Solar Monitoring

[peteandvanessa]

Was looking at different ways to monitor my PV Solar system. I have a 4.29KW system that uses the Solar Edge monitoring Portal that only gives me the PV Solar output numbers. I didn't have any way to monitor the system other than the Solar Edge portal (which didn't give me any data on self consumption versus the PV Solar output, versus building loads).

Fast forward to this weekend, where I installed a solution from a start up company that my daughter works at. We installed Current Transformers on the main L1 and L2 cables coming into the house from PGE. Then also installed Current Transformers on the PV Sollar Array where it comes into the main breaker panel. These current transformers then connect to a small web enabled box that's connected to my WIFI access point in the house. I can now see the power being generated by my Panels (marked in Yellow), and the Building load (marked in Green) and also the Grid power (Marked in purple as either Import or Export numbers).

The data is provided to both a web portal interface and also to Mobile phones (Android and iPhones), the data is reported every second in real time, but you can look back at historical time periods too.
Still working on getting the export of the actual real numbers from the web interface so that you can export the data to a spreadsheet. But it's looking good so far. The data is accurate to 1%. The first pic is the current data as I type this message. The second pic is the data from yesterday's numbers.

[ButchDeal]

You could have just added the consumption monitor to your solaredge inverter to get the same data integrated with your module level monitoring.

[sensij]

You could have just added the consumption monitor to your solaredge inverter to get the same data integrated with your module level monitoring.

The same data in aggregate, perhaps, but certainly not reported by the second. The system probably costs much more than I'd like to pay, but it looks nice.

[peteandvanessa]

You could have just added the consumption monitor to your solaredge inverter to get the same data integrated with your module level monitoring.

I actually looked at that, but the hardware was going to cost around $300 to buy the Solaredge add on and about $200 to get wired in (unless I did it myself). The hardware and s/w for the unit I'm using is essentially free to me because I'm testing it at home and providing feedback to the company who provided it to me.

[SunEagle]

I believe that TED makes a pretty good power meter system using their CT's and control system for about $600 that will measure both home usage as well as pv system production. The problem in the past is getting that data to a cloud service to store it and provide a display that is easy to understand what is going on.

There are commercial type systems that will do the same thing but they start to fall into the $5000 cost level.

[adoublee]

There are commercial type systems that will do the same thing but they start to fall into the $5000 cost level.

eGauge is much more reasonable than that with many communication options and relatively high data granularity, but they have not incorporated energy storage into their display like JLM has.

[SunEagle]

eGauge is much more reasonable than that with many communication options and relatively high data granularity, but they have not incorporated energy storage into their display like JLM has.

I have seen the eGauge equipment but have not heard much about how accurately it performs compared to other systems. I am hoping that more quality home power monitoring systems become available.

I had equipment made by Blue Line which stored my electrical usage data on a website. Unfortunately all of the websites that would work with Blue Line equipment have closed up so I will be looking into getting new stuff soon.

[sensij]

eGauge is much more reasonable than that with many communication options and relatively high data granularity, but they have not incorporated energy storage into their display like JLM has.

eGauge is a nice way to handle a high channel count, but be aware that the metal frame around the ethernet jack is not isolated (at least in the 3xxx series) and *will* arc if installation safety requirements outlined in the manual are not followed.

[peteandvanessa]

I "THINK" the JLM solution I'm using is about $300 (I'll have to check with them), not sure they are set up to sell to consumers at this point (I'll have to check that with them as well). It does provide a reasonable solution for monitoring my solar set up, but still working with them on output to spreadsheets and getting the correct billing/ cost data on the reporting. It does integrate with their battery back up solutions as well (Although I'm not utilizing the battery reporting function in my set up since I have no batteries in my set up. The accuracy of the data is very good and they claim 1% or less. This does seem to match with what the PGE meter is reporting in real time. The data from the JLM solution just reports in their cloud portal which is where the screen shots come from that I uploaded above.

[adoublee]

I "THINK" the JLM solution I'm using is about $300 (I'll have to check with them)

There is the issue of subscription costs as well...

[Truenorth]

I purchased a 'Sense' monitor to review my usage as well as my solar generation. It was easy to install, shows real time data plus daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly results. Cost is $349 with no subscriptions. Connects to my wifi so can access data on my phone from anywhere.

[Sunburner]

Truenorth, does your Sense do a good job of "sensing" individual loads? I have looked at numerous monitors and it looks to be one of the simpler ones for device level monitoring but I've heard it takes some time to accurately discriminate among various loads, especially low wattage ones.

SMA make the Sunny Home Manager 2.0 for monitoring pv output, grid feed-in and total consumption and also can link with wifi smart plugs for various appliances for device-level monitoring and control, but unfortunately it's not available in the US yet. And it costs ~$700 plus smart plugs.

[Truenorth]

Sunburner, it recognizes many loads i.e.; microwave, freezer, water pump etc. (lights and similar type loads show up but are more difficult to directly label) but I only recently have taken the time to label the loads as they show up on my app. As an example I have a septic ejector pump right next to a basement sump pump and I waited until each one turned on individually so I could label them in the app so now when each one turns on it tells me which one. I could get more scientific some day to get everything labeled but my main interest was to have a method to make sure my utility is reading correctly and also to work on reducing energy usage. My wife loves it now when I text her from work asking why she is using the dryer during off peak solar times (only half in jest!). I purchased the SolarEdge monitoring system but have been too busy to get it installed since I have to run cat5 out to my barn etc etc. The Sense takes like 30 minutes to install.

Truenorth

[AzRoute66]

Truenorth ,

1. How long have you been using your Sense gizmo?

2. I see the 'solar' option utilizes a separate pair of CT sensors. Do you think they could be 'retasked' to monitor individual circuits in the service panel? It would be OK with me if it still showed it as 'solar', but I would know it was on the living room breaker...

3. My dishwasher and washing machine have several modes, that multiply. For instance, the dishwasher has six 'main modes' (Normal, Pots and Pans, China, etc.) each of which can be modified by three options (Heated Dry, Hot Wash, and Sani-Wash) which is something like 6 x 8 = 48 possible configurations. Obviously we don't use all of those, and changing them for us is rare, except she will always go Heated Dry, and I try to remember to turn that off @ 230 Wh... At any rate, the question: How do you think Sense would handle that? I mean, I figure it would initially classify them as different devices (maybe not), but after that point can you do anything more sophisticated than just 'naming them' DW1, DW2, DW3, etc.?

[Truenorth]

Rout66,

I have had my monitor for around 8 months. I'm not sure you would need to use the CT's as you asked (although I don't see why that wouldn't work) because Sense is supposed to 'hear' every electric device fed from your panel. Sense says that every device in your home gives off its own electric 'voice' and their software is constantly learning how to differentiate (my monitor is connected with Sense laboratories via my wifi...and yes I have a dedicated router just for Sense so they can't access my other computers etc) what each signal is from. As far as your question 3, Sense has a feature that is supposed to allow you to be able to merge the signal from two devices say a dryer that has a motor and a heater. Again, I'm no expert on this monitor (maybe this winter when things slow down I will get some time!). I have been just happy to be able to see my solar production and usage on a real time basis for now. Below are some screen shots (hope they are legible) from my app. The yellow is solar production and red is consumption. Notice the shading I'm seeing in the afternoon on my solar panels from some trees near by system...looks like I'll be cutting them down soon!


Sense 2.jpg
[IMG]file:///C:/Users/briutta/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/Users/briutta/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png[/IMG]
Sense 1.png