Generic bluetooth PV generation monitor

Martyn1981

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

OK Martyn, it's just that it wasn't apparent to me that your monitor stored cumulative totals.

No probs, actually I was thinking about this, whilst watching the F1 race.

You may have a point, since there could be 2 things going on. One is the timed gap between the flashes, which as you say may vary slightly. Two, the cumulative total, but that could be a total of flashes, not flash-gaps, thus correcting any errors.

Hope that makes sense, after all, at the end of the day 8,000 flashes is 8kWh's, regardless of the gaps between them. So, yes, you may be right that as the generation peak goes up, and the flash-gap gets smaller, there may well be an accuracy issue. Hopefully, if there is, it's too small to worry about. But good catch regardless.

Mart.

PS. Bought the ENViR on E-bay, as the ENVi can only be tuned in to the Optismart as an appliance (channel 9) and thus doesn't record cumulative data. Luckily for me, Eon have given customers 10's of thousands of ENViR's and they go for about £10 + p&p if you're patient. M.

GaryMo_2

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Again, can't claim that all optical readers are 100% accurate, only have a sample size of 1, but looking good, till somebody spoils the party with a negative report.

As things currently stand, my generation meter is reading 300.65kWh and my Geo Solo PV is reading 290kWh.
So, the optical reader which connects to my Geo Solo PV is under reading by 3.54%. I'm quite surprised at that really.

My inverter is reading 300.83kWh which when compared to the TGM reading of 300.65kWh is now pretty accurate though I did apply a correction factor to the inverter to align it closer to the TGM. It wasn't too far out before I applied the correction factor though.

Kernel_Sanders

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Mine overreads by precisely 1%. I'm presuming the Elster is far more accurate than the Sunnyboy

Actually, Martyn, this is incorrect because I made the calculation a week after installation but didn't take into account that the Elster already had 0.4 on it, I presume through factory testing. This distorted the small generation total at that time, so I have now recalculated by deducting 0.4 kWh from the much larger total I now have and can tell you with some consequent accuracy that the Elster is overreading the Sunnyboy by only 0.26%.

sly_dog_jonah

Might I suggest that the nudeone reduce or remove the original scanned advert for the Solo PV?

Firstly, it messes up the formatting of the page, because it's so huge. Secondly, it's available cheaper from other suppliers (or at least was when I bought one in December).

You might want to replace it with links to the manufacturer's product page (which also has a datasheet), FAQ and manual.

Also the thread title needs updating, as this monitor doesn't use Bluetooth and will therefore not interface with other Bluetooth devices. It uses the zigbee wireless standard instead, which hopefully will lead to compatible products in future that could use the data to control devices depending on generation.

Although the display is wireless, it really needs to be connected permanently to the mains as it eats through AA batteries otherwise.

I've not had any issues with accuracy, but have had the odd occasion where lack of power (eg the display getting unplugged for significant periods) has resulted in some unrecorded generation. Also if the display occasionally fails to log the interval generation to the SD card, you'll see the intermediate period being averaged out when you upload the data to MyEnergy (it keeps track of the total generation, but can't cache the 15min readings for very long it seems without writing to SD card). I'm not sure why the writing to SD card occassionally goes wrong, but it tends to coincide with when I've removed the card briefly to upload the data to MyEnergy.

I'll dig out some of the sample photos and screenshots I've added to other threads.

KenS

Martyn1981 wrote: »

I've got an Optismart, paired with an ENViR monitor I bought on E-bay (one of the many free Eon monitors people are flogging off). Much cheaper, but you need to check that the meter is suitable. Go to Current Costs web-site. If the TGM displays a solid red light at any time, then the Optismart may get a 'little' confused!

Mart.

Hi all. I've been a lurker here for a number of months and have really learned a lot from all you wise MSEs. I had solar PV installed in early December 2011 and am quite pleased with it so far. The system is 14 Sharp NU250s with a Diehl Ako 3800S inverter. I'm looking to get a monitor that can read from the TGM. The Optismart would be my preference (the price seems good and it provides the information I think I would find useful). However, my TGM is a Landis & Gyr E110 which displays a solid red light when the system stops producing electricity. Does that mean the Optismart would not be suitable for my system? I note that their website states it is not suitable for PV/micro generation, although it seems some people here are using it with good results. If the Optismart would not be suitable for me, is the only alternative the Geo Solo or are their other options?

Many thanks in advance for all your advice!

Martyn1981

KenS wrote: »

Hi all. I've been a lurker here for a number of months and have really learned a lot from all you wise MSEs. I had solar PV installed in early December 2011 and am quite pleased with it so far. The system is 14 Sharp NU250s with a Diehl Ako 3800S inverter. I'm looking to get a monitor that can read from the TGM. The Optismart would be my preference (the price seems good and it provides the information I think I would find useful). However, my TGM is a Landis & Gyr E110 which displays a solid red light when the system stops producing electricity. Does that mean the Optismart would not be suitable for my system? I note that their website states it is not suitable for PV/micro generation, although it seems some people here are using it with good results. If the Optismart would not be suitable for me, is the only alternative the Geo Solo or are their other options?

Many thanks in advance for all your advice!

Hiya Ken, hope you're having PV fun.

My TGM is a L&G E110 too .... BUT, it doesn't display a solid red light when generation stops. Why they do, or don't, I'm not sure, but lots of other people have mentioned solid reds like yours, on various meter makes and models.

I got my optismart before Current Cost (CC) noticed the problem and added the PV warning. I'm not sure if the warning is/was more to with import meters, and lots of people finding their Opti's going mad trying to count flashes but instead seeing red (so to speak!).

I can only assume that if CC have concerns, and you have a solid red, then there probably will be a problem. I'd suggest e-mailing them just in case, they were very helpful when I asked about linking to an older ENVi model.

I'm happy to report that my Opti, ENVi & ENViR are all working well and talking to each other, but I'd be misleading you if I said I knew much more than that.

Mart.

PS. If you do ask CC, post an update on here to let us know what they say. M.

KenS

Thanks, Mart, for the swift reply. I have sent an email to Current Cost and will post here when I have their reply.

This PV can be quite addictive. I am always in better spirits when it is sunny outside, and now with PV even doubly so. Unfortunately, the weather today is not looking good. Still, I have already generated 345 kWh this month from a 3.5 kW system, so I am quite pleased!
:beer:

KenS

Martyn1981 wrote: »

I'd suggest e-mailing them just in case, they were very helpful when I asked about linking to an older ENVi model.

PS. If you do ask CC, post an update on here to let us know what they say. M.

I sent an email on Sunday and received a reply today (so very prompt response on their part). They confirmed that, because my TGM goes solid red when the system is not producing electricity, the Optismart is not compatible with my system.

Are there any alternatives other than the Geo Solo?

Chris1958

KenS wrote: »

I sent an email on Sunday and received a reply today (so very prompt response on their part). They confirmed that, because my TGM goes solid red when the system is not producing electricity, the Optismart is not compatible with my system.

Are there any alternatives other than the Geo Solo?

Optismart is now compatible. I use the clamp on Appliance 1 for total home demand. One Optismart linked to the main ENVIR display showing the Solar PV generation and One Optismart on Appliance 9 showing electric demand from the grid.

The E110 goes continuously red when there is a negative current flow. It will also alternate the text message "red"/"number of units used" if there has been sustained high negative current as it believes someone is trying to fiddle the meter!