I hope someone has good news on this front.
I am just about done installing a 40 panel 13 kW array using two SMA 6.0 inverters. Every single panel has a Tigo TS4R-O optimizer installed to deal with shade as well as to provide panel level monitoring.
When I purchased the system both the reseller and SMA tech support told me I would be able to monitor and manage all the hardware locally from my network WITHOUT having to have data go out to the Internet.
That was six months ago. For various reasons the build (ground mount) got delayed and we just completed the structure and panel installation. Now I am focusing on getting it all wired-up and commissioned. And this is when I discovered that I may have been deceived.
I can't find any way to monitor this hardware without creating one of more accounts with Tigo/SMA and have my system upload usage and status data to their cloud servers for me to access via their portal.
In other words, the data I expected to be private will be stored in a database and, I am sure, sold for profit. Having panel level production and usage data for millions of homes around the world is probably very valuable.
I am astounded by the audacity these companies have to think it is OK to pry into your private affairs just because you want solar power. We have enough personal data compromised these days through so many channels. And now solar? Think about it, they can look at usage patterns and know when you are home or not, when you might be watching TV, when your air conditioner is on, or if you are charging an electric car, etc. Lots of useful information can be found in energy usage patterns.
Anyhow, I know I am not alone in being concerned about privacy. I am looking for a solution to this problem if one exists. If it does not I am also looking to create my own. Doing the research on that right now.
Thanks,
-Martin
I am just about done installing a 40 panel 13 kW array using two SMA 6.0 inverters. Every single panel has a Tigo TS4R-O optimizer installed to deal with shade as well as to provide panel level monitoring.
When I purchased the system both the reseller and SMA tech support told me I would be able to monitor and manage all the hardware locally from my network WITHOUT having to have data go out to the Internet.
That was six months ago. For various reasons the build (ground mount) got delayed and we just completed the structure and panel installation. Now I am focusing on getting it all wired-up and commissioned. And this is when I discovered that I may have been deceived.
I can't find any way to monitor this hardware without creating one of more accounts with Tigo/SMA and have my system upload usage and status data to their cloud servers for me to access via their portal.
In other words, the data I expected to be private will be stored in a database and, I am sure, sold for profit. Having panel level production and usage data for millions of homes around the world is probably very valuable.
I am astounded by the audacity these companies have to think it is OK to pry into your private affairs just because you want solar power. We have enough personal data compromised these days through so many channels. And now solar? Think about it, they can look at usage patterns and know when you are home or not, when you might be watching TV, when your air conditioner is on, or if you are charging an electric car, etc. Lots of useful information can be found in energy usage patterns.
Anyhow, I know I am not alone in being concerned about privacy. I am looking for a solution to this problem if one exists. If it does not I am also looking to create my own. Doing the research on that right now.
Thanks,
-Martin
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