Sunny Island monitoring

[stephendv]

Hi All,

Since the Raspberry pi computer arrived, I've been using it as a data logger and web server for the SMA Sunny Island. Right now, it's acting as a data logger and graphing the data from the Sunny Island.
Some of the interesting data visible in the graphs is:
Comparison of return amps vs. SoC measured by the internal battery monitor
Battery voltage vs charging current to see whether absorb is too long or short
SoC error margin
Identifying big spikes in consumption

There are lots of possibilities from this, e.g. proper load management based on SoC and surplus power.  Or sticking a 70 euro android tablet in the living room to constantly see the SI's output.

The hardware came in at under 50 Euros- so about the right price for me 
Some pics and more details here http://www.casanogaldelasbrujas.com/...sland-manager/

The code is free to copy/modify/use as you like: https://github.com/stephendv/IslandManager

[nowty]

Very interesting, is there the possability of dynamically changing the Sunny Island settings or is this just for data logging ?

I would like to program the SOC relay trip (in %) several days in advance taking note of the weather forecast for the following day, more specifically the % cloud cover forecast !

[camillitech]

Hi Stephen, linky not working for me and when I access your blog from mine it's not been updated since 24th August 

Cheers, Paul

[stephendv]

Something chopped the link off: http://www.casanogaldelasbrujas.com/blog/island-manager/

Nowty, I haven't checked yet whether you can change settings, I suspect yes, because SMA use this same protocol for their web box and sunny data control software.  But I'm more likely to just attach my own set of relays to the raspberry pi and use those instead of the ones in the sunny island.

I've also been thinking about hooking into weather predictions and using that to control both opportunity loads as well as the charging process.  E.g. if it's sunny now but rain tomorrow then do a full charge now and turn the well pump on now too.  If these decisions can be made by software on the raspberry pi instead then there's a lot more flexibility in the rules you can add as opposed to being restricted by the SI's programming.

Also tempting to buy a cheap android tablet and mount it on the kitchen wall so that there's a big coloured light that tells my wife whether it's ok to turn the washing machine on or not 

[greenhouseparos]

"Also tempting to buy a cheap android tablet and mount it on the kitchen wall so that there's a big coloured light that tells my wife whether it's ok to turn the washing machine on or not"
There is a really big coloured light outside your window that could give a clue to how much power is available.

[stephendv]

There is a really big coloured light outside your window that could give a clue to how much power is available.

Of course!  So I'll need to get a webcam on a solar tracker too and feed the image through to the android tablet.  very clever 

[jonesy]

Of course!  So I'll need to get a webcam on a solar tracker too and feed the image through to the android tablet.  very clever 

And prey, tell us all of your power over women.  How will you make her look at the tablet? 
I've realised my missus uses a audio rev counter interface on the car.  When she hears me screaming over the sound of the valves trying to rip themselves out of the block, she changes gear (if she's got any left)