Real time data from a solar module

[mtjk]

Hi everybody, I am new to solar and I have a few questions that i hope experienced people can answer.

1. How is real time data collected from a solar module.
2. What form of data is being retrieved from the module. ( eg. in the form of numbers, alphabets etc )

I have searched the web and various articles but have not seem to get the answer I am looking for.
Thanks in advanced for the help!

[SunEagle]

Hello mtjk and welcome to Solar Panel Talk

Real time data can't be collected directly from a solar panel. Although it can be collected from a micro inverter that the panel is connected to. The catch is the micro inverter must be set up by a solar installer or Contractor that has the ability to program each micro to communicate with a website to send the data and then allows the "customer" to see it using some type of webpage which can display both real time (or approximately) and historical data.

One type of micro inverter is made by Enphase although there are other similar manufacturers.

[mtjk]

Hi SunEagle! Thanks for the reply!

So the way to collect and store data is through the use of a micro inverter right?
And what kind of data is gathered ( eg. energy yield or amount of photons entering or something like this? ) Or is the data collected not fixed and can be varied according to different users

[littleharbor]

Or a solar optimizer and appropriate grid tie inverter

[SunEagle]

Hi SunEagle! Thanks for the reply!

So the way to collect and store data is through the use of a micro inverter right?
And what kind of data is gathered ( eg. energy yield or amount of photons entering or something like this? ) Or is the data collected not fixed and can be varied according to different users

The data usually focuses around the amount of wattage generated. It probably includes the amps, voltages, time duration over a 24hour, monthly and yearly periods. I serious doubt it would be able to measure the number of photons or even the efficiency of the solar cells in the panel. The data is not really scientific but tilted more to the consumer wanting to know how much electricity their system is generating and money they are saving by not purchasing it from their electric company.

[Mike90250]

I use a charge controller that logs the output. Both Morningstar and Midnight Classic do this.
Solar panels merely produce energy. You can use any appropriate technology to monitor that.

[Brian53713]

Victron energy Blue solar charge controllers, have a Bluetooth dongle that gives daily and a monthly log.It connects wirelessly to different devices. And offers a monthly log that you can email to yourself. Not just their charge controllers, inverter Chargers, battery monitors,etc.. .Gives you the daily high-wattage, high voltage, output and battery low and high .And how many minutes in bulk absorb float .