Energy monitor for solar

[begreen]

What monitoring systems are folks using for grid-tied solar production? Our electrician is recommending eGauge, which looks good, but seems expensive and it has many more channels than we need. I like it's online monitoring and graphing though. Basically, all we really want to monitor and graph are the mains and solar panels output. FWIW, the company tried TED and were very disappointed with it.

 

[Where2]

Personally, I just let my Enphase Envoy keep track of my PV output. I look at my Ted 1001 for daily or month-to-date consumption, or I go read my digital meter.

I've heard good reviews from people who use Brultech products, but you need to be a computer geek to get the ECM-1240 or the Green Eye Monitor (GEM) to post data to the web. Maybe I'll spring for a GEM on my next install.

 

[jebatty]

I have Aurora microinverters. The Aurora microinverter website collects data on total output with a reading every 15 minutes. The website also shows the curve for the day. This can be downloaded in a csv text file which can be read into a spreadsheet, although I have a separate graphing program which I use on occasion. And the website similarly provides 7 day, 30 day, 12 month, week to date, month to date, and year to date csv data and charts, as well as lifetime output. All of this data can be viewed and downloaded for past periods as well. The website then also shows all the panels with the output of each panel as of the last reading.

In addition, I can visually see instantaneous output by panel over an ethernet connection to my computer. This output also includes total array output since installation, CO2 avoided, and the status of each panel. There have been very uncommon error reports on a panel, and these have been easily cleared with a reset. The errors have related mostly to the grid being outside of the parameters (I remember one occasion grid voltage was too high), or a communication error with a panel. Wifi is available to do this as well, but my panels are too far away for a wifi connection.

 

[Circus]

I fail to see the need for offsite monitoring. I don't believe most of the companies will be around in a couple years (almost bought Helios but they're gone now). Is home monitoring possible?

 

[begreen]

We have the Aurora 4.2 and are adding capacity on the second channel. The Aurora does have a data port, but it would need to be connected wirelessly which I don't think they have as an option. The wireless would have to broadcast about 300 ft because the inverter and panels are field mounted on a rack.

Offsite monitoring is not a necessity, but it does help the electrical company that installed the system to remotely check on their installations and to quickly diagnose issues if they arise. I asked if therefore they would go half on the price of the eGauge but just got a chuckle.

 

[AK13]

I'm interested in the same thing. I have a Sunnyboy inverter. I'm looking into selling my SREC's and need to have remote monitoring available for an independent monitor to verify my production. I've asked the company who put in my system to weigh in on this but haven't heard back yet.

 

[jebatty]

My ground mount array is 280 feet from the house, the Aurora concentrator data device (CDD) is mounted at the array and allows for both wifi and ethernet. Given the distance, I used a direct ethernet connection to the router in the house. There is no direct data logging from the CDD, but it does provide real time monitoring of all of the panels, shows errors and faults(uncommon), and reports total kwh production. There may be software available to handle data logging from the CDD but I have not looked into that. The Aurora website collects and makes available the data for downloading.

As for verifying production, I also have a production meter installed at the main panel. The production meter reads 99.1% of the CDD production report, and I assume the difference is line loss and/or meter tolerance between the array and the production meter.