greenMonitor™ Renewable Energy Monitor
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DescriptionThe greenMonitor system is designed to monitor and manage your Bogart Engineering, OutBack Power Systems or SMA based renewable energy system. Unlike other products which require a direct connection to monitored equipment, or force you to subscribe to a monitoring service, the greenMonitor Renewable Energy Monitor software allows management and monitoring from any location on the Internet, via dialup or cellular modem, point-to-point FM radio modem or serial-to-IP converter, subject only to Internet connectivity between locations. Only one tool within the suite must be connected to the system directly, or via one of the previously mentioned means, with connectivity to the remainder of the tools being made using a built-in TCP/IP server. Additionally, greenMonitor is able to perform active grid management, unlike other tools which only tell you the current or historical status, or notify you of events or service intervals. With the gmManage tool, you can choose to minimize selling (if you have a poor or no net-metering agreement with your electric provider), minimize spilled or wasted solar power harvesting (to increase return on your investment), or maximize use of solar power. |
Hardware Solutions
We specialize in producing low power computer systems for off-grid and energy-conscious users. These systems are the basis for our low-power data monitoring systems. We combine the lowest power, highest performance systems we are able to build with our greenMonitor Renewable Energy Monitor monitoring software to produce monitoring solutions that deliver high performance at very low loads.
greenMonitor Logger
| The greenMonitor Logger™ system is based on the low-power VIA® ARTiGO® A2000 platform. The ARTiGO A2000 system includes a low power, x86-compatible processor based on the VIA C7-D processor and CX800 chipset. Twelve volt DC power has been measured at 18 watts. The greenMonitor Logger is ideal for systems which require large amounts of data storage (160GB hard drive standard) and higher processing capabilities that our other low power data loggers, without requiring a full-power computer. The greenMonitor Logger has two USB ports on the back of the system which can be used for serial devices (USB to Serial converters not included) such as the OutBack Power Systems Mate display controller, or an RS-232 daughter card in one of the supported SMA SunnyBoy inverters. The greenMonitor Logger can monitor up to two of the following: Bogart Engineering PentaMetric battery monitor, OutBack Power Systems Mate display controller attached to a fully populated Hub 10 or a supported SMA Sunny Boy inverter. List price is $499 (plus shipping and handling and any required export fees or duties). |
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greenMonitor Server
The greenMonitor Server is based on the ARTiGO A1000 system and includes the VIA Esther processor and CX700 chipset. Twelve volt DC power for this system is measured at 11 watts typical, with peak power at approximately 18 watts. The greenMonitor Server is ideal for smaller systems where data storage (80GB hard drive standard) requirements are lower. An RS-232 connection is standard, as are 4 front-panel USB ports. The greenMonitor Server can monitor one of the following: Bogart Engineering PentaMetric battery monitor, OutBack Power Systems Mate display controller attached to a fully populated Hub 10 or a supported SMA Sunny Boy inverter. List price is $499 (plus shipping and handling and any required export fees or duties).
greenMonitor Lite
| The latest addition to the greenMonitor family of hardware solutions is the greenMonitor Lite™ low power data logger, designed by H And K Energy Solutions, located in Anchorage, AK. The greenMonitor Lite data logger is based on the AMD Geode processor on an ALIX.3D mother board with 256MB RAM and 8GB flash drive storage standard. Twelve volt nominal power is supplied via a Power over Ethernet (PoE) connection to an OutBack Power Systems inverter AUX output (700ma @ 12VDC maximum) or using an optional 12 volt power supply (sold separately). Ideally suited for very low power systems, the greenMonitor Lite data logger supports a single OutBack Power Systems Mate display controller monitoring up to 6 devices (inverters, charge controllers or FLEXnet DC battery monitor). List price is $359 (plus shipping and handling and any required export fees or duties). |  |
All of our hardware solutions include a 12 month warranty on defects in materials or workmanship, in addition to any manufacturer warranties on materials. For hardware service, please contact customer support for a Return Material Authorization number. Shipping and handling to and from Austin, Texas, along with any export fees or duties, is not included.
Software Solutions
The greenMonitor Renewable Energy Monitor software is available separately for installation on almost any platform that supports the Java® runtime environment and at least one serial port (RS-232) or a USB port capable of supporting a USB to RS-232 adapter, including Microsoft® Windows®, Linux®, Apple Mac OS™, and others.
greenMonitor Viewer
The greenMonitor Viewer is designed to be a simple, no-frills, no- or low-cost monitoring product for customers who have a casual need to examine their system and do not require customer support. Product content varies from release to release and includes new features as we determine we can offer those features without impacting our core software products. It also allows us to provide a product for evaluation purposes.
greenMonitor Basic Edition
The greenMonitor Basic Edition software is designed for an individual system owner who requires basic system monitoring and reporting, or whose system is being monitored by a 24/7 remote monitoring service and requires local access to their system information. The advanced system management tools, as well as the tools which perform statistical analysis and forecasting are not included in this license level.
greenMonitor Individual Edition
The greenMonitor Individual Edition software is designed for an individual system owner or sole-proprietor renewable energy system installer who either owns a single OutBack Power Systems system, or who is a small business with a limited number of customers. The Individual Edition software includes all of the advanced management tools and display applications as well as the gmServer individual system monitoring server.
greenMonitor Site Edition
The greenMonitor Site Edition software is designed for an individual renewable energy installation having more than one Mate display controller. Typical applications are installations with more than a total of 10 inverters, charge controllers and battery monitors combined into multiple seperate systems.
greenMonitor Business Edition
The greenMonitor Business Edition software is designed for professional installation and maintenance businesses having one or more employees responsible for the installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems.
Business Edition Monitoring Bundles
Designed for businesses with monitoring requirements up to 25 systems, the Monitoring Bundle allows you to immediately begin 24/7 remote monitoring of your customer systems. Additional customers may be added at a very low price, allowing you to expand your monitoring service as needed.
greenMonitor Industrial Edition
The greenMonitor Industrial Edition software is designed for complex commercial systems utilizing multiple OutBack Power Systems Mate display controllers. With features that are only found in software products costing substantially more, the Industrial Edition allows for remote monitoring of the system, as well as remote configuration of inverter behavior.
Clients and Case Studies
For information about a few of our clients and how they are using our products and services, please read our case studies page.
Availability
Version 1.00.7 is currently available for all supported Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. We have not yet performed acceptance testing on Apple Mac OS X. Version 1.00.6 Update 1 is currently available for all supported operating systems (Microsoft Windows from Windows 2000 through Windows 7, Apple Mac OS X versions 10.5 through 10.6 on Intel platforms, and Linux).
Version 1.00.8 (completing Beta testing) includes the following new features:
- Per-user account support allows multiple people to be given access to the system without the need to share a password
- Watts Up? meter support for Watts Up? .Net and Smart Circuit 20
- New PHP line and bar chart web pages
- Improved Spanish language support
- gmConfigure - Supports remote system configuration
- gmConsole - Allows remote systems to periodically send complete status updates to reduce network traffic
- gmLogFile - Allows data logs to be downloaded without requiring FTP or e-mail
- gmMonitor - Individual data values may be included or excluded in pen-plots to improve readability
- gmSun - New application that produces a graphical representation of the sun's position in the sky
Version 1.00.7 includes the following new features:
- All commands now report their name and the name of the user who started the command to gmServer so the command and user names appear in the clients table.
- gmConsole - Supports incoming connections from remote systems.
- gmContact - Supports connecting systems by name to the gmConsole command.
- gmMonitor - Added support for The Energy Detective™ 5000 from Energy, Inc. The TED 5000 allows you to use current transformers to measure one or more AC circuits, such as the input or output of your OutBack Power Systems or SMA inverters.
- gmLogView - Enhanced to support viewing system logs from remote systems. This update allows you to view logs in a graphical format, even when the log files are not present on the local system.
- gmMate - Enhanced to include new Array Health Monitor feature pages showing expected wattage from solar arrays. Temperature compensated voltage panels have also been added. Significant enhancements in support of the OEM Mate display controller have been added for commercial and industrial installations.
- gmReport - Enhanced to support producing spreadsheets from remote systems. This update allows you to generate performance spreadsheets from systems, even when the log files are not present on the local system.
- gmServer - Support for reading data from the TED 5000 home energy monitor.
- gmServer - Support for OEM Mate software configuration and settings functionality. These enhancements allow the gmMate command to change inverter values under software control.
- gmTrace - Enhanced to work with our low-cost greenMonitor Viewer product.
greenMonitor Hardware Requirements
Specific hardware requirements are based on the number of monitored systems, as well as the operating system being used to operate the greenMonitor software.
Typical memory requirements are 512MB of RAM, plus 128MB of RAM for each additional monitored system. For server-class operating systems, such as Windows 2003 Server and Linux, memory requirements will be lower due to shared memory utilization.
Typical processor requirements are satisfied based on operating system support. For AMD Geode process class systems (found in our ultra low power greenMonitor Lite system), a single Mate display controller with up to six attached devices can be monitored. For Via Esther™ and C7-D processor class systems (found in our ultra low power greenMonitor Logger and Server systems), up to four Mate display controllers can be monitored (may require additional hardware). For Intel Atom™ processor class systems (found in our greenStation Personal Workstation and greenMonitor Server Pro models), up to 25 Mate display controllers, or up to 50 network connected systems, can be monitored. For AMD Phenom™ processor class systems (found in our greenFarm Virtualization Server systems), up to 1,000 network connected systems can be monitored. For other high power servers, please refer to the PassMark® Software CPU benchmark website here.
Typical network bandwidth is minimal, and based on the number of display clients which are connected to the greenMonitor product. All network connected system performance values assume suitable network connectivity of 1KB per second per connection. For a 100BaseT (100 megabits per second) Local Area Network (LAN), the total number of network monitored systems and client connections should be limited to 500 or fewer. For a 1000BaseT (1 gigabit per second) LAN, the total number of network monitored systems and client connections should be limited to 5,000 or fewer. We have not tested on 10BaseT LANs or T1 or T3 Wide Area Networks. Due to high bandwidth requirements during certain operations, we do not recommend more than 2 connections per individual T1 circuit. WiFi (Wireless) network performance limits depend on specific wireless hardware and the wireless access point configuration. We recommend not more than 25 monitored system per 801.11g channel. Note that due to sharing between clients on a wireless channel, we recommend that multiple data streams be consolidated using a wired network prior to transmitting over an 801.11g connection.
Typical hard disk space requirements are based on the level of detail in the logged data. At the highest level of detail, storage requirements are approximately 25MB per day per system. This assumes per-second logging and per minute statistical data storage for a Mate display controller connected to a fully configured Hub 10. At the lowest level of detail, storage requirements are approximately 2.5MB per day per system. This assumes per-second logging, with no statistical data storage, for a Mate display controller connected to a fully configured Hub 10.
System Requirements
Our system monitoring products require that the renewable energy system have a source for the data, such as an OutBack Power Systems Mate display controller, or SMA RS-232 daughter card, and all of the needed components. The following list is not inclusive and installers with questions should contact our sales department.
Bogart Engineering
- Linux or Windows compatible computer system (not applicable to our hardware solutions)
- Readily available power
- Network connections near monitoring system
- RS-232 interface for PentaMetric
OutBack Power Systems
- Mate display controller
- FLEXnet DC battery monitor (optional, but strongly suggested)
- Hub4 or Hub10, depending on total component count
- Linux or Windows compatible computer system (not applicable to our hardware solutions)
- Readily available power
- Network connections near the monitoring system
- RS-232 or other data connectivity to the Mate display controller
SMA
- RS-232 daughter card for the inverter
- Linux or Windows operating system compatible computer system (not applicable to our hardware solutions)
- Readily available power
- Network connections near the monitoring system
- RS-232 connectivity to the daughter card located in the inverter
Software Features
The following software features apply to both the stand-alone software products, as well as the embedded hardware solutions listed above.
Logging and Reporting
As with competitors products, the greenMonitor system provides full details on the real-time performance of your Outback Power Systems or SMA installation. Additionally, highly detailed data is logged on a per-minute or per-hour basis in an industry standard XML file format. No need for third-party database products or off-site records storage.
Notifications
A complete set of user-configurable actions can be added to the system configuration file, making a wide range of event notifications possible, using either e-mail or SMS (for SMS users with e-mailable addresses). New for Version 1.00.8 is the gmEvents tool which allows you to easily define custom events and notifications.
Network Enabled
Unlike our competitors products which may require workarounds to get onto the Internet, greenMonitor was designed from the ground-up to be network capable. And because it was designed from the start to be network accessible, it is also sharable, allowing system owners and maintenance personnel to look at the same data at the same time to solve customer problems. There's no need to send files to customer support to be reviewed, simply contact your monitoring service (if you are a customer) or access your customer's system (if you are a dealer / installer) and review the system's behavior in real-time.
Security
Unlike our competitors' products which use weak "Simple Substitution Ciphers" and allow "Replay Attacks", the greenMonitor software, starting in Version 1.00.8 supports per-user accounts with individual passwords per user, strong passwords based on the MD5 Hash, authentication timestamps to prevent replay attacks, and remaindering to prevent guessing the original password.
Each user account can be enabled or disabled individually, with the results taking effect immediately (or as soon as any active connections are terminated). An integrated Firewall and Intrusion Detection System prevents repeated attacks from taking place, even if the attacker is successful at guessing the required authentication information.
Website Ready
greenMonitor includes four Java™ technology based applets, including the gmMeter applet on this page, which can be embedded in your website, in addition to being useful on their own. A number of sample PHP files are included as well for embedding bar charts into websites or producing your own on-line monitoring web pages.
Optional Equipment
In addition to the greenMonitor software, we also offer connection solutions to attach your Mate display controller to your computer system, as well as weather station options for integrate weather and system performance data.
- MATE-6FT -- 6 foot RS-232 connection cable. Constructed from RoHS compliant materials and fully-shielded. Has a DB-9 male connector for the Mate connection and DB-9 female connector for the computer connection. $25 plus shipping and handling. For longer lengths, add $1 per foot. If you require plenum-rated insulation, please request a price quote.
- SERIP-6FT -- 6 foot serial-to-IP converter connection cable (discontinued -- use MATE-6FT instead). Constructed from RoHS compliant materials and fully-shielded. Has a DB-9 male connector for the Mate end and a DB-9 female connector for the converter end.. $25 plus shipping and handling.
- MODEM-6FT-DB9 -- 6 foot dialup modem connection cable. Constructed from RoHS compliant materials and fully-shielded. Has DB-9 female connectors on both ends, with one end labeled for connecting to the Mate display controller and the other for connecting to dialup modem. $25 plus shipping and handling.
- MODEM-6FT-DB25 -- 6 foot dialup modem connection cable. Constructed from RoHS compliant materials and fully-shielded. Has DB-9 female connector the Mate display controller and a DB-25 female connector for the modem. $25 plus shipping and handling.
- Weather Station -- The La Crosse Technology family of weather stations includes models which can be integrated with the greenMonitor software. We recommend the WS 2317 from Amazon.com.
Texas residents, please add 8.25% state sales tax. All prices are F.O.B. Austin, Texas and exclude packaging and shipping as well as export / import fees and duties.
Product Support
Please contact customer support to report any hardware or software problems with your greenMonitor product. For software support, you may use the software download page to download an updated installation image if your issue has already been corrected in the current release. If you have a system performance problem, and you've installed greenMonitor already, we are available to diagnose your system problems on-line on a consulting basis.
Product Comparisons
greenMonitor versus WattPlot
Background
WattPlot from Intallact is one of the older products for monitoring OutBack Power Systems equipment. The product is now very outdated and many of the features have severe limitations, or are misrepresented by Intallact. We monitor their development process and have not seen a published product update in almost five months, leading us to conclude that Intallact has ceased product development. Older releases of WattPlot, which are required to run the software on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me and Windows 2000 have not been updated in even longer.
Over time we have learned that many of the claimed features of WattPlot are limited to the much more expensive license levels, such as WattPlot PRO (required for automatic actions) or WattPlot MultiMATE (required to access systems containing more than one Mate display controller), or do not function as claimed (compressed log files do not have the claimed resolution or contents). Our low-cost greenMonitor Viewer product, which supports multiple Mate display controllers, is intended to replace any need you might have for WattPlot software -- all at little or no cost to you. You may read a complete product comparison on this page.
greenMonitor versus Envi, TED 5000 and other CT-based monitors
Background
There is a growing trend in renewable energy system monitoring towards ever lower prices and price points as the costs of the system components -- inverters, charge controllers and solar panels -- continues to fall. While some price reductions are possible due to lower system component prices, or the use of different hardware platforms, much of the price reductions are at the expense of monitoring functionality.
The two most commonly discussed products within the solar power industry are the Envi and TED 5000 power monitors. Both devices use current transformers to measure current flows between over various wires, such as between the utility electric meter and the renewable energy system, or between the inverter and the power disconnect. Neither of those devices are capable of providing any other status information, including the status of system components. Additionally, the companies behind these products are not in the renewable energy design, installation, maintenance or monitoring business. Our experience with the TED 5000 is that it requires significant experience with the product itself to install and configure properly.
Both the Envi and TED 5000 power monitors require third-party software, typically Google PowerMeter, in order to view the data over the Internet. This raises significant concerns about future compatibility between existing installed systems and newer third party software. In addition, because the installer or customer does not own the web servers, customer requested features may be impossible to implement. Finally, it's been our experience that data ownership provides significant value. We often use actual customer data when sizing systems for clients in the same area, or when sizing upgrades.
Proper system monitoring requires knowing more than just the number of kilowatt-hours produced at any given time. Our predicted power output feature allows you to compare theoretical system output against actual system output to determine if the proper amount of power is being produced on any given day or time. Gradual system degradation, which cannot be detected by products such as the Envi or TED 5000, is immediately obvious. As we add environmental sensors, such as pyrometers and panel temperature sensors, additional advantages over those products will be realized. Our recently added support for the Smart Circuit 20 means that you can monitor and control an unlimited number of 20 amp circuits at the same time you monitor system performance. This feature is already providing invaluable information about inrush current requirements which impact inverter sizing decisions.
Documentation
greenMonitor Users Manual, version 1.00.7Pricing
Detailed price information, including dealer and reseller prices and discounts, is here
Monitoring and Remote Support
We offer remote diagnosis for OutBack Power Systems users who do not wish to own or operate a monitoring system. If you have a performance related problem which requires more attention than you can get locally or on-line, please contact customer support and describe your performance related problem. If this is something we can help you solve, you'll be asked to download and install the greenMonitor Viewer package and make a $25 payment through PayPal.
For OutBack Power Systems customers who are looking for 24/7 remote monitoring, we offer remote network monitoring for $10 per month through Digital Gnomon. A $60 one-time setup charge applies and includes the greenMonitor Basic Edition software, a $75 value when sold separately. Additionally, you will need to pay the first six months monitoring in advance, with each six month renewal paid at least 30 days before the expiration of the subscription. The subscription service includes on-line access to your system information using the gmQuickView, gmMonitor and gmMate display tools, as well as monthly production and consumption spreadsheets, updated on a nightly basis. For additional details, or to place and order, please contact the Digital Gnomon sales staff.