Monitoring and control
How to check and monitor your installation?
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Based on the invoice from the grid operator (Billing is usally done once a year; a prolongated breakdown of the installation is not recognized in time and can result in substantial loss of profits!)
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Through regular documentation from meter reading
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Over the display of the inverter, if this is easily accessible
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Using a monitoring system which allows to track production of energy, change inverter parameters online and respond immediately to a system failure
Each manufacturer of inverters offers his own monitoring system; there are also independent monitoring systems available. Following overview shows systems which we have installed already:
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Simplest and most cost-effective visualization & monitoring by means of radio and Bluetooth connectivity:
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Fronius Personal Display SMA Sunny Beam
Several inverters and the entire system performance may be easily monitored from your living room. Depending on the device, current values of the inverters are displayed or general values are recorded over a short period of time. System failures or warnings are signalized on the display and/or accoustically.
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Monitoring locally
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Fronius Datalogger Box SMA Sunny Boy Control (no longer produced)
The inverters communicate via cable/bluetooth with the datalogger, which stores their values, transforms them with a software for visualization and allows a further and conveniently processing with a PC. Datalogger and PC are connected via cable, Bluetooth or with a modem (analog, ISDN, Ethernet or GSM). A display on the datalogger enables a reading of the values without a PC; a built-in modem allows the transmission of a warning text message at failures. Problems are signaled when external alarm devices (siren, warning light) are connected. Acting as an interface between the inverter and the PC, inverter parameters may be changed and latest software updates installed via the datalogger.
- Monitoring locally and remotely over the Internet
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Fronius Datalogger WEB SMA Sunny WEBBOX Meteocontrol/IBC SolControl
In addition to the functions of local control, the datalogger works as a separate small web server converting data automatically in a Web page; simultaneously accessible by multiple users independently of the operating system. Upon request, the datalogger sends the collected data automatically to an Internet platform (Fronius SolarWeb, Sunny Portal, IBC SolPortal,...). Information regarding plant operation and archived values are thus available in an easy to read manner at any location in the world, thanks to the Inernet.
Stored data can be transfered directly via Bluetooth or with an USB stick from modern inverters to a Laptop. These data must be processed still later.
Information and examples of monitoring systems are available over:
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Fronius: System monitoring and acces to the Sample system
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SMA: Monitoring systems and Example-Plants (Switch language to English or US-English)
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IBC: Monitoring systems ; access to the Demo system: Login as ibc_gast_eng)
Monitoring may also be integrated in a smart building.
Further monitoring systems are available on request.