Cheapest way to monitor solar pv is working

Minrich

All i want is something visual to say whether the system is actual working or not . All the inverter switches etc are in the loft , meter is in a box on the landing . If i open the box and look inside is see the red generation meter light flashing .... I just don't want to keep getting some steps opening the box looking inside to check putting the steps away etc ....

Must be a simple sensor to fit with a light flashing ? Ebay ?

EricMears

Minrich wrote: »

All i want is something visual to say whether the system is actual working or not . All the inverter switches etc are in the loft , meter is in a box on the landing . If i open the box and look inside is see the red generation meter light flashing .... I just don't want to keep getting some steps opening the box looking inside to check putting the steps away etc ....

Must be a simple sensor to fit with a light flashing ? Ebay ?

How about a webcam in the attic ?

Martyn1981

Hiya Minrich. depends what you want to pay.

I've got Optismart readers on both of my TGM's.

These 'report' back to EnviR monitors in the living room.

I bought the monitors from E-bay as there are always some 'free' Eon energy monitors being flogged off by customers. Probably about £15 including P&P if you're patient. Look carefully at the pics to make sure it's an EnviR not an Envi.

On the website it says that the Optismarts aren't suitable for PV, but I've no idea why. It was added after I bought one, but I then got another, as did a friend. They seem to work fine, so not sure what the issue is.

Mart.

Minrich

I just want repeat the flashing light from the generation meter really

rosythfifer

Have a look at the geo monitors. They sit over the led and give a remote generation and total display. I also use a smappee monitor that gives both import and generation and can learn appliances. The cheaper geo monitor is a display only but as you move up the models you get remote apps for phone etc.

zeupater

Minrich wrote: »

All i want is something visual to say whether the system is actual working or not . All the inverter switches etc are in the loft , meter is in a box on the landing . If i open the box and look inside is see the red generation meter light flashing .... I just don't want to keep getting some steps opening the box looking inside to check putting the steps away etc ....

Must be a simple sensor to fit with a light flashing ? Ebay ?

Hi

First things first, what make/model inverter do you have & does it have wifi/Bluetooth/wired monitoring interface .... also, do you have a laptop and/or smartphone ??

Depending on the answer(s) to the above & whether you just want to occasionally check or become obsessive, you might have everything you need already ...

HTH
Z

Ectophile

How about cutting a hole in the door of the meter box, and sticking a bit of glass in, so you can see the meter flashing?

lstar337

Ectophile wrote: »

How about cutting a hole in the door of the meter box, and sticking a bit of glass in, so you can see the meter flashing?

Or using an LED light tube (like fibre optic) to redirect the light to a hole on the outside of the box?

jrfarrim

Slight thread hijack...

but does anyone know where is the cheapest place to buy the Geo Solo II, seems to be £150 on the sites I've found that sell it?

thanks

theboylard

If you are talking that level of money, then I'd suggest looking at smappee or open energy monitor?

pinnks

Mart,


Just been reading your posts about ENViRs and Optismart. I have the EOn monitor and had found it to be pretty useless with PV but dug it out to play with having come across your posts.


Am I right that to make sensible use of it you need then Opti? Without it is seems only to sense total current flow but not its direction.