Solar Demo Plugin

Solar Demonstration Plugin

This plugin will demonstrate collection from a single Kaco Solar Inverter. Normally, solar inverters are configured for data collection at 5 minute intervals, or 288 data points per day. However, due to night-time, there are about 144 non-zero readings per day. Each data point contains about 20 variables.

This plugin will send a day's worth of 5 minute, daylight hours data point at 5 SECOND intervals. After about 12 minutes, all the data will be sent and the plugin will stop sending data. To start the data transmission, run solar_demo discover AND make sure there is a log scenario in place.

To run the demonstration plugin:

1. Once installed, Add a scenario

2. Enter an IP address (any valid looking IP will do). Notice how the RUN DISCOVERY button is disabled until all the MANDATORY fields are populated

3. [OPTIONAL] Enter an invalid PORT number (number < 0, number > 65535) to demonstrate field validation

4. Click RUN DISCOVERY

5. To demonstrate what an error looks like, change the IP Address to 10.99.1.1

6. Click RUN AS A SCHEDULED TASK

7. Specify any name for the plugin

8. Specify the frequency of the plugin (5 seconds is recommended)

9. Click SAVE

It will now start sending data to the cloud. Data will be in the solar table. To restart the demonstration plugin:

1. Click RUN DISCOVERY

2. You don't have to delete old data, but if you want to, then do this:

   • Navigate to Admin > Data > Storage > Tables

   • Delete the solar table

Usage

Usage: solar_demo log|discover <ip_address>

• Command argument can be log or discover

• A log verb will collect data and send it to the cloud.

• A discover verb will show the data that is to be collected.