Solar edge monitoring

1animal1

As per my other thread, I am considering an Edge system and have a few questions regarding monitoring.

I understand that it is a web based system that will allow me access via the laptop or an app - my main question is around appliance monitoring, will i be able to accurately tell what an appliance is using once switched on or will i need a further monitoring system in line? such as the Owl system....

Will i be able to simply switch my app on for my quarterly reading? or will i have to view the inverter for this?

I plan to incorporate an iboost - will this manipulate the readings in any way?

Anything else i need to consider?

Thanks

EricMears

1animal1 wrote: »

Will i be able to simply switch my app on for my quarterly reading? or will i have to view the inverter for this?

Neither !!


FIT manager expects you to use the Total Generation Meter. Regardless of how inaccurate they may be, they'll have a sticky label to say that they're 'approved'. It's a bit like "Rule 1: the referee is always right ; Rule 2: when ref is clearly wrong refer to rule 1"

pinnks

If you want to monitor individual appliances you would need something like the Smappee, though if you go for the immerSUN as opposed to the other diverters you can also get their myimmerSUN monitoring kit for about £99 which gives you an indication in near real time of generation, import/export, diverted and overall consumption. I don't think iBoost etch have anything similar but don't know for sure as I have the immerSUN kit.

You can use this to learn approx.. how much individual devices use throughout a use cycle but you can also do that with a £10 plug-in energy monitor...

GreenBo

I agree. I use Smappee for monitoring of my home, solar and down to appliance level. Really cool device, although don't expect it to be able to detect and measure every single appliance in your home it can't measure the smaller ones. I use PowerDiverter to switch on the immersion when I've got excess power. I would recommend both solutions. If you go with the Smappee I would buy some extra Comfort Plugs as they're pretty useful and cheap, at about £10 each. I'm ready for the winter as I've now got one ready to switch on an electric oil radiator if I get excess solar power too :j

Ectophile

EricMears wrote: »

Neither !!


FIT manager expects you to use the Total Generation Meter. Regardless of how inaccurate they may be, they'll have a sticky label to say that they're 'approved'. It's a bit like "Rule 1: the referee is always right ; Rule 2: when ref is clearly wrong refer to rule 1"

The Generation meter will be an industry-standard factory-calibrated meter, which will correctly measure kilowatt-hours regardless of the current mains voltage or whatever.

That's why you always have to use that meter.

michaels

Apparently the latest iBoost (which came out a few months after I had mine fitted) does have export monitoring capability.

Solar edge monitoring just tells you about generation. Unless you specify the add on wifi module then you need to connect via a lan cable and something like homeplugs.

1animal1

Thanks all, excellent info! I am so glad this site is here, there's so many things to get hung up on when ordering these systems.

I'm also intrigued that the wifi add on is in fact an add on to the Edge system - I would never have thought to confirm this. On reflection I took it for granted and a conversation with the proposed installer about wifi monitoring was slightly hesitant at first - that is probably why (taking away his margin).