[RE-wrenches] Unshaded micro-inverter performance

Mon Jun 7 20:41:58 PDT 2010

Darryl,

I have a handful of eGauges installed in the field, including one at my
house (eGauge68 <http://egauge68.d.egauge.net/>). I can't speak on
comparison to TED, I haven't used it. Today I learned that you can use
eGauge with Google Power Meter, where Google imports the data and acts as
the interface, which would expand functionality/3rd party interaction even
more (although also significantly reduce the resolution from the native
interface). You can also daisy chain eGauge units together to have nearly
endless channel logging, in case 12 isn't enough. There are 3 voltage
inputs, so if you have three phases you use all three, but if you have a
split-phase system you could independently monitor a third voltage.

I really like the eGauge user interface, which is accessible either over the
web or via the local network (the eGauge unit itself is it's own data logger
and web server, it just needs a DHCP internet connection, or something like
that). I find their interface to be one of the most intuitive and easy to
follow, short of Enphase Enlighten. My customers all like it too, and some
use it religiously to track their energy usage and solar production. They
also like the remote access part; tracking energy use from anywhere is
usually pretty important to my customers who want to monitor usage (larger
homes, often secondary residences, so they need more than a local-only
display).

The company is extremely prompt at returning emails and phone calls, always
same day, usually within an hour. Like lots of smaller start-ups, the
support comes from the top; you get emails from the product developer
directly, David Mosberger. If he doesn't have an answer or his product lacks
some functionality, then he'll improve based on your feedback. Plus there
are no recurring fees for the monitoring service, a big plus.

I've used some Dent products from the PG&E Pacific Energy Center tool
rentals and agree with Marv, not the best interface, but you get plenty of
good data.

I'd be curious to hear what anyone else has experienced with eGuage, or if
someone has hands-on direct feedback when compared with a TED.

-Phil
Real Goods Solar

On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 2:17 PM, Darryl Thayer <daryl_solar at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Has anyone tried the EGauge ?  at www.eGauge.net
> It has more channels up to 12 current taps and 3 voltages?  and they said
> it has a lot more communication power than the TED and it appears they have
> some one answer the phone that knows something and can answer questions?
>
> DArryl
>
>
> --- On *Mon, 6/7/10, Andrew Truitt <atruitt at gmail.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Andrew Truitt <atruitt at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Unshaded micro-inverter performance
>
> To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Date: Monday, June 7, 2010, 4:09 PM
>
>
>
> Darryl - We use Locus Energy as our third-party, production + demand
> monitoring and we've been pretty happy with them.  Not always the easiest
> thing to install and make look good but it does work!  A little pricier than
> TED though.
>
>
> - Andrew
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 10:40 AM, Darryl Thayer <daryl_solar at yahoo.com<http://mc/compose?to=daryl_solar@yahoo.com>
> > wrote:
>
>> Hi I have such a set up but the monitoring would be the problem.  I think
>> I would want a thing like a TED that works.
>> Darryl
>>
>> --- On *Mon, 6/7/10, Andrew Truitt <atruitt at gmail.com<http://mc/compose?to=atruitt@gmail.com>
>> >* wrote:
>>
>>
>> From: Andrew Truitt <atruitt at gmail.com<http://mc/compose?to=atruitt@gmail.com>
>> >
>> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Unshaded micro-inverter performance
>> To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<http://mc/compose?to=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
>> >
>> Date: Monday, June 7, 2010, 9:29 AM
>>
>>
>>
>> Is anyone aware of a third-party report or study on the performance of
>> unshaded string inverter systems vs. unshaded micro-inverter systems?
>> Enphase claims a 5-25% increase, and uses a small-commercial SunEd
>> install<http://www.solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/content/content_lt.php?content.4376>as evidence, but I'd like to see something beyond a single performance
>> ratio.  It would be great to see something that incorporates multiple module
>> types and their tolerances for voltage and current.  Could make a good
>> SolarPro article...
>>
>>
>> Andrew Truitt
>> Standard Solar Inc.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion
>> to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor
>> safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could
>> ever use in just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"
>>
>> ~William McDonough
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> "Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion
> to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor
> safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could
> ever use in just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"
>
> ~William McDonough
>
>
> -----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
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