PVOutput.org No Longer needs 24/7 PC for Live Data.

[AlanIOW]

As of today you can now upload live data from a CurrentCost Energy Monitor directly to PVOutput.org via a CurrentCost Bridge or NetSmart connected to your Router, with no need for a PC. Its really simple to set up if you already have the Bridge working, I set up a friends Solar Generation this morning here;

 http://pvoutput.org/intraday.jsp?id=6783&sid=5415

The above system uses an OptiSmart LED pulse counter attached to the generation meter so is near 100% accurate unlike the older CT Clamps.

The main problem was discovering the Pachube API and ID, but these can be obtained from the my.currentcost.com dashboard for the system.
I don't know whether the later multichannel NetSmarts will upload consumption data as well as generation.

Basic Instructions are here; http://getsatisfaction.com/pvoutput/topics/auto_upload_service_pachube

Alan

[asorton]

Thanks Alan thats very interesting.

I replied to your other thread about current cost clamps & doubling up the wires, I now have my current cost added.

I wonder if its OK to upload my generation by PvBedon'tdont want to change this as its spot on and bluetooths into the inverter) and my usage by Netsmart. Don't know PvOutput will like two systems updating one account.

At the moment my spare PC turns itself on every evening dowbloads the inverter data and the current cost data and uploads it to PvOutput then closes down till next day.

The above is fine except the Current Cost needs to be live or you just get a daily average. If I could do my Current cost this way my setup would be perfect.

[AlanIOW]

Hi Tony

There is definitely a setting in "Automatic Uploads" for "Direction" so I think you could use it for Consumption data and keep the generation on PVBeancounter, but there is only one way to find out!!

Alan

[asorton]

Well I have gone for it and got their Christmas special before it goes from Amazon.

Did i read before that you can get lost data with the bridge if the internet goes down? Not a problem as Im only uploading consumption but could be for generation.

[hilltopsolar]

I have just been looking into this device and have read a review that says it still shows activity even after the pv system has shut down for the night which deems the readings useless.Will try to find it and paste to here.

[hilltopsolar]

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Accurate Power Readings At Last!, 30 Aug 2011
By Ian Mitchell "IM35461" (East Sussex United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Current Cost OptiSmart
EDIT 20/10/11
I have reduced my rating to 4 Stars as the units seem to have a problem when no electricity is being used.

The units store the total count of meter LED flashes and use this on the DATA channel which should then be uploaded via the Netsmart product so you can view your meter reading online.

However at zero load or on a PV meter when no power is generated the count continues to go up at about 650watts an hour making the dashboard meter reading inaccurate.

If you are not using this feature you will not encounter this problem.

EDIT END

[AlanIOW]

As far as I know, the PVOutput automatic upload from the OptiSmart via a Bridge/Netsmart does not use the DATA channel it only uses the LIVE channel and this does not show this problem. It seems only the New Multichannel CC Dashboard has a this well documented problem as it does utilize the DATA channel.

As Tony mentioned earlier, the Bridge/Netsmart does however lose data when there is no internet connection to PVOutput, although I think PVOutput seems to interpolate the data to try to reduce the error, not quite sure on what basis though.

[m whitt]

i have had the optismart  for about 6 weeks now and have been checking consumption meter to see if it is accurate,  it has been until the new year started now i  seem  to have a problem with bean counter failing to update  pvoutput every 5 mins,  but weirdly it manages to update every hour on the hour but because of this my consumption on pvupdate was 9kw over the last 7 days yo high compared to meter though generation was fine.
not an optismart problem though might try an update and reinstall of bean counter.



mark

[amdade]

Hi guys
I have the optismart hooked up to the solar meter and it works fine without the problems mentioned here, meter reads zero after dark. I have Elster - AC1100 meter (I think)

Appears reasonably accurate ties up with the meter. Note that you may need to be careful about external light sources I had problem around mid day fixed with tape and cardboard :-)

Andrew

[greentangerine]

I have the optismart hooked up to the solar meter and it works fine without the problems mentioned here, meter reads zero after dark. I have Elster - AC1100 meter (I think)

Appears reasonably accurate ties up with the meter.

Same here - same meter with optismart.  Very accurate actually.

[asorton]

OMG that was a nightmare getting my feed into pachube, I probably did not need to claim the feed into my account but at least its mine now - phew!

Anyone wanting an idea how to sort their feed, this is the thread that finally opened my eyes. Oh and make sure you unlock the padlock in devices on the current cost dashboard to make your data public.

http://community.pachube.com/node/886

[Automan]

Indeed, it is only the DATA feature of the OptiSmart that does not seem to work which is supposed to be able to give you your actual meter reading on the Current Cost Dashboard.



For me and others the dashboard display of my meter displays goes up and down with a mind of its own (even on a meter that is never on a zero or reversed load).

CC, Do however now say this on their website with no explanation

** PLEASE NOTE ** OptiSmart is not compatible with PV/micro generation.

http://currentcost.com/product-optismart.html

Automan.