Hello All,
We just purchased two of these Flukso units and 5 x 50a ct's. As I am eager to get this system up and running, I wondered if I could ask some questions.
Will both of these Flukso transmitters work on the same network? I am
planning on using one on Ethernet monitoring our workshop power usage and solar
generation. (from the workshop switchboard i.e 2 ct's)(Solar feeds back in to this board)
The other Flukso on the house switchboard using wireless to monitor
total consumed power/main A-Con and off peak tariff Hotwater & Pool Filtration. (i.e. 3 ct's)
Currently we have our Aurora solar 5kw PV system reporting to "http://www.pvoutput.org/intraday.jsp?id=9311&sid=7556" and would also like to
get our total power is use as well as pv generation onto that website.
Can you please let me know if we will have any issues with this
configuration?
This is all a single phase 240v installation.
Will we be able to to see all ct measurments from the two systems on the one Flukso website dashboard and labeled what they are?
We are doing a trial to assess the Flukso system as we have many
customers that after a decent energy monitoring solution.
Thanks in advance,
Tony
ASA Electrical
I have only one unit (in Melb, Vic)
I also use PV output. There is a direct setup link to Flukso's api numbers on that site:)
I see my Solar input and Power consumption. etc. http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3678/pvoutputdailysample.jpg
Im currently using the pulse output terminal on the Flukso (using 2 x din rail k/wh meters.
http://www.schnap.com.au/kilowatt-hour-meter/single-phase-electric-kilow...
You can also use the other inputs if you want to monitor 4 ccts but that would only show on this page afaik. https://www.flukso.net/dash#electricity/day
You can set up more than one user accounts on PV output to monitor a 2nd system.
Bazzle
Hi Tony,
You can associate multiple FLM's to a single account. Just make sure you use distinct sensor names. That way you'll be able to distinguish them when they're rendered in the charts.
You also have to pay attention to properly separate your electricity production and consumption. See this and this forum post.
Cheers,
-Bart.
Thanks Guys,
I did not realise that the FLM's have a pulse input? I wonder if I can connect my Electricity consumption meter pulse output to this? The specs for this output are as follows -
"Terminals 7(-ve) and 8(+ve) are optically isolated pulsing output. Maximum rating is
24VDC and 5mA (EM1000), 2mA (P1) DC. The output pulses at a rate of 1
pulse per watt-hour (Wh)."
I have just checked this output with a multimeter and it is voltage free, and it does change state when the consumtion meter indication led pulses @ 1 (wh).
The resistance of the contact does not go very low but. i.e. changes from infinate ohms to about 3Mohms
when the meter pulses. My multi meter picks it up but maybe is not fast enough to read it fully closed.
I believe the Flukso pulse input has a 5v supply? I cannot seem to find the exact details of these ports #4 & #5.
What are your thoughts? Give it a try? This would be a nice and unexpected feature if it will work.
Cheers Tony
Another Aussie user was using the pulse output on his EM1200.
Mine is sealed with a tag so I havnt tried it.
Bazzle
@Tony: If the optically isolated pulsing output is potential free, then it should work right away to connect the terminals 7(-ve)/8(+ve) correspondingly to one of the +/- pulse inputs of the FLM; take care to set the right number of pulses per kWh in the configuration. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_meter --> electronic meters:communication; there is said "Some meters have an open collector output that gives 32-100 ms pulses for a constant amount of used electrical energy. Usually 1000-10000 pulses per kWh. Output is limited to max 27 V DC and 27 mA DC. The output usually follows the DIN 43864 standard."
The output limit is to be seen as "what you put in from the pulse counting device" - see the FLM's manual on this; there is said that it is 3V3...
It works fine for an open collector optical isolator like the CNY17 which I use to interface with my PV installation.
Best regards
Markus
Thanks,
I have one set up and running on Ethernet (hard wired) getting some dud readings on the solar?
It is night now and the soler is still reading 105watts? Checking again now it has disappeared of the graph!
I have the second FLM set up in the office no sensors connected, will run a cat5 to the main switchboard and connect tommorow.
Question,
Will your senors appear on the dashboard graph with nothing happening. I mean will you see your configured sensors and a flat line on the graph? Not sure whats going on at the moment.
Cheers Tony
Hi Tony,
1/ Do you have a link to your energy meter's specification?
2/ Ports 4 & 5 are indeed meant to be connected to an open-collector output. I'm pretty certain this will be the case. The high 3MOhm reading will probably be due to the short pulse width, typically 40ms. The multi-meter will not have the time to settle. Just hook it up. Mind the polarity though.
3/ We plot what can be plotted. A input that does not receive any pulses will have no line on the graph. Internally, even the analog clamp inputs work in pulse steps of 1Wh. So if you simply hook up a current clamp with no current flowing through the aperture, you'll see no line.
4/ If you use a current clamp to monitor PV output, you'll typically see a bogus base load. This is due to the reactive current drawn by the inverter. Since we only measure current, we can't distinguish between active and reactive power. When the inverter is active, the reading will be quite accurate as the inverter outputs power at cos phi = 1. If you want to get rid of the bogus base load, use a small DIN-rail kWh meter with open-collector pulse output (S0).
Cheers,
-Bart.
Thanks Bart.
Cant find the link easily for the supply meter. What I have said above with specs for the pulse output are from a pdf manual I have. (can email if you want) I figured that is why my solar stopped graphing and the shed power continues as we speak.(from the same FLM) I will set up the main switch board tomorrow and it will have an extra 3 cts and hopefully a pulse input from the supply meter which I want to get onto pvoutput.org.
Thanks for all your help so far guys.
I have already got clients interested in this system.
Wish me luck LOL.
Cheers Tony
BUMP,
Whats the go with the minute update? Sometimes it will graph and other times it wont?
Thanks in advance.
P.S Is there a way of getting data out of the systems?
Regards Tony
The real-time graphing will make direct calls each second to the FLM API. If there's a hick-up somewhere that causes a call to fail, then the chart will stop plotting. You also need all your FLM's and the laptop/tablet/phone to be in the same LAN network. If not, the browser will not be able to access the FLM directly.
For exporting data, have a look at chapter three of the Fluksometer Manual [1].
[1] https://www.flukso.net/files/flm02/manual.pdf
Ok
I have it all up and running very well I think. The pulse output from my meter to the FLM works a treat.
I am using two FLM's & 5 cts & 1 pulse input hard on hard wired ethernet.
Flukso 1
- Solar Generation (ct)
- Shed Consumption (ct)
Flukso 2
- Main House A/Con (ct)
- Bedroom A/Con (ct)
- Off peak Tariff 33 (ct) (hotwater & pool pump)
- Main Consumption (pulse input)
Question,
On pvoutput.org you really need to have your off peak consumpsion uploaded to make the data accurate?
I am reading the off peak through a CT but how can I get this value on to pvoutput.org.
There is a setting for a second flukso sensor, but it says its for oposite direction. Not sure if I should add the off peak sensor as the second sensor.
Correct me if I am wrong but your main consumption meter does not log the power of your off peak tariff as well does it?
Cheers Tony