Distance etc.

Current Cost are exceptional at dispatching orders quickly, but very slow and poor at

supporting customers when things go wrong.

This may be because they are a small company.