Solar Dataloggers and Connectable Sensors

Datalogger is an electronic device that is used to record and store data over time. Datalogger can be used to record many physical data and environmental conditions such as energy, temperature, humidity, pressure, water level, wind speed and direction, insolation values…etc and to transfer this data to monitoring systems. In PV Plant, Dataloggers are used to remotely monitor the production status of the facility and to record data.

In PV Plants, there must be a datalogger and monitoring system for following the production status of the facility and its efficiency. The most basic equipment of this system is dataloggers. Almost all inverter manufacturers have their own monitoring system and dataloggers or monitoring systems that are compatible with their inverters. Generally, inverter manufacturers’ monitoring systems and dataloggers are used in PV Plant. In addition, special SCADA systems can also be used for data recording and monitoring. In PV Plant, dataloggers are integrated with devices such as inverters, meteorological sensors and energy meters to monitor the production status and efficiency of the facility. Datalogger periodically records the data they receive from these devices and transfer them to monitoring systems. Datalogger models and monitoring systems of inverter manufacturers are given in “Table 1”.

Table 1: Datalogger models and monitoring systems of inverter manufacturers

Huawei – Smartlogger

In the data recording and monitoring system in PV Plant where Huawei inverter models are used, Huawei’s datalogger and monitoring system can be used. Huawei datalogger is called Smartlogger. There are 4 models, which are Smartlogger1000, Smartlogger2000, Smartlogger1000A and Smartlogger3000.Neteco is used as Huawei Monitoring System. However, soon, this monitoring system will be replaced by the FusionSolar monitoring system. SEVEN Sensors are compatible with Huawei Smartlogger.

Goodwe – EzLogger Pro

Goodwe’s datalogger model is EzLogger Pro which is used with its own inverters. In the facilities where Goodwe inverters are used, data received from devices such as inverters and meteorological sensors are recorded with EzLogger Pro to monitor the production status of the facility and the GoodWe monitoring system transfer them to the SEMS Portal. SEVEN Sensors are compatible with Goodwe Ezlogger.

SMA – Data Manager M / Cluster Controller

SMA, one of the powerful inverter manufacturers, has different datalogger models. The model of datalogger used varies according to the SMA inverter type used in the facility. The widely used model is Data Manager M. These dataloggers record the data they receive from devices such as inverters, meteorological sensors, power meters and transfer them to the SMA monitoring system Sunny Portal. SEVEN Sensors are compatible with SMA Data Manager M.

Sungrow – Logger1000 / COM100

Sungrow’s datalogger models are Logger1000 and COM100, which are used to monitor the facility and record data in PV Plant by communicating with devices such as Sungrow inverters, meteorological sensors, power meters. These dataloggers periodically record the data they receive from other devices and transfer them to the iSolarCloud monitoring system. Thus, the investor can follow the production status and efficiency of the facility. SEVEN Sensors are compatible with Sungrow Logger1000 and COM100.

Kaco – Blue’Log

Although Blue’Log series dataloggers are not Kaco products, they are widely used as a part of the data recording and monitoring system in PV Plant where Kaco inverters are used. Kaco produced its own datalogger in the previous periods, but then stopped producing dataloggers. Blue’log series dataloggers can be compatible with many inverter brands other than Kaco. VCOM monitoring system is used as a monitoring system with Blue’Log series dataloggers. SEVEN Sensors are compatible with Kaco Blue’log.

Growatt – ShineMaster

The datalogger Growatt produces to be used with its inverters in data recording and monitoring systems in PV Plant is called ShineMaster. As other inverter manufacturers’ dataloggers, ShineMaster records the data collected from inverters, meteorological sensors, power meters at regular intervals and transfers them to the ShineServer monitoring system so that the facility can be monitored. SEVEN Sensors are compatible with Growatt Shinemaster.

SolarEdge – SolarEdge Gateway

SolarEdge Gateway periodically records the data received from devices such as inverters, meteorological sensors and power meters in PV Plant where SolarEdge inverters are used and transfers them to the SolarEdge Monitoring Platform. Thus, the investor has information about the production status and efficiency of the facility. SEVEN Sensors are compatible with SolarEdge Gateway.

ABB – VSN700

ABB produces a datalogger, called VSN700, to periodically record data from inverters, meteorological sensors, power meters, and transfer this data to Aurora Vision monitoring system in facilities where its own inverters are used. This datalogger is used in the data recording and monitoring system in PV Plant, enabling investors to monitor their facilities. SEVEN Sensors are compatible with ABB VSN700.

Meteorological Sensors That Can Be Connected to Dataloggers

Dataloggers can have various analog and digital signal inputs and communication protocols. For this reason, it is not always possible to communicate the same sensors with different datalogger models. SEVEN Sensor produces meteorological sensors with different signal outputs to be compatible with different datalogger models.

The sensors produced are tested with the dataloggers of the inverter manufacturers available in our factory and it is ensured that the sensors work in full compliance with the data loggers. Sensors that can be connected to the data loggers of inverter manufacturers are given in “Table 2”.

Table 2: Datalogger models and sensors that can be connected

The Solar İndustry developed SunSpec communication protocol to unify the solar devices communication in recent years. SEVEN Sensor always follows the latest developments in the market and we embedded Sunspec Alliance communication protocol to our products to be most compatible solar sensors in the market.