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Joel,<br>
<br>
I would be very interested in further updates on your Envi
experience.<br>
I bought one to use in my PV installer workshops and used it for<br>
the first time back in May.<br>
<br>
I'm really hoping that future software, theirs or 3rd party, can fix
two<br>
glaring issues I have with this unit.<br>
<br>
One is that I can find no cumulative kwhrs, only cumulative kwh
cost.<br>
The other, a biggie in my opinion, is the readout labeled
instantaneous<br>
energy....gee, isn't that a lot like POWER?<br>
<br>
Other than that, it seems to work as advertised. <br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Roy Butler
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer®
NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer
PA Sunshine Program Approved PV Installer
Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC
8902 Route 46
Arkport, NY 14807
607-324-9747
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.four-winds-energy.com">www.four-winds-energy.com</a>
Although no trees were killed in the sending of this message,
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
</pre>
<br>
On 7/21/2010 7:14 PM, Joel Davidson wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:578F2CE1C6414F01A7852209BEB47096@JOEL"
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Hello Wrenches,</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">After a busy 1.5 months, I'm
finally getting back to setting up the software for PowerSave
Envi (aka Current Cost)monitoring system on our home/office PV
systems. What software do you recommend? As always, thank you
for sharing what you have learned.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Best regards,</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Joel Davidson</font></div>
<div> </div>
<blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);
padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 0px; margin-left: 5px;
margin-right: 0px;" dir="ltr">
<div style="font: 10pt arial;">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="font: 10pt arial; background: none repeat scroll 0%
0% rgb(228, 228, 228);"><b>From:</b> <a
moz-do-not-send="true" title="joel.davidson@sbcglobal.net"
href="mailto:joel.davidson@sbcglobal.net">Joel Davidson</a>
</div>
<div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>To:</b> <a
moz-do-not-send="true" title="chris@solarandwindfx.com"
href="mailto:chris@solarandwindfx.com">chris@solarandwindfx.com</a>
; <a moz-do-not-send="true"
title="re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org"
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</a>
</div>
<div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>Sent:</b> Friday, May 28, 2010
5:55 PM</div>
<div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches]
low cost DAS systems - Feedback</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Wrenches,</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Chris' email motivated me
to buy a low-cost, easy-to-install monitoring system for
residential and small commercial PV systems. I sent RFQs to
vendors asking for a monitoring system for my PV systems, a
SunnyBoy 240VAC PV system, and an oldie-but-goodie Trace
120VAC PV system. See <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.solarsolar.com/oursys.html"
target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2">http://www.solarsolar.com/oursys.html</font></a><font
face="Arial" size="2"> and </font><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.solarsolar.com/solardwgs.html"
target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2">http://www.solarsolar.com/solardwgs.html</font></a></font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:sales@fatspaniel.com">sales@fatspaniel.com</a>
and <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Distributor@TheEnergyDetective.com">Distributor@TheEnergyDetective.com</a> did
not reply to my RFQ email. Draker Labs sent an automated
reply but did not contact me.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Daron at locusenergy.com
replied quickly. He was very supportive, quickly answered
questions, and gave us a training webinar. Price for one
system is reasonable: </font><font face="Arial" size="2">$509
for 5 years of generation monitoring, data hosting, and
performance hardware, plus $40 for California rebate
program automated reporting, plus $130 to monitor electric
consumption. Daron did a good job explaining Locus, but I
needed 2 systems and didn't want to spend over $1,000.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Charlie at egauge.net also
replied quickly. Their residential eGauge system to monitor
the Grid, PV system #1 and #2 costs $760, It includes the
eGauge main unit, homeplug communication adapter and 5 CT's
(2 CTs for the main utility feeds - one on each leg), 1
CT for the SunnyBoy system and 2 CTs for the Trace system.
Better price, but still higher than I wanted to spend.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Robin at powersave.us (Envi)
answered my phone and email questions quickly. Their price
was much lower so I bought their hardware. $237 for 1<font
face="Arial" size="2"> Envi monitor with </font><font
face="Arial" size="2">1 transmitter and 2 CTs for PV
system #1, plus </font><font face="Arial" size="2">$79
for 1 transmitter with 2 CTs for PV system #2, plus $12
for the USB cable, plus $17 </font><font face="Arial"
size="2">for shipping.</font></font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Powersave shipped the equipment
promptly, but it took me a few days to get around to
installing the hardware. The Envi monitor is in our
office next to my computer. Installing the transmitter and
CT on the Trace/battery PV system was easy. The Trace
inverter is in the garage next to our office but not away
from our electric service panel. You only need one CT to
monitor a 120VAC PV system's output.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">The SunnyBoy inverter is next
to the electric service panel. </font><font face="Arial"
size="2">Grid power wiring into the service panel is behind
the clamped and sealed utility meter. I did not want
to break the utility seal to open that section of the panel
so I am not monitoring the grid. Besides, monitoring the
grid with a net metered PV system only tells what the
utility kWh meter measures. Inside our 200A service panel, t</font><font
face="Arial" size="2">here is just barely enough space for
the transmitter. The CTs are big, but I was able to squeeze
them into the panel, replace the breaker cover, and close
the panel door.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Loading the USB cable
driver was easy, but I had trouble getting the computer to
see the 3rd party monitoring software. So I used the "C2
Terminal" free software to make sure my computer was seeing
the Envi meter. I still could not get any of the monitoring
software to work because the instructions were not intuitive
or simple enough for me to understand.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Tony at <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://makehistori.net/">http://makehistori.net/</a> emailed
instructions a few days ago. Today I had some time to muddle
my way through downloading, logging in, registering, etc.
and am up and running. I am still learning how to use his
software.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Chris at currentcost.com is has
been emailing to help me use their software. I'll give it a
try.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Robin at powersave.us
recommends Techtoniq. I'll give it a try too.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">When I first talked to Robin at
powersave.us, I asked him why his device was not listed on
the California Solar Initiative (CSI) Eligible System
Performance Meters List. See <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/equipment/meter.php">http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/equipment/meter.php</a> He
did not know about the list but understood immediately how
important it was to get listed. Today, he emailed that their
meter will be on the CSI list June 1st.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Joel Davidson</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>----- Original Message ----- </div>
<blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);
padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 0px; margin-left: 5px;
margin-right: 0px;">
<div style="font: 10pt arial; background: none repeat scroll
0% 0% rgb(228, 228, 228);"><b>From:</b> <a
moz-do-not-send="true" title="chris@solarandwindfx.com"
href="mailto:chris@solarandwindfx.com">Chris Schaefer</a>
</div>
<div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>To:</b> <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
title="re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org"
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>
</div>
<div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 12,
2010 10:07 AM</div>
<div style="font: 10pt arial;"><b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches]
low cost DAS systems</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt;">Good Day Wrenches,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt;"> I’m looking for
suggestions for a low cost DAS system for home/small
commercial use. It just seems to be such a useful
basic tool to verify performance other than just the
Kwh meter. I’d like to add this to all of our clients
quotes and projects. Looking for the basics like
module temperature and irradiance and it would be nice
if it would tie into the existing inverters DAS like
an Enphase, Fronius or SMA to name a few since they
already have inverter and PV in/output information. Or
is Fat Spaniel and Helitronics my only options
otherwise? Thanks for the help ahead of time.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt;">Christopher<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" style='position:absolute;
margin-left:169.65pt;margin-top:7.9pt;width:202.95pt;height:51.75pt;z-index:1'
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strokecolor="blue" strokeweight="1.4pt">
<v:stroke joinstyle="round" />
<v:formulas/>
<v:path o:connecttype="none" />
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="z-index: 1; position:
absolute; margin-top: 11px; width: 271px; height: 69px;
margin-left: 226px;"><img
src="cid:part1.00000404.03070909@four-winds-energy.com"
v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="271" height="69"></span><!--[endif]--><font
size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<v:formulas>
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<v:shadow color="#868686" />
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xscale="f" string="Solar & Wind FX" />
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absolute; margin-top: 10px; width: 370px; height: 60px;
margin-left: 1px;"><img alt="Solar & Wind FX"
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v:shapes="_x0000_s1027" width="370" height="60"></span><!--[endif]--><font
size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
Chris Schaefer’s<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size:
12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;" align="left"><b><i><font
face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-style:
italic; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></h1>
<h1 style="text-align: left;" align="left"><b><i><font
face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-style:
italic; font-size: 10pt;">WHERE KNOWLEDGE EQUALS
POWER <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">INDEPENDENCE</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span
style="font-style: italic; font-size: 6pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-style: italic; font-size: 10pt;">Specializing
in Off-Grid Electricity for Remote Homes<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-style: italic; font-size: 10pt;">Grid-Tied
Power for Residential and Commercial Sites<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span
style="font-style: italic; font-size: 6pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-style: italic; font-size: 10pt;">Tel
585-229-2083 ~ Cell 585-748-1870<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address
style="background-image:
url("res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001");
background-repeat: repeat-x; background-position: left
bottom;" tabindex="0" w:st="on"><i><font face="Arial"
size="2"><span style="font-style: italic;
font-size: 10pt;">5115 South Hill Road</span></font></i></st1:address></st1:street><i><font
size="2"><span style="font-style: italic; font-size:
10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-style: italic; font-size: 10pt;">Canandaigua
<st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>
14424<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-style: italic; font-size: 10pt;"><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.solarandwindfx.com/">www.solarandwindfx.com</a>
~ <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:chris@solarandwindfx.com">chris@solarandwindfx.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p> </p>
<hr> _______________________________________________<br>
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