Monitor PV string Power
Monitor PV string Power
Hi all,
Anyone have any suggestions for a off the shelf power meter for a solar panel string.
The hybrid inverter I have (Solax X1) doesn't record the solar power going through the inverter, only the total yield......
The solar panel string I want to monitor is approx. 1400Watts @ 120v/140v (7 panels).
String terminates into mc4 connectors (+ and - connectors) and then into the Solax inverter.
Many thanks
JC
Anyone have any suggestions for a off the shelf power meter for a solar panel string.
The hybrid inverter I have (Solax X1) doesn't record the solar power going through the inverter, only the total yield......
The solar panel string I want to monitor is approx. 1400Watts @ 120v/140v (7 panels).
String terminates into mc4 connectors (+ and - connectors) and then into the Solax inverter.
Many thanks
JC
16x 245W Pan Solar panels - 3.92kW - 2015
SMA SB 3600TL-21 inverter - 2015
Solar iBoost+ Controller - 2015
9x 2.4kWh Pylontech batts 21.6 kWh - 2022/24
Solax X1 SK_SU3000 Hybrid inverter - 2024
TBD
12x 260W REC Solar panels 3.12kW
1GB B4RN Internet
Re: Monitor PV string Power
This is at the very cheap end of the pool?JC_UK wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:59 pm Hi all,
Anyone have any suggestions for a off the shelf power meter for a solar panel string.
The hybrid inverter I have (Solax X1) doesn't record the solar power going through the inverter, only the total yield......
The solar panel string I want to monitor is approx. 1400Watts @ 120v/140v (7 panels).
String terminates into mc4 connectors (+ and - connectors) and then into the Solax inverter.
Many thanks
JC
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005 ... 71383086_1
Display is V & A but a wee conversion sheet from Amps to Kw's would let you know where you are at any moment. I didn't see a wiring diagram but for under a tenner its maybe worth a go?
You'd have to break into you DC lines. There are others where you can use a Hall sensor but they are aimed at battery banks. Unlikely to operate at the voltage you require but maybe worth a read on to inspire in the hunt?
https://uk.eco-worthy.com/products/200a ... d4QAvD_BwE
Although I think this is the one for you. Although you'd have to check that it displays momentary as well as cumulative.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004 ... ry_from%3A
Last edited by Joeboy on Tue Jun 11, 2024 8:56 am, edited 2 times in total.
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Re: Monitor PV string Power
Is there any shading on the string? Optimisers such as Tigo with a hub would do what you want, but is wasteful unless there are other advantages.
Re: Monitor PV string Power
I have a solax X1 hybrid here..... It's a different size but I was sure it can output string information. I'm probably getting confused but will check later either way.
Re: Monitor PV string Power
16x 245W Pan Solar panels - 3.92kW - 2015
SMA SB 3600TL-21 inverter - 2015
Solar iBoost+ Controller - 2015
9x 2.4kWh Pylontech batts 21.6 kWh - 2022/24
Solax X1 SK_SU3000 Hybrid inverter - 2024
TBD
12x 260W REC Solar panels 3.12kW
1GB B4RN Internet
Re: Monitor PV string Power
Oh I see, not realtime but historic.
May be worth reading the solax literature to see if it'll output data to a program via cable somehow, where it can be logged. Not something I have any knowledge though.
May be worth reading the solax literature to see if it'll output data to a program via cable somehow, where it can be logged. Not something I have any knowledge though.
Re: Monitor PV string Power
Hi again,
There is a lot of data presented in the Solax portal for the inverter:
Power: shows the power flowing through the attached solar (1400W) and the Batteries and total property power balance (house power - yield from the SMA inverter)
Green line above the zero line is the solar generation
Red line above the zero line is the inverter discharging from the attached batteries
Red line below the zero line is the inverter charging to the attached batteries
Blue line above the zero line is the inverter exporting to the Grid
Blue line below the zero line is the inverter importing to the Grid (purchasing power)
Not clear how the inverter calculates the yield.........
Real Time Display:
So I can see the power coming from the solar panel string in the Power display and the RT display, but they don't aggregate like the SMA portal does for the power generated.
I was hoping I could source a simple mc4 connected meter that would measure and report on the power ...........
Many thanks
JC
There is a lot of data presented in the Solax portal for the inverter:
Power: shows the power flowing through the attached solar (1400W) and the Batteries and total property power balance (house power - yield from the SMA inverter)
Green line above the zero line is the solar generation
Red line above the zero line is the inverter discharging from the attached batteries
Red line below the zero line is the inverter charging to the attached batteries
Blue line above the zero line is the inverter exporting to the Grid
Blue line below the zero line is the inverter importing to the Grid (purchasing power)
Not clear how the inverter calculates the yield.........
Real Time Display:
So I can see the power coming from the solar panel string in the Power display and the RT display, but they don't aggregate like the SMA portal does for the power generated.
I was hoping I could source a simple mc4 connected meter that would measure and report on the power ...........
Many thanks
JC
16x 245W Pan Solar panels - 3.92kW - 2015
SMA SB 3600TL-21 inverter - 2015
Solar iBoost+ Controller - 2015
9x 2.4kWh Pylontech batts 21.6 kWh - 2022/24
Solax X1 SK_SU3000 Hybrid inverter - 2024
TBD
12x 260W REC Solar panels 3.12kW
1GB B4RN Internet
Re: Monitor PV string Power
I have a Solax non-hybrid inverter, and the web portal shows a power graph for each day.
Is this what you are looking for?
I use https://solaxcloud.com/#/login for the login and it gets re-directed to the latest Solax login page automatically.
Is this what you are looking for?
I use https://solaxcloud.com/#/login for the login and it gets re-directed to the latest Solax login page automatically.
East Midlands
6x410W-East-Roof
10x410W-West-Roof
GivEnergy 5 kW Gen2 hybrid + 9.5 kWh battery
6x375W-South-Vertical
Solax 3.68 kW inverter
Zappi-Eddi
HI5-77 kWh
Ripple-PV-3kW/2900kWh-Wind-600W/1450kWh-UnderConstruction
6x410W-East-Roof
10x410W-West-Roof
GivEnergy 5 kW Gen2 hybrid + 9.5 kWh battery
6x375W-South-Vertical
Solax 3.68 kW inverter
Zappi-Eddi
HI5-77 kWh
Ripple-PV-3kW/2900kWh-Wind-600W/1450kWh-UnderConstruction
Re: Monitor PV string Power
Hi,
Yes, but on the hybrid inverter they combine the yield across the solar and batteries and Grid.....
Many thanks
John
Yes, but on the hybrid inverter they combine the yield across the solar and batteries and Grid.....
Many thanks
John
16x 245W Pan Solar panels - 3.92kW - 2015
SMA SB 3600TL-21 inverter - 2015
Solar iBoost+ Controller - 2015
9x 2.4kWh Pylontech batts 21.6 kWh - 2022/24
Solax X1 SK_SU3000 Hybrid inverter - 2024
TBD
12x 260W REC Solar panels 3.12kW
1GB B4RN Internet