[RE-wrenches] Remote monitoring for off-grid system

[Ray Walters]

First, Outback does have a solution: the Flexnet and Mate 3 stuff; 
Outback's stuff is  pricey though. They're also a mess to wire IMHO.
Here's 2 others to consider: Pentametric from Bogart Engineering, and 
Midnite Solar.
Midnite Solar's monitoring is free when you buy their controllers.  They 
already come with an Ethernet port too. (unlike Outback's)
ALso, Midnite has the new Gizmo Jr. which is a single wire shunt monitor 
connection, and they should have full State of Charge monitoring 
capability soon for it on their monitoring website: mymidnite.com  (also 
free).

The Pentametric  is my long time go to meter, and it has a full Ethernet 
setup, but they don't have a website like Mymidnite.com, so you have to 
access the Pentametric remotely through the local network.  That gets 
into static DNS addresses, etc.; all that IP stuff I'm not well versed at.
I've successfully used both monitoring systems.
Also, don't just look at daily production; for off grid, you need 
battery state of charge.

R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 12/5/2013 2:03 PM, Davis Terrell wrote:
>
> Hi Wrenches,
>
> I am evaluating remote monitoring solutions for an off-grid project 
> and wanted to get any feedback people were willing to share.  I see my 
> three main choices as Outback, SMA Sunny Island, or an XW system, the 
> first two of which I have a good bit of experience with.
>
> It looks like the only good remote options for Outback are 3^rd party 
> which I couldn't get much info on, despite emails to the 
> manufacturers.  Anyone have any experience with GreenHouse Gas and 
> Electric dataloggers?
>
> A Sunny Island with a Webbox and Sunny Portal seems the most 
> straightforward, but doesn't have real-time data.
>
> I stumbled upon the Connext Combox on the Schneider site and it looks 
> like a great product, but I am a little wary.  What comments I did 
> find out about it online weren't very favorable.  And it looks like 
> setting it up for remote access is not very straightforward.
>
> Thanks for any thoughts/experiences!
>
> Davis Terrell
>
> Project Manager
>
> Green Earth Energy
>
> davis at mckernongroup.com <mailto:davis at mckernongroup.com>
>
> office: (802) 247-1200
>
> mobile: (802) 989-1661
>
>
>
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