SB monitoring problems, was: Monitoring PV for public education [RE-wrenche

Mon Sep 30 11:11:55 PDT 2002

William:

I am surprised to hear of the problems you are having.
I think I recall this system and I was somewhat concerned about the
distance between the pump service and the home. I wish you had contacted
me directly about this sooner so I could have proposed a solution.
We do have solutions that are available today but not SWR com.
I am sure we can work something out that will make your client happy.

In response to the US web issues we have created a new web site jut for
the US market.  The URL is www.sma-america.com.  I just tried it and had
no problem downloading documents.  Please try this site let me know if
you are still having downloading difficulties.       

If you have any questions, or if I can be of any further assistance,
please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,

John Berdner

SMA America, Inc.
20830 Red Dog Road
Grass Valley, CA  95945
530.273.4595 (voice)
530.274.7271 (fax) 

-----Original Message-----
From: William Miller [mailto:wrmiller at slonet.org] 
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 10:51 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: SB monitoring problems, was: Monitoring PV for public education
[RE-wrenches]

Pals:

Forget web casting data, I am still waiting to be able to monitor SBs
locally:

I have an elderly client with a Sunny Boy on a hill above their house.
The
power return is run on the well power feeder.  These folks have no way
of
knowing if their system is running.  The system was sold on the premise
that they would soon be able to use their PC  to monitor the system.
The
equipment to do that is still not available.  This means that I have to
visit the site every week to reassure them everything is working.  The
AC
fuse has blown twice.  Now the fuse holder is heat damaged and the
inverter
had to be replaced.  

These problems reinforce the need for me to spend all of this wasted
time.
I'm on the hook to monitor the system.  I can not install a KWH meter at
the house because we have no way of knowing the well consumption.  I'd
like
to ask if other installers are in the same or similar predicament for
lack
of this product.  The web site seems to indicate it is available, but
John
Berdner says it is not.

Also, I have had problems browsing the SMA website.   I've notified SMA
with a detailed description of the multiple problems, and at least I can
now view the pages.  My thanks to SMA.  I still can not download data
sheets.  I get the message, "Falscher Parameter."  Anyone else have this
problem?  

William Miller

At 09:01 AM 9/30/02 -0700, you wrote:
>Graham:
>
>We have lots of options for data monitoring and display (Some times I
>think too many).
>
>For a 6KW system the most basic would be a couple RS 485 cards in the
>inverters running directly to a PC with a RS 232 to RS 485 adaptor. The
>down side of this approach is that the PC must be running the Sunny
data
>software (free for download) in order to collect data.  If the PC is
>down, or not running Sunny data, then you are not storing the data.  
>
>For off line storage of the data you need Sunny Boy Control Classic
>(SBCC).  This will continuously monitor the inverter side of things but
>does not pick up the Wind speed, irradiance, Ambient temp, Module temp,
>etc. If you want to monitor the external sensors then go with the SBC
>Plus.  The Plus has all the Classic stuff plus an 8 analog and 8
digital
>channel data logger built in.  You should be able to find the plus for
<
>$2000 but you will still need sensors.  The sensors are a whole other
>can o worms (quality versus cost).  We are trying to develop a sensor
>package but it is taking longer than I had hoped.
>
>SMA DE has developed a Java web client but I have to admit I can't be
>much help supporting it.  I think you will need to find a high school
>level programmer ;-)  The guys in Germany are very good with Email if
>you can tolerate the day lag between question and answer.  Robert
>Broderick at SWTDI (works with John Wiles) is working on a kiosk type
>thing for use with the Plus.  Not up and running yet.
>
>Please contact me off list and I can help you with additional
>information.  
>
>Best Regards,
>
>John Berdner
>
>SMA America, Inc.
>20830 Red Dog Road
>Grass Valley, CA  95945
>530.273.4595 (voice)
>530.274.7271 (fax) 
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Graham Owen [mailto:graham at solarexpert.com] 
>Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 6:16 PM
>To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>Subject: RE: Monitoring PV for public education [RE-wrenches]
>
>Hey Guy's,
>
>The system that needs monitoring is only 6 kW and will be installed on
>an Integrated Waste Management building owned by a medium sized city.
>They have an educational center on site, with worms and composters,
>recycling kiosks, etc. The building is open to the public and school
>kids are frequently bussed in.  They want real-time monitoring on a CRT
>or equivalent and even a means for kids to shade or disorient they
array
>to watch the fluctuations.  This will be a fun job.  The city is more
>interested in the system monitoring capabilities than the energy
>contribution to their municipally owned grid.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Graham Owen
>GO Solar
>
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