Renewables: "talking 'bout my generation"

Martyn1981

Martyn1981 wrote: »

we really like the induction hob, very fast, easy to clean. But why not try one out first by buying a single portable worktop hob. They go well with PV,

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

By this, do you mean they draw a constant current rather than using a thermostat, as most electric hobs do?

Hiya. Nothing that complicated, I just meant switching from gas to electric, as we did, and Silverwhistle is thinking of doing. Also people could do both - stick with a gas hob, but get a single or double portable induction hob if they wanted too, as they are quite cheap. Maybe an al fresco fondue for those more adventurous than I!

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

If it has the appropriate port you can use it as a PC monitor too, but probably only worth the messing around if you're still using a CRT.

Funny you should mention that. Wifey (the alpha geek in this household) wants a smart tv, so that her life can be given over even more to tapping away on the smart phone or tablet. Whereas I will use it for the purpose for which it was made ... X-box(ing).

To prevent going OT - lots of generation so far today, given the forecast was pretty mediocre.

[Edit: close of play resulted in 23.4kWhs & 4.19 Os. August ticking along on average so far, but nice week ahead, if the weather peeps aren't fibbing to me. M.]

Mart.

Kernel_Sanders

I got quite an unusual graph today

zeupater wrote: »

What are you attempting to do over the Bluetooth link ??

See post #14 on this thread Z
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4732158

Oscargrouch

tunnel wrote: »

be like looking at a postage stamp:D

My postage stamp forecast was telling me; "Good weather on its way".....

Martyn1981 wrote: »

[Edit: close of play resulted in 23.4kWhs & 4.19 Os. August ticking along on average so far, but nice week ahead, if the weather peeps aren't fibbing to me. M.]

Mart.

That should kick Eric into gear....

5.32 O's today, currently at -.42p for this 1/4 which ends on 22nd. of this month, than last year; using the new tariff as one does, of course....

Kernel_Sanders

Oscargrouch wrote: »

My postage stamp forecast was telling me; "Good weather on its way".....

He meant if he went back to his smaller TV then it would seem even smaller than he remembered it to be.

InVestor_2

19.5 kWh yesterday, already £55 in the bag for this month.

Quarterly payment looks cracking

Over 30% return after 20 months, good job I didn't listen to the idiots at the time saying it wasn't a good investment

legoman62

3.4 O's yesterday:D
FITS reading due in 1 week... should be around 1500kWH and a new record:T

zeupater

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I got quite an unusual graph today ...


See post #14 on this thread Z
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4732158

Hi

Okay, looks like you're probably unnecessarily complicating matters. You won't need the BS software for SunnyExplorer to talk to the inverter, just a Bluetooth driver - if it's showing as a device and has associated drivers it should work with SunnyExplorer.

SMA use a proprietary communications protocol for their products which is not released into the public arena, therefore, unless you have the technical ability to perform protocol analysis and write an appropriate interface -or- find a third party product which already has this in place you'll struggle ....

Some years ago I read a discussion on an Australian forum which described attempts to communicate with (SMA?) inverters via Bluetooth with incorrect protocols having screwed-up the inverter's generation graph ... I'm pretty sure that an inverter reset (powerdown/restart) was needed to clear the issue, but you must appreciate that this is a dim & distant memory of something posted by someone of unknown technical ability on an open forum ...

You'll also likely need a 100m range BT dongle to penetrate walls between the PC and the inverter, if not you'll be restricted to where a reliable link can be made/maintained.

HTH
Z

Kernel_Sanders

I'm at a loss, Z, as to your reason for switching back to this sub-forum to post a solution for a Techie Stuff thread!
I appreciate the time you have spent in that reply, but the software works fine when using my netbook with built-in bluetooth. I just want to be able to use it when on my PC too.

zeupater

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I'm at a loss, Z, as to your reason for switching back to this sub-forum to post a solution for a Techie Stuff thread!
I appreciate the time you have spent in that reply, but the software works fine when using my netbook with built-in bluetooth. I just want to be able to use it when on my PC too.

Hi

No problem, just trying to help from a comment made on this thread .... I don't frequent that board and don't currently intend to either .... Are you trying to connect directly from SunnyExplorer, BlueSoleil, or other means using the SMA protocol ?

I have connected to our SMA inverter and extracted data from multiple devices using BT from 4 different manufacturers utilising at least 8 operating systems ... one BT unit is a Mikomi/100m which was supplied & used with the BlueSoleil software suite for a while years back (8-10), this is likely similar to your unit (?) .... I have just connected that unit and am using it with SunnyExplorer on a W7 laptop at the moment & the only drivers currently being used are the 'Bluetooth Radio' and 'Bluetooth Enumerator', both provided by Micros**t, not the manufacturer .... This machine has multiple VMware test environments which can access the BT from various OSs, so I've just tested the Mikomi unit under Ubuntu with a third party SMA/BT protocol and that works too .... I could test it directly on a RPi, or RPi VM environment, but it would need a considerable time to load & configure a setup to link to the inverter, which isn't something which I'm planning to do at the moment ... ....

good luck !!

HTH
Z

silverwhistle

Thanks to all for the comments on induction hobs. Currrently cooking on a camping stove and just cycled into town for a new canister, so as a temporary solution a single one would be a good standby. Any recommendations as lots of the usual places seem out of stock.