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Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:09 pm
by ecogeorge
Can anyone recommend an energy monitoring system that will monitor grid use and solar production (happy to dedicate a circuit on CU) that can use wifi to view on phone .
I will not be installing a smart meter -i am capable of reading my own consumption.
Obviously money is an issue ............
George
Re: Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:34 pm
by Oldgreybeard
Does your inverter measure the grid power as well as the PV power?
I get most of the key data from our battery inverter now, as that has a CT on the PV inverter output and another one on the incoming grid supply. That is all it needs to provide grid power, grid current, PV power and PV current, plus supply voltage. It spits all this data out from an RS485/Modbus port, and it's pretty straightforward to use that data to provide a useful energy monitor display.
My first go at this was to connect a Raspberry Pi, via an RS485 to USB converter, to the inverter and use some free software on the Raspberry Pi that used Grafana to serve a web page that any device on our home WiFi network could display in a browser. This was fairly easy to set up, although the display proved to be a bit too techy for my wife to easily interpret. I went on to set up another Raspberry Pi with Home Assistant, and use that to build an easier to use energy monitor.
Another option is Open Energy Monitor, not as cheap if you buy the ready built system, but very good, with lots of monitoring possibilities:
https://openenergymonitor.org/
Re: Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:36 pm
by AGT
Have a look at Shelley, they do some CT based modules.
Re: Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:51 pm
by nowty
@ecogeorge, you got some solar now ?
How much you got ?
Re: Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:55 pm
by ecogeorge
Oldgreybeard wrote: ↑Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:34 pm
Does your inverter measure the grid power as well as the PV power?
I get most of the key data from our battery inverter now, as that has a CT on the PV inverter output and another one on the incoming grid supply. That is all it needs to provide grid power, grid current, PV power and PV current, plus supply voltage. It spits all this data out from an RS485/Modbus port, and it's pretty straightforward to use that data to provide a useful energy monitor display.
My first go at this was to connect a Raspberry Pi, via an RS485 to USB converter, to the inverter and use some free software on the Raspberry Pi that used Grafana to serve a web page that any device on our home WiFi network could display in a browser. This was fairly easy to set up, although the display proved to be a bit too techy for my wife to easily interpret. I went on to set up another Raspberry Pi with Home Assistant, and use that to build an easier to use energy monitor.
Another option is Open Energy Monitor, not as cheap if you buy the ready built system, but very good, with lots of monitoring possibilities:
https://openenergymonitor.org/
I have several panels all connected via different inverters (several Chinese micros and traditional string type) i guess current monitoring via clamp only viable option ..... happy to dedicate a circuit but soft fruit and techy converters are out of my intelligence...........
George
Re: Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:59 pm
by ecogeorge
nowty wrote: ↑Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:51 pm
@ecogeorge, you got some solar now ?
How much you got ?
Approx 2kw on shed -almost horizontal -2 inverters -soladin and Power one.
Got 1.2 kw vertical on house and shed -share a 600w chinese inverter -wired in parallel - never see sun at same time.
260w verticle on front of house - 300w chinese inverter.....
George
Re: Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 7:02 pm
by nowty
ecogeorge wrote: ↑Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:59 pm
nowty wrote: ↑Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:51 pm
@ecogeorge, you got some solar now ?
How much you got ?
Approx 2kw on shed -almost horizontal -2 inverters -soladin and Power one.
Got 1.2 kw vertical on house and shed -share a 600w chinese inverter -wired in parallel - never see sun at same time.
260w verticle on front of house - 300w chinese inverter.....
George
A pick 'n' mix eh,
, I'll put you down for an annual 1500 kWh.
Re: Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 7:06 pm
by ecogeorge
and another 9 x 260w panels not yet installed.......... next yr.
George
Re: Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 7:17 pm
by Joeboy
ecogeorge wrote: ↑Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:59 pm
nowty wrote: ↑Sun Nov 13, 2022 6:51 pm
@ecogeorge, you got some solar now ?
How much you got ?
Approx 2kw on shed -almost horizontal -2 inverters -soladin and Power one.
Got 1.2 kw vertical on house and shed -share a 600w chinese inverter -wired in parallel - never see sun at same time.
260w verticle on front of house - 300w chinese inverter.....
George
Much respect George,
Any photos? Liking the varied style catching it where ye can.
Re: Energy Monitoring
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 7:20 pm
by nowty
ecogeorge wrote: ↑Sun Nov 13, 2022 7:06 pm
and another 9 x 260w panels not yet installed.......... next yr.
George
Excellent.
Any photos? Liking the varied style catching it where ye can.