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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

The greenMonitor Renewable Energy System monitoring software was originally developed for the OutBack Power Technologies family of inverters and charge controllers. Development started in 2007 under the working name "JavaMate", but was changed to greenMonitor out of concerns for trademark infringement, and also to avoid tying the product too closely to OutBack Power Technologies.

The greenMonitor software is a fully network-enabled product capable of analyzing and automatically enhancing the performance of your renewable energy system -- subject only to the limitations of the renewable energy system hardware itself.

The greenMonitor Renewable Energy System monitoring software is the most advanced and feature-rich product in the stand-alone monitoring and system management software space.  And with our web-based and multiple system monitoring products, we are the only vendor that will scale from a single low-power, off-grid site all the way to multiple commercial size systems.

System Requirements

The greenMonitor software was developed using Java™ technologies from Oracle Corporation and is operating system independent. Supported operating systems include most modern Microsoft Windows® systems (including Windows 7®) and Linux™.  As of 2012 we no longer provide support for the Apple Mac OS X operating system.

The platform must support at least Java 6, either an RS-232 connection or a USB port capable of being connected to the Mate or other supported product, and at least 256MB of memory. Ignoring data logging disk usage, at least 10MB of mass storage, either a hard disk or Solid State Drive, are required for the basic installation. We have been unable to test with less memory due to a lack of support for systems that small, but we believe the actual memory requirements are much smaller. We will update the requirements should we test on a smaller system.

Software Features

The greenMonitor software was designed to be the most advanced and most feature-rich stand-alone Renewable Energy System monitoriing software on the market. Our client / server design, which allows you to monitor you system, as well as you customer systems, as well as publish real-time, up-to-the-second data on the Internet, is unmatched by any of our competitors. Our automatic management features, some of which are unique enough that we've sought patent protection, allow a level of control that is unheard of, just short of large scale commercial power systems.

Purchasing

We are a full-line renewable energy system design, management and monitoring company, providing hardware and software for your system monitoring needs. Our product line includes a family of sensing, monitoring and control products, as well as our greenMonitor Renewable Energy System monitoring software.

We actively work with system designers on the implementation of their systems and and have acted as a consultant on large commercial products. The majority of our clients are installers and engineering firms. This is not a part time or side-line business, as with our competitors in the small-system monitoring space.

General Information

  • What is the greenMonitor software?

    The greenMonitor software is the most advanced and comprehensive stand-alone renewable energy system monitoring software on the market. It includes features, such as load profiling and day-ahead forecasting, that is commonly used by electric utilities to manage the electric grid, in addition to the basic monitoring and logging features found in our competitors' products. Unlike our competitors, the greenMonitor software can be run on systems other than Microsoft Windows and was designed from the beginning to be run over the Internet. greenHouse Computers, LLC has been the driving force, and often the technology provider, for network connected monitoring solutions for OutBack Power Technologies users.

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  • What does the greenMonitor software do?

    Even with significant rebates from utilities and tax incentives from governments (when they are available!), a renewable energy system can still be one of the most expensive and complex additions to your home or business. The greenMonitor software is designed to ensure you receive the maximum possible benefit from your investment. Each renewable energy system is different, but with an unmatched set of features, we enable you to monitor and manage your system's components, regardless of manufacturer. Many of our advanced features are more commonly found in software designed to operate electric utilities, or are unique features for our product.

    A brief list of software features includes:

    • Monitoring all OutBack Power Technologies components directly from the Mate display controller.
    • Integrate third party hardware, such as DC chargers and wind and microhydro turbines, directly into your system.
    • Provide detailed historical logs of all system components behavior, power output and consumption.
    • Automatically manage generator and inverter behavior to reduce spilled solar power for off-grid systems and sell-back power for grid-interactive systems.
    • Forecast energy production and consumption to allow generation to be run in advance of need.
    • Produces load profiles showing hourly, daily and weekly periods of production and consumption.
    • Display system performance on a website directly, without the need to "screen scrape" screen shots.
    • Real-time network data sharing so remote diagnosis can happen without having to e-mail log files.
    • Very large scale monitoring (hundreds to thousands) and management of independent renewable energy systems.

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  • Does the greenMonitor software work with all OutBack Power Technologies products?

    Yes, all inverters, charge controllers and the FLEXnet DC™ battery monitor are supported by the greenMonitor software. Equipment is recognized as soon as the data is read from the Mate display controller, without the need for tedious "configuration wizards" or additional software modules, as with our competitors.

    Any equipment that is reported by the Mate display controller is immediately and automatically reported, monitored and logged, without any configuration steps or model numbers required. Equipment that is not reported by the Mate display controller, such as the X-240 Autotransformer, is not monitored or reported because there is no data from the Mate display controller for that device.

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  • Does the greenMonitor software work with equipment from other vendors?

    Yes, we support the PentaMetric battery monitor from Bogart Engineering, charge controllers and relay drivers from Morningstar, and grid-tied inverters from SMA, as well as "dumb" components using shunt-based battery monitors, such as the FLEXnet DC from OutBack Power Technologies or the PentaMetric. Our shunt monitoring capabilities allow you to monitor, report and archive the behavior of DC battery chargers, such as Iota products and other components that do not have their own intelligent reporting or monitoring interface. We can display a third party inverter as an inverter, and a third party charge controller or power source as a charge controller or power source. You don't have to settle for viewing your third party products as shunt amperage or watt values.

    We have integrated the Watts up? .Net power meters, which will allow you to measure and control an unlimited number of 20 amp AC circuits.  We also support the TED 5000 power meter, which allows you to measure up to four larger (up to 400 amp AC) circuits.

    Support for non-OutBack Power Technologies equipment requires greenMonitor Individual Edition or higher.  Shunt-Port Mapping is available in all product levels, except our low-cost greenMonitor Viewer product.

    We have reduced the number of supported products to better define our product offering, as well as reduce our support and development costs.



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  • How do I get technical support?

    With our products being used around the world, and in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, e-mail technical support works best. We also have a blog and are available on Skype ("greenHousePC") and may be available by telephone, depending on time zones.

    We have a limited amount of time available for telephone consulting, as we have continued to expand both our product line and business contacts.  We bill at US$100 / hour for in-person and telephone consultation and at reduced rates for other forms of contact.

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  • Can I get technical support for all the computers I've installed the software on?

    Software support is provided for your primary computer system, unless you have purchased the "Site" or "Business" license level. We may provide support for other installations on a case-by-case basis. We've had to make this policy because some customers have attempted to install the greenMonitor software on additional computers before becoming familiar with the software on their primary computer.

    The following guidelines are used when making a decision to treat a problem as a software defect covered by the 1 year warranty, or as a for-fee customer support request:

    • Does the problem occur on the primary computer, or only on secondary computers? If only on secondary computers, has the network has been properly configured between the two computers?
    • Can the problem be recreated on the primary computer when accessing another system over the Internet?
    • Are both the primary computer and secondary computer(s) supported configurations?

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  • Do you really provide technical support to your competitors?

    Yes. We've made the decision that it is better for us to demonstrate our technical superiority over certain competitors by answering questions they cannot answer than to let their customer's suffer because of our competitors' lack of technical expertice. Since many of our customers were once customers of one of our earlier competitor, we feel this is a marketing tool. Our competitors often lack the technical skills needed to support their own customers and we don't mind demonstrating that we have those skills. It's made us money so far and we expect to continue to do it.

    In one instance, a "show-case" customer of a competitor had a system which was grossly malfunctioning. That competitor was unable to provide any technical assistance and their customer's system ran for days on end, wasting electricity charging and discharging batteries in a completely neededless fashion. After a few e-mail exchanges our competitor's client's system was up and running properly. That's what happens when you buy software from someone who is not in the Renewable Energy industry -- you get no service after the sale and no technical assistance with your system. We've not turned them to our products, but we are working on it.

    Here is a list of features and problems we supported that competitor in delivering or solving:

    • Device value truncation
    • Network client / server model
    • Remote system identification
    • "Hailing" a remote server
    • Remote device totals queries
    • USB-to-Serial device support
    • Re-try / time-out network connection management
    • Numerous software defects we've identified in our marketing materials

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  • What does 'parallel development' mean for me?

    The term 'parallel development' refers to a style of software development in which multiple versions of the same software are under development at the same time. If you have ever been forced to use the "latest and greatest" version of software, complete with the "latest and greatest" new bugs, you know why sometimes the older version of a software product is more stable or more desirable because it has fewer unwanted features. Over time, each version has bugs fixed and becomes increasingly more stable. The newer versions have more features, while the older versions have fewer defects. Our competitors in the small system monitoring software field, most of whom are not professional Software Engineers, keep putting out new versions with new bugs. If you want your old bugs fixed, you have no choice but to upgrade to the "latest and greatest". We also put out new versions with new features, but we also continue to provide updates to the older versions, allowing them to become increasingly more stable for our customers who do not require whatever new features are being offered in the "latest and greatest" software release.

    'Parallel development' gives you a more stable software environment, with faster turnaround on whatever bugs may you find. Because bugs can be fixed in previous versions of the software, without affecting the development of new products, it also makes it easier for us to correct whatever problems are found, while minimizing the risk of introducing new problems.  We also use a technique called 'Agile Development' in which we produce more releases on a shorter timeline.  This allows us to respond to customer requests in a much faster manner than with other development techniques.  The result is very high quality software that is very responsive to your needs.

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  • Why do some programs display a different version?

Using a parallel development strategy allows us to limit the changes we must make to a version to only those programs which have software defects.  This greatly improves the stability of the product, allowing you to focus more on your Renewable Energy System and less on our software.  One result is that a program which has been updated will have a different last number in the version.  The first three values will stay the same, only the fourth value, which reflects the update level, will change.

We have changed this behavior, starting in Version 1.00.8 and you will begin seeing the same version number for all of the programs within the greenMonitor software.

  • Can I write my own programs using the greenMonitor software?

    We do not provide support for using any of the greenMonitor software in a new product or tool. Additionally, any software which includes portions of the greenMonitor software is considered a "derivative work" under United States and most international copyright laws, and is the property of greenHouse Computers, LLC and may not be distributed without our express written permission.

    We are willing to provide consultation for special requirements, and you may contact us with your request. Many of our new features are driven by customer requests, and the tool you think you need to write for yourself may be something we are willing to include in a future release.

    We provide three different sources of Mate data that you may use for your program and those three sources and their tools are supported components of the greenMonitor software. They are:

    • Raw data files produced by the gmServer command.
    • Compressed data files produced by the gmServer command that you must uncompress with the gmUnpack command.
    • Raw data captured by the gmTrace command and optionally written to a file of your choosing.

    In addition to those three methods, you are free to write a TCP client application which connects to the gmServer server port. Note: Please be aware that attempting to write Mate commands to the TCP port can result in the gmServer command taking protective actions and disabling further network communications with the client's IP address.

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  • Can I use the greenMonitor software with WattPlot?

    As of WattPlot Version 4.5, Intallact has been making it increasingly difficult for WattPlot and greenMonitor to inter-operate. Many of our customers are former WattPlot customers or chose greenMonitor over the WattPlot software prior to becoming a customer of either company. Because of this, we work very hard to be compatible with WattPlot so our customers are able to use WattPlot to view their historical data. Likewise, Intallact works very hard to make the two products incompatible so they don't lose more customers to us.

    In order to use the WattPlot Monitor with the greenMonitor software, greenMonitor must be the product which is directly connected to the Mate display controller. This is due to a serious security flaw in the design of the WattPlot client / server model. It is technically possible to have WattPlot provide the TCP/IP connectivity to the Mate display controller, but this would leave your system open to attack, including open to anyone turning off your inverters or modifying other system components. (Note: This security flaw exists for all Intallact customers, since the don't have the gmServer command protecting access to their renewable energy system.) Having WattPlot directly connected to the Mate also leaves you at risk of Intallact adding more "features" to WattPlot to keep you from using both products together.

    In addition to providing TCP/IP connectivity to the Mate display controller, the gmRemote command can be run on low power Microsoft Windows, Linux or Apple Mac OS X systems for customers who still require WattPlot and want to use the "network share" method of access for older versions of the WattPlot monitoring software.

    One significant area of incompatibility is WattPlot's inability to process multiple FLEXnet DC™ type battery monitors. Our support of PentaMetric battery monitors creates an additional data record which has the same format as that used for the FLEXnet DC battery monitor. We also support SMA SunnyBoy inverters and the data values produced by that device support breaks WattPlot, which does not have any support for devices other than those produced by OutBack Power Technologies.

    Another area of incompatibility is the Shunt-Port Mapping feature. The Shunt-Port Mapping feature allows you to treat your third party components, such as DC battery chargers, wind turbines and inverters as though they were OutBack Power Technologies devices. The data records produced for mapped devices may cause problems with WattPlot if the "device configuration wizard" feature in WattPlot mis-identifies the device, or rejects the data it is receiving.

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  • Can I use the greenMonitor software to view my WattPlot data?

    Not at this time. Intallact has refused to publish their EPD data file formats in an apparent effort to trap you into using their product. This is why we recommend that you continue to use WattPlot as a greenMonitor client for the month in which you purchase the greenMonitor software. Our log files are human-readable and we'll even explain what the different values mean and how they are calculated. It's all about choice and freedom.

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System Requirements

What OutBack Power Technologies equipment do I need?

If you are monitoring OutBack Power Technologies equipment you will need a Mate display controller and a suitable cable for connecting to the Mate. We offer two different cables (not included) which allow you to connect to your Mate, depending on how you are accessing the Mate. We very highly recommend that your system also include a FLEXnet DC battery monitor, as well as a remote battery temperature sensor.

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What other equipment do I need?

If you are connecting directly from your computer to the Mate display controller you will need a suitable serial cable. We offer part number MATE-6FT for direct and serial-to-IP converter connections.  If you are connecting to the Mate using a dialup modem, we offer part number MODEM-6FT. You will also need to purchase two modems, one for each end of the connection. We recommend US Robitics modems as they are the brand we have tested the most. All of the cables we produce are constructed from RoHS compliant materials and fully shielded wiring, with the shielding conductor and metalized shells verified for continuity. Longer length cables are available at an additional charge.

You may also use a USB-to-serial converter if your computer does not have RS-232 ports, but does have USB ports. You should verify that the USB-to-serial converter is supported by your operating system. We have tested Prolific PL-2302 chip based USB-to-serial converters the most extensively and found they are well supported. The most widely available PL-2302 based converter is the Radio Shack® USB-to-serial converter with part number 26-949.

All serial port connections require that the device connected to the Mate provide both power and ground in order to communicate with the Mate display controller. The recommendation from OutBack Power Technologies is to use Data Terminal Ready (DTR) and Request To Send (RTS) in a non-standard manner. The cables we provide are configured to use either DTR or Data Carrier Detect (DCD) to provide power, and the standard ground wire to provide ground.

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What type and size of computer do I need?  Can I use a 64-bit computer?

The greenMonitor software runs on Linux (tested on CentOS, Debian, Gentoo, Red Hat, Ubuntu and Voyage distributions) as well as Microsoft Windows operating systems. We continually test the software against smaller and lower powered systems as part of our hardware data logger line of business. At present, the smallest system we have tested is a 5 watt Geode processor running at 400MHz with 128MB of RAM and 4GB compact flash storage being used as a disk drive.  The largest system we have tested is an AMD Phenom 4 quad-core, 64-bit processor with 8GB of  RAM and 6TB of disk storage.

The software is currently only fully supported on processors which are part of the x86 architecture family. These include:

  • Advanced Micro Devices processors such as the AMD Athalon™, AMD Geode™, AMD Sempron™ and AMD Phenom™, and other processors which are members of the x86 and x86_64 architecture families.
  • Intel® processors such as the Pentium™, Xeon™, Celeron™, Intel Core™, and other processors which are members of the x86 and x86_64 architecture families.
  • VIA Technologies processors such as the Eden™ and C7-D™, and other processors which are members of the x86 and x86_64 architecture families.

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What operating system do I need?

The software runs natively on Linux (tested on CentOS, Debian, Gentoo, iMedia (embedded), Red Hat,  Ubuntu and Voyager (embedded), and can be ported to most others) and Microsoft Windows (regularly tested on Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 with a backport of the .BAT files to Windows Millenium Edition underway). There is no need for emulation or virtualization environments or a special external or additional disk drive, as with our competitor's products.

Operating system compatibility is dependent on the availability of the RXTX serial communications library as well as the Java runtime environment on the desired platform. Both of these products are available on virtually all modern computer systems, as well as many systems manufactured in the past 10 years. For customers with special needs, we are willing to assist in porting the software to currently unsupported hardware and operating system platforms.

For applications where serial communication is not required, the software can be installed without the RXTX serial port support on a far wider range of systems, including systems other than Linux and Microsoft Windows.

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What additional hardware do I need?

You need a compatible computer system with a supported operating system; adequate memory capacity and disk storage; either a serial port, USB-to-Serial adapter, or a network interface to connect to the Mate display controller and the cables to connect all that together. Any other hardware products we mention are optional. You are free to purchase your cables from us, a different supplier or make them yourself.

If you want to access the data on an additional computer, you will need the network interfaces, cables or wireless cards and access points and other devices.

For Bogart Engineering PentaMetric battery monitors, you will need the RS-232 computer interface which replaces the standard LED display panel, as well as an additional RS-232 connection on your computer.

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What additional software do I need?

You will need a spreadsheet viewing program, such as Microsoft Excel® or OpenOffice Calc in order to view the files created by the gmForecast and gmReport commands. We routinely test using OpenOffice Calc and recommend it as a no-cost spreadsheet application that is available on all greenMonitor supported platforms.  We are adding the ability to view data directly through a web browser and you may be able to view the same data over the Internet as previously required a spreadsheet program.

Java 6 is the minimum supported Java runtime environment that is required.

Adobe Acrobat, or another program capable of reading PDF files is required to view the user's manual.  Starting in Version 1.00.9 the user's manual is available via a web browser and Adobe Acrobat is no longer required.

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Can I use a USB-to-Serial Converter?

Yes, you can use a USB-to-Serial converter if your computer does not have a RS-232 serial port, or if you are using all of them already for other applications. The only restrictions on USB-to-Serial converters are that they must be so-called "Full Power" devices since the Mate display controller uses power from the serial connection to provide data. If you are connecting the USB-to-Serial converter to a USB hub, it must be a powered hub. For best results, connect the USB-to-Serial converter to a USB plug on the computer itself.

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Can I use a dial-up modem?

Yes, we support connecting to the Mate display controller using a dialup modem as of version 1.00.6. You will need a special cable to do this, and we offer that cable for sale, part MODEM-6FT (sold separately). It is a 6 foot cable with a DB-9 connector for the Mate display controller and a DB-25 connector for the modem. This cable has been specially wired so that the Mate data is available whenever the modem has a valid connection. It is fully shielded, end-to-end, and has metalized connector shells to further protect the data from outside electrical noise.

You will also need a modem on the client system. The connection will automatically be established once you've configured the gmServer command with the serial connection to the client's modem, as well as the telephone number.

We recommend US Robotics modems for all your modem needs.

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Software Features

Of the half-dozen or more stand-alone products capable of monitoring the OutBack Power Technologies Mate display controller, the greenMonitor software has the most features, and the most advanced capabilities. The greenMonitor Renewable Energy System monitoring software is not just a monitoring product, as with our competitors' products, it also actively manages the behavior of your system. Our competitors can tell you what happened, we can tell you what will happen and manage your system to make it happen.

What are the basic features of the greenMonitor software?

All system monitoring products include a set of basic features. This typically include reporting overall system performance, either as numerical or graphical values. Some products, such as PowerDash and Fat Spaniel, make use of centralized web servers, while other products, such as WattPlot and WinVerter, are personal computer based products where the data is displayed on a local system.

The greenMonitor software is a hybrid between the two, providing a high function centralized server, the gmServer or gmConsole commands, that resides on a computer that is directly connected to the Mate display controller, while still providing for very high function network attached client. In addition, because you own the computer that is running the software, there are no monthly subscription charges, as with some products.

  • Can I view all of my devices in a single window?

    Yes. The greenMonitor software includes several "viewing clients", our term for the programs that allow you to view your system data. The most comprehensive of the viewing clients is the gmMonitor command, which provides you with detailed data for every monitored component, as well as providing you with "pen plots" for the devices. For a less detailed view, with your entire system visible at a glance, we offer the gmQuickView command. It provides a system-at-a-glance "dashboard" view of your system, with easy to read dials, a battery "Fuel gauge" and 24 hour history strip chart.

For remote viewing, we provide an extensive web interface, complete with numerous charts, graphs and downloadable spreadsheets.

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  • Can I control my system via the Mate?

    Yes. For simple changes, such as turning your inverters on or off, or enabling or disabling an AUX relay, we include the gmMate command. Customers find it very easy to use because they are already familiar with the physical Mate display controller. There are more advanced tools for managing the system and they will be covered elsewhere in this FAQ.  If you need to issue a command using third party software, such as the Microsoft Windows scheduler, or the Linux cron command, we also provide the gmCommand command.

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  • Can I use other software to access the Mate at the same time as greenMonitor is being used?

    That depends. If the software has the ability to read the Mate data stream from a network connection, you can use the gmServer command to provide access to the data. If the software requires that it access the data directly via a serial port, no, you will not be able to use it with greenMonitor. We are willing to work with other software vendors as it opens the possibility for us to sell hardware to their customers, and provide their customers with monitoring options they do not have already.

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  • Can multiple users access the Mate at the same time?

    Absolutely. The greenMonitor software was designed from the very beginning to be a network enabled product and to allow multiple users to monitor and manage the system at the same time. Being network enabled isn't something we added as an afterthought.  Starting in Version 1.00.8, each user has their own name and password, and may be restricted to a specific set of commands, as well as enabled or disabled.  There is no need to share passwords between users.

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  • Can multiple Mate display controllers be monitored at the same time?

    Yes. There are several different ways to monitor multiple Mate display controllers, depending on your needs, what the Mate display controllers represent, and where they are located. Multiple Mate support is included in all license levels, including our no- or low-cost greenMonitor Viewer product.

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  • Can I send e-mail and text message notifications?

    Yes. There are two different message formats available, "E-mail" and "Text / SMS".  The "E-mail" format is for traditional electronic mail and includes detailed system information.  The "Text / SMS" format is for cellular phones with limited mail reading capabilities and includes only the basic information about the event which generated the alert.

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  • Can I perform automated actions?

    Yes. There are a wide variety of actions that can be performed based on system parameters. These range from logging the action, to performing an internal command, to sending an e-mail alert. Additionally, you are not limited to a small number of system parameters. Most of the values which are reported or generated by the greenMonitor software can be used in automated events. Automated event triggers are included in all license levels, except our low-cost viewer product.

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  • Can I specify a time delay for an automated action?

    Yes. Every event includes the ability to specify an arbitrary time interval during which the condition must be present or not present for the trigger to occur. You aren't limited to a fixed delay or no delay at all. For example, you can specify that inverter state changes must exist for 30 seconds and charge controller stage changes for 15 seconds. You could even specify that after an hour (3600 seconds), an e-mail alert is sent for other conditions. Time-delayed event triggers are included in all license levels, except our low-cost viewer product.

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  • Can I combine multiple events to perform an action?

    Yes. Events can be combined into complex control sequences so that multiple conditions must be true in order for the final event to be triggered. Combining event triggers is included in all license levels.

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  • Can I change the programmed values inside the Mate?

    Yes. We make this feature available to our commercial and industrial clients. Our only competitor with this capability at present is GridPoint and we expect to continue adding features which are comparable to features in their product line. We will be creating a new license level and product which will be designed specifically for software control of the Mate display controller. If you have a need for this functionality right now, it is available in Version 1.00.7.  Please note that commercial and industrial systems often require consultation to insure that our product is going to meet your needs and that we will be able to integrate our product into your solution.  Additionally, greenMonitor Industrial Version is not available to non-technical consumers or residential system owners.

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  • Can I retrieve the actual settings from the system components?

    • Yes, but it is limited to inverter settings.  Charge controller and battery monitor settings cannot be retrieved directly from those devices.  This is a feature of greenMonitor Industrial Edition and requires that license level in order to use it.
What are the advanced features of the greenMonitor software?
  • Can I use my weather station or local weather data in greenMonitor?

    Yes. Several of the advanced tools work best when weather data, either from a locally attached weather station, or a regional weather information source, is available.  In particular, gmStatistics use a weather station to determine how temperature and humidity affect production and consumption, and gmForecast uses the values from gmStatistics to predict day-ahead production and consumption.

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  • What features does using a weather source provide? Why should I care about the weather?

    Weather conditions greatly impact the performance of your renewable energy system. Having an accurate and reliable weather data source makes it possible to know how much electricity will be produced and consumed. The gmStatistics command can calculate daily and weekly fluctuations in power consumption, but the weather plays a big role in power production, with some impacts on power consumption as well. Being aware of the weather can make all the difference in the world during periods of inclement weather -- the very times you can afford to be without electricity the least.  Additionally, the gmForecast command will tell you if the following day's production and/or consumption will be affected, based on the weather forecast.

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  • Can I limit how much power I sell? I want to use more of the power I produce locally, what can greenMonitor do to help?

    The gmManage command is a goal-driven program which monitors the current state of your renewable energy system, as well as making day-ahead forecasts and performing actions to maintain system health. Our patent-pending Predictive Charge Management feature can work to maintain your battery bank within a desired range by enabling and disabling the connection to the electric grid. This can greatly reduce the amount of electric power you sell to the grid, while maintaining battery health and state of charge.  With the new support for the OEM Mate display controller, the selling voltage and charging parameters can be modified under software control to perform even more advanced management.

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  • My utility charges different rates at different times of the day. Can greenMonitor automatically use the cost of electricity to decide whether or not I buy or sell power?

    No. That functionality has already been patented by another company. Because we are actively involved in pursuing patents for our own products, we must be very careful not to infringe on the patents of other companies. If the price changes at the same time each day, you could use "Time of Day" selling to achieve a similar result. However, if the price changes by varying amounts, and at different times of day, gmManage would be unable to follow those price signals.

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  • I have a Brand XYZ battery charger / wind turbine / microhydro generator and I want to monitor it. Can I?

    If the device uses DC power and can be monitored using a shunt with a FLEXnet DC or other supported battery monitor, the device can be monitored using a shunt and our unique Shunt-Port Mapping feature. The PentaMetric battery monitor software has  been modified to support AC current transducers, so AC current monitoring, although the cost to do so may be prohibitive.  We are continuing to investigate cost-effective means of providing this data.

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  • Help! My battery monitor is already using all of its shunts -- what can I do?

    The greenMonitor software supports a virtually unlimited number of battery monitors. Each battery monitor can produce up to three additional "virtual" devices. The only restriction is that each collection of battery monitors and virtual devices is limited to ten total devices per instance.

    Our solution to this problem is to use Bogart Engineering PentaMetric battery monitors.  This allows you to monitor additional devices.

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How does the greenMonitor software do all that?

The greenMonitor software is a "client / server" application, where each program within the product performs a very specific set of tasks. The server component, the gmServer command, is responsible for managing the connection to the Mate display controller, and each of the client components, such as the gmQuickView command, make requests of the server to perform tasks and display their results to the user. This is a very powerful programming technique and is what makes much of the Internet possible. You are viewing this FAQ using a "client / server" application. The client is your web browser and the server is the web server where this file is located.

A server is much more than just a connection to data. It's a single location where advanced processing takes place, freeing the client programs from performing the same tasks. One of our competitors claims to have a "server" product, but many of the features are limited to the locally running instance of the software. For example, that competitor has the ability to display a small bar-and-line graph showing a very limited amount of monthly data. That functionality is only available on the "local" system, while gmServer makes the same daily, weekly, monthly and yearly data available to all clients, and the gmMonitor client displays it for you, anywhere in the world that has Internet access to gmServer.

  • I have an idea for a new feature. Do you want to hear about it?

    We encourage customers to make requests for new features, but we have limitations we impose. First, you must agree that you are granting us a legal license to use your idea in the greenMonitor software without paying you any royalty, including patent royalties should you later choose to pursue patent protection for your idea. Second, you must disclose when and how you conceived of the idea. If the idea is not considered to be "new", "novel" and "non-obvious" -- a general set of guidelines for pursuing patent protection -- we will determine whether or not the idea is consistent with our product plans and proceed. Finally, if we do believe that the idea is sufficiently revolutionary that patent protection should be considered, we will work with you to either patent the concept, or publish it in such a way that we protect our rights to use the invention in the future.

  • A competitor's system has a feature I require. Do you have it as well? Would you add it?

    The greenMonitor software is not intended to be a "clone" of any of our competitors' products. Many of our design decisions are based on providing advanced functions that are unavailable from any of our competitors. However, many of our new features are suggested by customers. For example, the gmQuickView and gmViewer system viewing clients were added by customer request. So long as a requested feature does not affect our new feature roadmap, we will look at our available resources and consider adding it to the product. A feature that is required for a sale will be taken into special consideration, based on projected sales volumes and time tables. In addition, we publish our roadmap at regular intervals so that you are aware of our future plans. The roadmap for the next version, 1.00.9, has been published here.

What features are available to me on the local (server) system?

All of the features of the software are available on the server system -- the system which is directly connected to the Mate data stream, provided the feature has been enabled by gmServer. There may be reasons for disabling features on the server, such as a lack of data storage space, limited electric power, or wanting to have a centralized data storage repository for multiple systems.

What features are available to me on the secondary (remote) systems?

Any secondary system is capable of saving all of the data that is present on the primary server. This feature exists so that remotely monitored systems have all of the data available both locally as well as remotely. For secondary systems where the data is stored on the primary or remote server, there are limitations.

  • Can I use a remote client to create a day-ahead forecast using the gmForecast command?

    Day-ahead forecasting with gmForecast requires access to the data files that are produced by the gmStatistics program. That data typically resides on the primary server. It is possible to run the gmStatistics program as a remote client and customers who need to produce system forecasts should do so. The ability to run gmForecast remotely will be available in a future release.

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  • Can I use the gmMate command's GenStart features remotely?

    The gmMate command uses data from gmServer to perform the GenStart functions. You will need to verify that you have the correct password for the remote gmServer so that gmMate is able to enable and disable the AUX relay as needed to start and stop the generator.

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  • Can I use a remote client to exercise a grid-interactive system's batteries?

    The gmExercise command uses data from gmServer for all of its decisions. You can perform a battery exercise cycle remotely, provided you have the proper server password so that gmExercise can automatically issue the required Mate commands.

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  • Can I run gmLogView remotely?

    Yes. A change has been made for version 1.00.7 that will allow you to view log files over the Internet.  The only limitation at present is that you cannot click on the daily-by-hour view to examine a plot with minute-by-minute detail.

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  • Can I run gmReport remotely?

    Yes. A change has been made for version 1.00.7 that will allow you to create reports over the Internet.

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  • Can I use a remote client to perform Predictive Charge Management™ using the gmManage command?

    Predictive Charge Management performs continuous day ahead forecasting to calculate ongoing supply and demand balances, as well as maintain the required battery state of charge. It can only be run remotely if the data from the gmStatistics command is available remotely.

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  • Can I use gmMate remotely to view the FLEXnet DC log information?

    The historical log information that is maintained for the FLEXnet DC and other supported battery monitors is available remotely. To view the data, you will need to use the gmMate command and follow the appropriate simulated menu paths.

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  • Can I use gmMate remotely to view the FLEXmax log information?

    The historical log information that is maintained for the FLEXmax and other supported charge controllers (including virtual charge controllers) is available remotely. To view the data, you will need to use the gmMate command and follow the appropriate simulated menu paths.

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  • Why can't I access my Version 1.00.8 server using previous versions?

    New for Version 1.00.8 is the addition of individual user account controls that allow you to specify which users can access which commands.  Allowing older versions of the greenMonitor software to access  Version 1.00.8 systems requires that the "guest" user grant access for all commands using the gmAccounts command.

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  • Do you support non-English languages?

    We had provided minimal support for non-English languages in earlier releases, but have discontinued that due to lack of demand.

  • How do I embed a gmMobile or gmChart.php chart in my web page?

    You will need to locate the chart you wish to embed then copy the URL for that chart to your web page.  You may find the chart's URL typically by right clicking in the chart selecting "Copy Image Link" or similar language.  Place the URL inside of a <img> tag in the usual manner.


Troubleshooting

  • Why can't I see any data from the Mate?

    There are two common reasons for this problem.  One applies to all connection types and the other applies to the specific connection type that you have between the Mate and the greenMonitor software.  The first cause is not enabling the PC communication feature on the Mate display controller.  This feature is disabled by default.  To enable PC communication, navigate on the Mate display controller to SETUP -> MATE -> PG2 -> COMM -> PC, then press the ON softkey.  The second cause depends on the type of connection, and those solutions are listed below.

  • Why can't I see any data using a direct serial connection to the Mate?

    After you have verified that the Mate PC communication feature is enabled, you must verify that you have a proper connection between the serial port of the Mate display controller and your computer.  The following table provides the pin number on the Mate serial port, the pin number on a standard DB-9 RS-232 connector for your computer's built-in RS-232 port or USB-to-Serial converter, and the function that is performed.

    Mate Connection Computer Connection Description
    2 2 The Mate transmits data, and the computer receives data.
    3 3 The Mate receives commands, and the computer transmits commands
    4 4 The Mate is supplied with a positive voltage when the computer enables the Data Terminal Ready RS-232 signal.
    5, 7 5 Mate pins 5 and 7 provide the negative (ground) connection for both the power and data signal.  This is provided by the ground (pin 5) connection on the computer.

  • Why can't I see any data using a serial-to-IP converter connection to the Mate?

    You must first verify that the Mate PC communication feature is enabled.  The same pin connections that are used for a direct connection between your Mate display controller and computer or USB-to-Serial converter are also used to connect between most serial-to-IP or serial-to-Ethernet converts and the Mate display controller.  If you are able to connect to your Mate display controller using a direct serial connection to your computer, the problem is with the configuration of the serial-to-IP converter.

  • Why can't I see any data when connecting to gmServer, gmConsole or any other server program?

    Assuming that gmServer or gmConsole is displaying data, you must first verify that you are able to access the server using the local computer.  On the system running gmServer, gmConsole or other server program, attempt to view the system using one of the client viewers, such as gmMonitor or gmMate.

    If you are able to view the data locally, the problem is with your firewall, router, or Internet Service Provider.

    If you are not able to view the data locally, the problem is with the server port number (default is 9090) or the firewall program on your computer.

  • I'm not able to make any commands work from gmServer or the web server.  What's wrong?

    The gmServer command requires that you either define a 4 digit "PIN" or request actions as an "Admin" user.

  • I keep seeing the message "Disconnect requested", or the program flashes on the screen, then exits.  What is wrong?

    If you are running greenMonitor Version 1.00.8 or more recent, you must have a "guest" user defined in order to run any of the programs from the server.  From the server pulldown menu, select "gmAccounts", then add an entry for "guest" with "ALL" for the value of "Commands".  Leave the password field empty and click the "Enabled" checkbox.  Go back to the menu, select "Save Updates" then "Exit".  You may need to restart the gmServer command for this change to take effect.

  • I don't see the "Help" menu icon on certain commands. Where did it go?

    The "Help" menu button is only available if you selected the "On-Line Documentation" installation option when you installed the software.  You may use the software installer to add that feature at any time.

  • Why is the gmMobile (mobile device display) output so simple?  Why can't I see the display with Macromedia Flash or other advanced tools?

     The gmMobile command is designed to provide data that is viewable on all mobile web browsers, not just advanced devices such as the HTC EVO or Apple iPhone.  There is nothing wrong with your configuration if you are only seeing a basic web page.  Newer versions of the greenMonitor software include more advanced charts when accessed by a full-sized browser on a larger display, and may allow you choose to view the complete data on a mobile device.

Purchasing

How much is the greenMonitor software?

The greenMonitor Renewable Energy System monitoring software is priced based on level of functionality (for individual users), number of licensed users (for business systems), or the number of simultaneously monitored systems (for site licenses).  Some products, such as greenMonitor Industrial Edition are limited to technically skilled commercial installation owners and are not available to consumers or non-technical end-users.  Our complete price schedule is provided here.  We may offer discounts for some of our competitors customers if they switch to our product.  We may also offer discounts during the beta test period for new releases.

How do I purchase the greenMonitor software?

The greenMonitor software, as well as the greenMonitor integrated hardware solutions -- the greenMonitor Lite and our greenLogger sensor and control products  -- are sold from this web site as well as through select resellers. To place an order, please send your requirements to our sales department -- sales@greenhousepc.com.

Upon receipt of payment, we will provide you with a user name and password needed to download the software, as well as product updates, from the software download web page.

Why should I choose the greenMonitor software instead of the competitions' products?

We are a full-line Renewable Energy business, not just a part-time, side-line software business as with some of our competitors, or a monitoring-only service as with others. Our competitors sell you software or system monitoring, and that's it. And if it's time for you to expand your renewable energy system, we're again available to help plan your upgrade using the data gathered by the greenMonitor software. We sell software because something is needed to monitor your system, and we feel we have the best product for the job.

The greenMonitor software is the most advanced and most comprehensive product in its class, offering features that are unheard of at this level. Features that are otherwise unavailable, such as automatic goal driven battery maintenance (Predictive Charge Management™), are part of what we do. We're actively "writing the book" on how to get the most from your OutBack Power Technologies equipment. Our competitors have "maintenance logs" or "monitoring kiosks" we have automatic maintenance tools, local and remote monitoring access, statistical performance analysis and a wealth of other tools with one goal mind -- advancing the state of the art in renewable energy system design and management.

The founder of greenHouse Computers, LLC is a professional Software Engineer with more than 30 years of software industry experience. Her accomplishments include numerous United States Patents, as well as professional recognition in the fields of computer system administration and software security and a growing portfolio of Smart Grid patents pending. With over 20 years of Enterprise grade operating system design and development experience, she brings large scale software design and development experience to the renewable energy system design, monitoring and management field. Her software projects run on tens of millions of computers, accessed by hundreds of millions of users around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Can I evaluate the software first?

No, we do not have an "evaluation version" available at this time. Our competitors make evaluation copies available through the use of highly restrictive licensing mechanisms. Those same mechanisms that allow you to evaluate their products also prevents you from installing the software on other computers that you own -- and can keep you from using the software you paid for if your primary computer is out of service.

Can I get a refund if I don't like the software?

The only reason we will issue a refund is if the software cannot run on your primary computer, and if we are unable to solve the problems within 30 days of purchase. As with not offering an "evaluation version", we are unable to restrict you from installing the software on multiple systems (this is a feature -- we want you to install the software on multiple computers so you can access your renewable energy system from wherever you want to access it), and then forcing you to delete the software from all of your computers. If you suspect that you might need a refund, or that something about your computer system would make it function improperly or not at all, we encourage you to try out our no-cost monitoring solution first.  If it works on your computer, our for-fee products will as well.

I need an unlisted feature for my system. What features do you have planned?

Our future release plans are published so that you will know what is in the works, and if we commit to delivering a feature, where that feature is in the process of being implemented.  As the technology leader in small- to medium-scale system monitoring, we have the luxury of publishing our plans -- we surpassed many of our competitors' products early in our product's life and we don't expect them to catch up any time soon.

As of this update to our F.A.Q., greenMonitor Version 2.04.00 is exiting Beta Test.  The current plans can be found on this page.  Our development schedule produces approximately four major releases a year and the plans are published for each new release approximately the same time as each development release is made Generally Available.  Features that are required to support sales should be brought to our attention as soon as possible as we do not include new features in old releases, so that we may deliver the highest quality software possible.

Can I monitor multiple Mate display controllers with a single license?

Certainly.  There's nothing in the software that prevents you from doing this, and all of the license levels support multiple Mate display controllers.

Contents Copyright© greenHouse Computers™, LLC, 2009-2020, All Rights Reserved.
Trademarks used through this document are the property of their respective owners.
AMD and AMD processor names are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
FLEXnet DC and FLEXmax are trademarks of OutBack Power Technologies Corporation.
InstallShield is a registered trademark of Accresso Software.
Intel and Intel processor names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.
Microsoft and Microsoft Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
VIA and VIA processor names are trademarks of VIA Technologies, Inc.
WattPlot is a trademark of Intallact, LLC.
WinVerter is a trademark of RightHand Engineering.