wireless connection from inverter to router

[halfmonkey]

I was wondering if anyone has successfully installed a solar system and was able to monitoring the system with a wireless connection from the router to the inverter? If so, how was it set up? This would be using either SMA or Sunpower inverters. So far, everything that I'm reading on SMA's website speaks to a hard wire from the inverter to the router and from there you can monitor the systems performance either on your computer or through an app for your cell phone. I've heard some installers speak of a method where they run the "signal" through the electrical lines and then feed it into a receiver where your router is with an Ethernet cable.

Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Volusiano]

I have an SMA Sunny Boy 4000TL and a Sunny Boy 7000. I bought a Sunny WebBox ($400) that is connected via Ethernet cable to the router, and has a Bluetooth connection to the SMA inverters. However, the installer couldn't get it to talk to my 4000TL and it turns out that the 4000TL is new and doesn't support the WebBox yet. So I ended up returning the WebBox to the installer. This is the only wireless option that I'm aware of at this point.

Because the WebBox is tied to the router via an Ethernet cable, if your router is too far from the inverters, Bluetooth won't reach either. So one option is to move the WebBox within Bluetooth range of the inverters, and run a long Ethernet cable to the router (defeats the purpose of going wireless).

Another option instead of running a long Ethernet cable router is to go with something like an Alfa Network HomePlug AV200M transmitter and receiver. Your WebBox will be located within Bluetooth range of the inverters and connected to the Ethernet port of the transmitter which is plugged into the wall. The receiver will plug into the wall near your router and be connected via an Ethernet cable to your router. In short, you use your house wiring to act as a long Ethernet cable that connects your WebBox to your router. This is the option you're talking about. I have this for my Blink EVSE charging station for my Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, because the wifi on the Blink EVSE couldn't reach my router reliably. Ecotality provided this Alfa box to me at no charge as part of their free Blink EVSE installation in my garage, so I have no idea how much this Alfa box costs.

A more elegant option is to buy a wifi range extender that has an Ethernet port for your router. Then put this range extender in between your router and the inverters. Hopefully that should close the Bluetooth gap between the inverters and the WebBox. You then plug the WebBox into your wifi range extender's Ethernet port.

As long as your SMA inverters support the WebBox then you're golden. I think the older transformer versions of the SMA inverters support the WebBox, but the newer TL versions don't. I don't think the WebBox would work with SunPower inverters though.

SMA also has a wired non-Bluetooth version of the WebBox where you connect via wires to the inverters on one end and do Ethernet connection (via hardwire or range extender or Alfa box) on the other end. It costs the same $400.

My installer told me that maybe within 6 months or so, SMA will come out with a wifi card option that can be plugged on to your SMA inverter's motherboard that will transmit the inverter(s)' data to the router onto the SMA website for storage. They said this wifi device will be cheaper than the $400 WebBox option. I think this is ultimately the right way for wireless connection between your inverter and the internet. So I decided to wait for this option to become available. You should still be able to get a 30% tax credit on this even if you purchase it later, I think.

[bobfromnj]

I was wondering if anyone has successfully installed a solar system and was able to monitoring the system with a wireless connection from the router to the inverter? If so, how was it set up? This would be using either SMA or Sunpower inverters. So far, everything that I'm reading on SMA's website speaks to a hard wire from the inverter to the router and from there you can monitor the systems performance either on your computer or through an app for your cell phone. I've heard some installers speak of a method where they run the "signal" through the electrical lines and then feed it into a receiver where your router is with an Ethernet cable.

Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.

At some point I decided to purchase the SMA Sunny Beam (a little extensive) and installed it myself. Basically it is a wireless Bluetooth device that gets connected inside the inverter. Has a little antenna that sticks out of the bottom of the inverter transmitting the data to a little desk top unit. Its really great. Besides your production data, you can download the excel files to your computer. It has about 9 different functions including all alarm signals. You can put it anywhere in the house. It even has its own little "solar panel" to keep the rechargeable batteries charged

[Ian S]

I've heard some installers speak of a method where they run the "signal" through the electrical lines and then feed it into a receiver where your router is with an Ethernet cable.

Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.

It's called a Powerline network adapter. There are a number on the market. It's what they used to connect my Sunpower inverter (via the Sunpower PV supervisor box) to my router. It works fine.