Monitoring solar installations: Difference between revisions
Brian Wilson (talk | contribs) |
Brian Wilson (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 47: | Line 47: | ||
[http://www.sma-america.com/ SMA] Sunny Boy | [http://www.sma-america.com/ SMA] Sunny Boy | ||
"Web Box" is a communications gateway RS485 <-> Ethernet for the Sunny Boy inverters. | "Web Box" is a communications gateway RS485 <-> Ethernet for the Sunny Boy inverters. The gateway can monitor up to 50 inverters. They have a small wireless board (called the Radio Piggyback) that can connect to an inverter and then transmit to a table top display called a Sunny Beam too. | ||
[http://www.xantrex.com/ Xantrex] Xanbus looks like RS485 or CANbus | [http://www.xantrex.com/ Xantrex] Xanbus looks like RS485 or CANbus | ||
Revision as of 01:23, 18 July 2006
Fat Spaniel system notes
Monitoring system design notes
Gateway
This is a hacked gateway router, it has 4 LAN ports + 1 WAN port + Wifi + serial. The 'hack' is that it can store data for at least 24 hours (1 week?) received from the sensors and then upload it.
Broadband = gateway is programmed to upload data hourly
Dialup only = gateway uses modem to upload data on next connect
No Internet = gateway uses modem to dial out daily
Communications
Serial
- Xanbus
- CAN
- RS485
- RS232
Ethernet
Wireless
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- Zigbee
Power line
- modem
- HomePNA
Inverters
"Auroras come standard with an integrated RS–485 port allowing monitoring of up to 31 inverters on a local PC using the free Aurora Communicator software. In addition, the indoor unit has an integrated RS-232 port for easy monitoring of a single inverter using a local Windows-compatible computer. Internet-based monitoring is also available and additional monitoring and communications options such as wireless, Ethernet and cell phone monitoring will be made available over time. Please contact Magnetek for the latest monitoring options."
Outback MATE and MATE2 system controllers have 9 pin RS232 connectors and use a proprietary protocol to talk to the systems.
Q. Do you have software for logging the performance data of the inverter?
A. The Command Center software that we currently have is sized properly for the PVP1100, PVP1800, and PVP2800-240. We have not updated the code for our newer models. We are currently developing a web based solution that will be compatible with the PV Powered and SunPower 2000, 2800XV, 3200, 4600, 5200, etc. The data monitoring will include a plug-in device for the RS232 port of the inverter that will store and send data via Ethernet cable (or wireless) to a web-based tracking system. We are in the Beta testing phase for the product and are planning on having a market release in June of 2006.
SMA Sunny Boy
"Web Box" is a communications gateway RS485 <-> Ethernet for the Sunny Boy inverters. The gateway can monitor up to 50 inverters. They have a small wireless board (called the Radio Piggyback) that can connect to an inverter and then transmit to a table top display called a Sunny Beam too.
Xantrex Xanbus looks like RS485 or CANbus with RJ45 connectors
