SAPPHIRE SOLAR AUSTRALIA
WIFI MONITORING FAQS
Which App do I use to monitor my system?
The inverter that is connected to your battery is used to monitor your solar and battery storage system. Please refer to your contract for the inverter brand, or look on the actual inverter unit itself.
Your installer should set up the monitoring for you at the time of installation which includes setting up the mobile App on your smart device.
In case you need them, instructions on how to connect to WIFI and information on how to view your data can be found in the WIFI Monitoring tab under each inverter brand on our website.
If you require assistance in connecting your system’s monitoring WIFI monitoring please contact the Tech Support of the inverter which can be found in the Tech Support tab under each inverter brand on our website.
Where do I find the serial number of my inverter?
Your serial number is located on the side panel sticker of your inverter and this is what you’ll need to set the WIFI monitoring up.
What do I do if my monitoring goes offline?
The first thing to do is to check that the inverter itself is on. Check that the lights on the inverter are illuminated and the WIFI dongle for the unit (if it has an external dongle) is well attached. If the unit is off, follow the System Startup procedures listed on the label on the outside of the inverter.
If the inverter appears to be on, the great news is that this is often only ever a minor issue. Chances are the solar energy system is still producing power, you simply can’t see this information being logged anymore through the monitoring App.
All WIFI monitoring requires a strong WIFI signal. Check your signal strength by following this link. If you find the signal strength is sub-optimal you may need to purchase a WIFI extender to strengthen the WIFI signal near to your inverter location. Make sure when you’re reconnecting your WIFI that your smart device and inverter are in close proximity.
If the signal strength is sufficient, please consult the WIFI setup instructions for your specific inverter found in the WIFI Monitoring tab under each inverter brand on our website.
TIP#1: Most inverter WIFI connections will only connect to the 2.4GHz WIFI band and will not work with the 5GHz band.
TIP#2: WIFI connections to the inverter’s server may not happen instantaneously. We recommend once you have followed the WIFI connection procedure wait at least 10 minutes and then check to see that connection has been successful.
TIP#3: Like all great IT experts say, sometimes you just need to restart your machine! Follow the shutdown and startup procedures on the inverter’s sticker and reset your home modem.
If you still require assistance in connecting your system’s monitoring WIFI monitoring please directly contact the Tech Support of the inverter which can be found in the Tech Support tab under each inverter brand on our website – they are available to talk you through connection over the phone and diagnose any connection issues.
GRID BLACKOUT FAQS
Will my battery storage system work in a blackout?
Your grid-connected solar power systems must by law shut down if the grid loses power. The reason is that linesmen repairing faulty electricity wires must be able to do so safely, without any solar power travelling back into the grid during maintenance and repair. Your electricity if fed back into the line could create a danger to the service personnel. Your solar power system will automatically turn on during daylight hours when the power comes back to the grid.
However, one of the main benefits of incorporating a hybrid inverter and battery into your system is that in the event of a blackout, the hybrid inverter automatically detects a grid failure and instantaneously switches over to battery power.
This means that the elements wired to the backup load circuit of your house will keep functioning even when the grid is out, to the point where the battery becomes depleted which is why the backup circuit should only be wired to support essential services (lights, powerpoints – see section below) in order to conserve battery power.
In selected inverters including sonnenBatteries fitted with sonnenProtect and Goodwe D-ES series hybrid inverters, solar panels can still charge the battery even when the grid out down without feeding power back into the grid.
Will my battery back up support power to my whole house?
NO. Backup circuits are designed to be just that – a backup so about ¼ of a normal house load. You CANNOT run your entire house on the backup.
What you can put on your battery backup circuit depends on the Ampage of the backup system:
10A: Light circuit plus 1 x GPO installed next to your inverter
20-25A: Light circuit plus 1 x GPO installed next to your inverter plus 1 x dedicated power circuit* plus 1 x A/C circuit**
*Dedicated power circuit must be <20A – you must not plug too many high energy consuming devices into this power circuit – phone chargers, TV, laptop are fine ; kettles, hairdryers, electric heaters, dishwashers are not!
**The A/C circuit can be wired into the backup as long as its running when the grid goes down. Power surges upon turning an A/C unit on can trip the system
Do my solar panels continue to make power and charge my battery during a blackout?
Your grid-connected solar power systems must by law shut down if the grid loses power. The reason is that linesmen repairing faulty electricity wires must be able to do so safely, without any solar power travelling back into the grid during maintenance and repair. Your electricity if fed back into the line could create a danger to the service personnel. Your solar power system will automatically turn on during daylight hours when the power comes back to the grid.
Do I need to restart my system when the power comes back on?
No, when the grid comes back online your system should automatically reboot. If it does not please follow start up instructions on sticker on inverter.
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