My new home solar system - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 07:51:31 am
content: It's installed!Well, almost, a dude comes tomorrow to install the net smart meter.Output 2.1kW today in winter time which is pretty good I thought. Dropping to about 500W through heavy clouds.So, what now?I have a Sunnyboy inverter with Bluetooth interface.I can run Sunny explorer obviously:http://www.sma-australia.com.au/en_AU/products/software/sunny-explorer.htmlBut would be cool if I could live stream my data to the web or something. Can initially use a notebook, but maybe a lower power net based Arduino with bluetooth or something long term?Someone suggested this:http://pvoutput.org/Anything else fun to do?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 07:54:21 am
content: Yes, I have video of the installation.

author: ve7xen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 08:12:44 am
content: Someone did something similar with a Sunny Boy inverter here and apparently reversed the Bluetooth comms interface:http://openenergymonitor.org/emon/buildingblocks/interfacing-with-sma-sunnyboy-pv-inverters-bluetoothYou could probably run this pretty easily on a RaspberryPi. By the time you add Bluetooth and Ethernet to an Arduino it's gonna be more expensive and way, way slower. Plus a lot more work to set up. Of course this dude used a Nanode which is basically just an Arduino with some extra stuff bolted on, so maybe I'm the crazy one wanting to use the wrong tool for the job...Also: awesome looking setup. Gogo renewable energy.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 08:51:34 am
content: It feels good to make electricity, doesn't it?Have a look at whatTHIS GUYis doing with a Raspberry Pi usingMangohome automation software and uploading toXively(used to be Cosm). - to track and display his SMA Sunny Island output. He's off grid so a bit different (and more complicated) but still a cool low power monitoring setup.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 09:23:34 am
content: Quote from: ve7xen on June 13, 2013, 08:12:44 amOoh, nice!Plugs into pvoutput.org too!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 10:18:22 am
content: I found this too which looks good.https://code.google.com/p/pvbeancounter/QuoteSounds like I can just set up an old dumpster notebook and have it run during the day and auto shutdown.Not as low power as an Arduino solution etc, but the sun powers it anyway

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 11:57:41 am
content: It would be interesting to measure whether it gets colder inside the house. Some of the sun's energy gets converted into electricity... Judging from the green trees winter doesn't mean it gets really cold over there.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 12:04:37 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on June 13, 2013, 11:57:41 amI know a guy in Melbourne , he says winter is around 12 C when cold , and complains that he needs to wear a sweater./Bingo

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 12:25:26 pm
content: There look to be many programs that integrate SMA with PVoutput.org:http://pvoutput.org/help.html#integration-contributed-software

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 12:58:14 pm
content: Quote from: nctnicoQuote from: bingo600Yup, it's true. I remember one terrible winter, we had like 3-4 days in a row that got above 10 C, people were dying in the streets !I faintly recall wearing a jumper as well (sweater?)

author: KD0CAC John
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 01:26:33 pm
content: In my early 20s , about 1974-75 , I went winter camping .Saw a alcohol thermometer and it read -63* F , yes that is 63* F below 0That was when we were leaving town , St. Paul , MNHeaded for Glacer Park MT for a couple weeks .

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 01:30:29 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on June 13, 2013, 11:57:41 amUmm, this is Sydneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_SydneyJuly is the coldest:Average Low 8C (night)Average High 16.3C (day)So yep, your average July middle of the day is almost t-shirt territory. I had to take my jumper off today, and the solar dudes took a break in the shade to down a coldie.If you have to put a light jumper on in the day, everyone walks around going "bit cold today..."Record July:Low 2.2High 25.9Yes, it's never reached zero in Sydney, ever, even overnight.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 02:41:17 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on June 13, 2013, 01:30:29 pmBoring weather.Good for solar, though.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 03:40:43 pm
content: Check up with Warwick ( Kibi) as he has done the web monitoring thing with his solar powered shed.I lived in a town where it could get warm. we were running around in winter complaining about the cold and wearing sweaters, long pants and hauling the heaters out while at the same time the upcountry tourists were coming to Aventura for the weekend and dropping dead from heat stroke. We were watching Gulf War 1 on my TV set at work ( we claimed it was work related study, as we did do bombs, guns and other things that do a boom intentionally or otherwise) and the CNN weather came on with a heat wave in London, where it was 31C at noon. Looked at our thermometer outside in the weather enclosure and it was reading the usual for 2PM, 41C. 31C was our normal 7AM reading. We did however do eggs and bacon on the engine cover of our works Datsun 680 van one day, just left it parked in the sun for the morning and cleaned it at 10, then went out at 12 with the spray and cook and did the eggs and bacon. Were not able to get the toast crisp though, more like soggy dry bread.

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 04:16:30 pm
content: This is my Xively feed for my 1KW system. It is fed from an Arduino MEGA.https://xively.com/feeds/611817707This is my PVOutput channel. I have not automated the updates to PVOutput yet. I need to get my head around MODBUS so that I can pull the data out of the charge controller.http://www.pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=21185&sid=19064The is another fellow in Motueka, New Zealand who is running my Arduino code for his solar system.https://xively.com/feeds/1818925951I have attached the code if anyone would like to use it. It is designed to work with a Victron BMV battery monitor for off grid systems, but could easily be adapted I suppose. I hate writing code, so this is really messy, but it works.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 04:46:39 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on June 13, 2013, 01:30:29 pmBunch of wimpsIt seems you are as far from the equator as North Africa. It is a very good latitude for solar panels. I assume it takes only a few years to earn the investment back.Over here it can get -20 deg.C in the winter and +35 deg. C in the summer. Afternoon temperatures may change 20 degrees within a week depending on polar winds or Sahara winds... I visited NZ once in December. Its kinda odd to hear people talking about their BBQ plans for Christmas. The only advantage I could spot where young women in tight tops and short skirts selling something greenish which should resemble Christmas trees.

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2013, 10:24:21 pm
content: Yeah different hemisphere's, so depends where you grew up. I once flew from vancouver to florida just to spend christmas in a warm place, shorts and t shirt, (my normal xmas clothing )

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 14, 2013, 02:13:45 pm
content: New meter was installed today. Two of them actually. One for solar outgoing, one for house usage (labelled "dom" for domestic I guess)Not sure how they tie together in terms of the supposed "net" usage?I was surprised it doesn't appear to the modern "smart meter" type:https://www.itron.com/mxca/en/productsAndServices/Pages/ACE1000%20SM0.aspxhttps://www.itron.com/mxca/en/PublishedContent/F10778-4336_ACE1000_SM0_v3.pdfSo my solar system is now officially on the grid and working.Was not able to connect using the Sunny Explorer software in a quick test, I need to try harder...

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 05:58:11 am
content: What FIT are you getting, Dave?As for video, when ours was installed , the installers weren't keen on any photographic/video evidence due to the bending of so many workplace health and safety laws while on the roof!- Rob.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 06:05:03 am
content: Quote from: aargee on June 15, 2013, 05:58:11 amA lousy 6 cents. So better to use the energy than export it, if you can change your daily usage habits.QuoteUmm, yup, I was fairly careful...I also have time lapse of the build that will go up on my secondary channel.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 15, 2013, 07:55:02 am
content: My first days data is now up on PVoutput.org!http://pvoutput.org/intraday.jsp?id=22501&sid=20402I now have a netbook setup withSunny Explorer and PV bean Counter software.It's amazing the inverter parameters you can tweak in the Installer mode!Still no idea if this updates live or what, but after setting up the data just seemed to magically appear on PVoutput.org

author: Gigawatt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 16, 2013, 02:23:27 pm
content: Didn`t realise Ausie mains was so far behined the times Looked like the bad old days in the 1970`s A hotch potch of plug in MCBs ,BS 3036 rewireable fuses some modern RCBO`s and the final nail in the coffin the new installation crammed sideways at the bottom. Also not a good idea having one RCD main switch because when it trips you loose everything no fun in the middle of the night and you tread on lego left out by Sagan, in bare feet, OUCH ! Quick fix, Put a Cheep LED emergancy light inside the fuse box ready for that late night trip

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2013, 02:40:25 pm
content: Nobody will update the electrics of a house to more than the bare minimum, it will just be brought up to barely meet code at minimal cost. To get to look nice means a new board, new breakers in a separate box and the metering in a housing all of their own. That will cost a lot of money just in parts alone, and probably will mean pulling new wiring through the conduiting to get enough length for the terminations in the new boxes, along with installing a junction box and disconnect for the municipal feeder ( another big expense there, as they probably will send their own out to do the actual connection then seal it, and you have to use the box they specify as well) to isolate the new boxes. Will mean no power for the house for around 2 days at least while this is being done, and a lot of working in roof crawl spaces and digging up of paving as well.

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 16, 2013, 08:33:31 pm
content: Quote from: Gigawatt on June 16, 2013, 02:23:27 pmThey are also still using the red and black wiring colour codes, even for the new cable runs.

author: cloudscapes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2013, 09:30:30 pm
content: now if only Google Earth can do another satellite pass! O0

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2013, 10:27:49 pm
content: Dave, what's with the sudden drop over 5 minutes from 1.2kW to 200W around 2:25pm?http://pvoutput.org/intraday.jsp?id=22501&sid=20402&dt=20130616

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 16, 2013, 10:29:55 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on June 16, 2013, 10:27:49 pmI wasn't here. Probably some clouds rolled in. But my money is on an alien mothership blocking the sunI shouldn't be getting shading at that time.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2013, 05:25:15 am
content: By me that would be the Egyptian geese strolling over the panels and sunning themselves.I would guess Australia is still in the transition phase of changing cable colours, the old and the new are still available, and are in use. Going to be that way for decades until all the stock is used up, and all the existing installed base is removed during renovation.

author: kerrinal
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2013, 07:21:28 am
content: That's really cool.Do you need a solar charge controller or a safety protection equipment.