Overview

Monitoring the RETS using one or more varieties of digital and/or analog monitoring devices is as important as the dashboard on a vehicle. These devices provide important status of the operations of the RETS deployed. A good number of charge controllers have indicator lights and readouts built-in which offers adequate information of the charge and voltage available for the system. For a full-scale remote home, consider the addition of a digital monitor, like Trace TM-500, Tri-Metric, E-Meter or Omni-Meter. These devices monitor voltage and current, record amp-hours, and accurately display the state-of-charge of the battery bank. More importantly, some monitoring devices also record or log more detailed information that can be useful for troubleshooting. Often, the monitors are designed such that they may be mounted in another room or building, for remote viewing and monitoring.

Direct monitoring of the health of the batteries in the battery array can be performed with a hydrometer. A hydrometer will help determine whether the battery bank is getting fully charged, and whether any individual cells are falling behind, useful in adjusting the array to deliver equalization and charging equally. Hydrometers are, unfortunately, prone to false readings under certain conditions such as taking a reading immediately after adding water to the battery, or taking readings during low ambient temperatures, and therefore, the user must ensure that proper conditions exist and proper procedures are followed to ensure accurate readings.

Hardware

As the renewable energy market develops and evolves, new products appear offering more detailed, and more data to promote more accurate readings of the status of the renewable energy technologies deployed. The following describe currently available separate monitoring devices (i.e. devices not built-in to charge controllers). As more products become available, the descriptions below will expand. SWC does not endorse the hardware products described below, and are listed and described purely for informational purposes only.

Mate

The OutBack MATE is a complete system controller and display for both the OutBack FX inverter/charger and the MX60 PV MPPT charge controller. It provides a display of the operation as well as allows for control and adjustment of the product setpoints. The OutBack MATE also coordinates the operation of the entire system to maximize the performance and to prevent multiple products from conflicting. Through the use of an OutBack HUB communication manager a single OutBack MATE is able to connect to multiple FX inverter/chargers, MX60 PV MPPT charge controllers and any other OutBack products offered in the future. A maximum of ten OutBack products will be able to be connected to a single MATE via a HUB using CAT 5 type Ethernet cabling with 8 wire RJ45 modular connectors.

To review the Mate's user manual and documentation, click MATE System Controller and Display - Installation and User Manual for the OutBack MATE and MATE2.

Software

With new monitoring hardware appear in the market, software systems which enhance the usability and functionality of the monitoring devices also begin to appear. The following describe currently available software monitoring applications. However, given the relatively immature state of renewable energy technologies, devices developed are proprietary (i.e. will work only with a specific vendor's hardware) and therefore, the software applications are also designed to augment the proprietary monitoring hardware. As more software applications become available, the descriptions below will expand. SWC does not endorse the software products described below, and are listed and described purely for informational purposes only.

WattPlot

WattPlot, developed by Intellact is a comprehensive software designed to monitor performance data generated by the OutBack renewable energy systems. If the RETS deployment has an Outback Mate and a serial cable connection it a computer, with the WattPlot, one can view system performance and behaviour data at any time and in real-time, meaning status data is updated every second. An important convenient feature is the ability to monitor the Outback Mate from a remote location, over a network or the internet.

 

To review the WattPlot's user manual and documentation, click Monitoring Program for Inverters and Charge Controllers from OutBack Power Systems.

 

WinVerter

WinVerter, developed by RightHand Engineering, LLC is a comprehensive software designed to monitor performance data generated by the OutBack or Xantrex renewable energy systems. The software is a Windows®-based PC software that works with the OutBack Power Systems FX inverters, MX charge controllers and the Mate remote control panel to continually monitor and display the device status while providing the user with data logging and control over the system. Monitoring and logging data is updated every second, with data fed from the Outback Mate.

 

To review the WinVerter's specification sheet for Outback HW products, click WinVerter-Monitor for Outback. To review the WinVerter's specification sheet for Xantrex HW products, click WinVerter-Monitor for Xantrex.