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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Howie:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I find the OtpicsRE system to be very helpful. If there is any chance to hook up a system, I do it. Here are some features I like, in no particular order:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1f497d"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">The dashboard is well thought out. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1f497d"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">You can view Event logs and download them as CSV files. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1f497d"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I remote start the generator and EQ on systems I maintain a few hours before I visit the site so I don\u2019t have to wait around for the entire EQ cycle to complete.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1f497d"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">If you hover over the bars on the graph you get kWh consumption and production. This is great to school clients when they are profligate with energy usage.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1f497d"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I invite my clients to participate in their own systems and some navigate it well, some not so well.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1f497d"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">There are a lot of alerts to choose from, too many in fact. I created a spreadsheet with all of the possible alerts and use it to keep track of which ones I want for each client. A sample copy is attached.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I recall there were some growing pains as the system was developed and some things I had to get used to. Funny though I can\u2019t remember most of the early problems. I do remember these:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1f497d"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I have seen systems reconfigure themselves when connected to Optics. Don\u2019t know if Optics caused the problem or it was unrelated. The worst case was several FX inverters configure themselves to all be Masters at the same time.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1f497d"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">If you sign up for all alerts you will occasionally see a flurry of messages that configuration changes were made when you know they were not. I turn off this alert.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I have used satellite internet with no problems</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I have extended Wi-Fi with Ubiquiti M2 Loco Nanostations with pretty good reliability.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Hope this helps.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">William</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Miller Solar</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">805-438-5600</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.millersolar.com/">www.millersolar.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">CA Lic. 773985</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> RE-wrenches [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Howie Michaelson<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 12, 2020 4:05 PM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] Optics RE</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Hey FOlks,</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">While Outback had been my goto offgrid system, over the last many years I have gravitated to the Conext and Sol-Ark systems. However, I have many legacy Outback VFX systems out there and some could really use remote communication. Unfortunately, I have stayed far away from Optics RE, as I haven't been thrilled with the reports of issues the system had. However, it seems it is the best option for remote oversight, so I am trying to figure out what is required and what it is capable of.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I've read through the initial documentation and as best I can gather, I need a Mate 3s and an internet connection - is that all? I assume having a FlexnetDC in the system is critical as well. I'm also wondering if there is a way to monitor basic production data from a Midnite Classic through the Optics system. And is the Optics RE system fairly solid since I'm not thrilled about putting in systems that need too much fussing or attention to keep operating once they are set up properly. Finally, are there any other comparable monitoring equipment that would work for monitoring such systems?</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Thanks,</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Howie<br clear="all"></span></p></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#783f04">Howie Michaelson<br></span><span style="color:#6aa84f">Sun Catcher</span></b><span style="color:#888888"><br></span><b><i><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:blue">NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer\u2122<br></span></i><span style="color:#783f04"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1MQF8aTcFNnBR59ia5JAm1DsPHCxzNkPx&export=download"><br></span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#444444;background:white">Solar Electric Systems Sales & Service<br></span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#b45f06;background:white">802-272-0004</span></b></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>