Recent update to numbers

As we start heading towards Autumn I thought I'd update the blog with some recent numbers and information.

Since installation on 19th Oct 2010 I have generated some 1922.67kWh.

So that means for 265 days, so far, the system has output an average of 7.255kWh/day. which is quite a bit different from previous averages.

25th Apr 2011 (1057.3 kWh) gave an average of 5.62kWh/day.
11th Mar 2011 589.7kWh) gave an average of 4.12kWh/day.
29th Jan 2011 (381.72kWh) gave an average of 3.74kWh/day.
2nd Dec 2010 (198kWh) gave an average of 4.71kWh/day.

If this average per day is carried for the whole year we get an annual generation of 2648kWh. This will obviously need to be monitored for the full year to get the exact number but isn't too far off I think.

The numbers shown on my Solar Plant webpage have so far logged a few days of data from Apr - Jun 2011. Due to issues logged previously in this blog I am missing a few days worth of data at the end of April and the beginning of May 2011.

April 2011 -22 days recorded 342.01 kWh generated = 15.54 kWh/day.

May 2011 -28 days recorded 325.60 kWh generated = 11.63 kWh/day.

June 2011 - 30 days recorded 342.54 kWh generated = 11.4 kWh/day.

New webbox now online

I have now managed to get the new webbox to update data to the website.

The link is http://www.sunnyportal.com/Templates/PublicPageOverview.aspx?page=8a8df88c-86da-42f7-9497-65d2257a8432&plant=a90e1031-e03b-4882-96fd-96a1c4209705&splang=en-GB

Hopefully this one will last a little longer than the last one. It has back dated all the way to the 4th May 2011.

I will have to set up the pages again which should be done fairly soon.

New box arrives from SMA

This morning I received an email from SMA about the replacement box they were sending. to me with a tracking number.

When I entered the number into the system it said it couldn't be delivered due to an inaccurate address. After trying to get through to somebody to speak to they said it only had a postcode on it. After talking to them I arranged for the parcel to be redelivered in the morning.

After getting back from the sailing a neighbour came over with a parcel. He had been up to the depot for another reason and when he said he was from the street they asked if he knew me. As he said yes they gave it to him.

The box has now been installed. From initial interaction it would appear that the box is uploading data to the Sunny Portal website. I have gone through the registration process again but haven't received the access email yet to set up the website, so I can't check it out or set it up. Hopefully the email will arrive sometime soon.

Replacement webbox on its way.....

Well there's a surprise. SMA have come back very quickly earlier today saying they'd like to replace my unit for another one. I have given them my address and am now waiting.

In my recent contact to SMA I sent them the files that had been stored on the SD card since the initial installation. This has now been uploaded to the Sunny Portal website and my data is now available for the period  12th March - 21st April 2011.

The data presentation is very good and so far easily meets my requirements. Small niggles to get over with the webbox but once it's running well it'll keep going.

SMA webbox issues

As previously reported the SMA webbox stopped reporting my readings to the internet on the 17th March 2011.

A good friend of mine came round yesterday to help me discover why this was.

The webbox was getting data from the inverter in the loft but did not pass it on. I thought it might be because of the small SD (256mb) card we had installed. This was found to be in error. The card had nearly two months worth of data on it and only took up 1.36mb, nowhere near the card limit. I have now bought a 2Gb card just to have a new one.

It turns out that the webbox is not running a web host so we can not login into it using a web browser. We can ping the box and even start a telnet session, but not get past the login prompt as we didn't have the correct username/password combination. I have sent SMA an email and now waiting for them to get back to me. Not expecting a quick reply to be honest.

When we initially got the box running it was only with the help of my mate, as the instructions seemed to assume I had a IPv6 server. These systems at the moment are generally only found in bigger systems not in a domestic house.

I will keep posting irregular updates as and when new thoughts or events become apparent. Not even sure if this blog is being read by anybody but at least I'm getting data out there.

UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE

It was down to the guys in Germany at SMA. They didn't give me the technical answer, but after sending them an email stating my isssue, they said they'd look into it and suddenly my data is back!

SMA webbox issues

Well what a faff installing the SMA webbox was.

I got the equipment and connected it straight into my router. I then tried to access it via the wireless system from a laptop.

This initially let me in to change various settings, but only the once. Each subsequent time I tried to login, it told me that somebody was already logged in. Not a lot of use that.

I tried all sorts of things including power off and even got a pin to reset the machine. Still no good. As I'm not the most technically savvy fella I thought I'd ask the guys at SMA.de Not impressed with the technical support. After sending what I thought was a fairly technical email all I got for a reply was 'Which country are you'.....

Eventually I resorted to calling round a good friend of mine who is network savvy.

The manual and supplied CD was talking about having to set up a computer with IPv6 before you could access the webbox to set it up. According to the tech savvy dude this type of nextwork was only for big machines costing £1000's. Also this would require 6 sets of numbers for the internet address but the supplied paperwork was only quoting 4 sets, i.e. IPv4.

We decided not to use the CD, but try and setup by directly connecting the webbox to an older laptop and follow the written instructions.

Eventually we got it running and the data is being uploaded.

Difficulties with webbox

As per usual it is probably something I've done wrong but I'm having trouble getting the webbox to do what I want.

At present I can't seem to login to check/change the settings. Waiting on reply from SMA for answers hopefully.

Step closer to getting system live on the web.

I have now received an SMA webbox which should allow me to post the system status on the web.

It is not a cheap piece of kit for the average home user but I am committed to getting my information out there for the wider community to see how well my system is doing.

Currently going through the manual. I have connected the unit to the router and changed the NetID pot switch to enable communication with the inverter in the loft.

Now it should just be a case of setting up the web programs etc.