Hi Howie and Wrenches, We have quite a few OpticsRE sites functioning fine on satellite internet so I don't think that there is any defined limitation there. I like to use a Hub 10.3 with systems that you intend to have on Optics. Optics not perfect but its better than other off-grid monitoring and gives decent control to the administrator. Hoping to see something made for mobile devices soon.
I find online monitoring to be super useful as a solar integrator and worth the effort to install properly. Hardwire is preferred way to do this, but I have had good success using a TP Link Wireless Nanorouter in client-mode (serving only the internet device hardwired in). The nice thing about client mode is that the Mate won't get booted off of the network by other devices connecting to the network through the TP Link. There may be some anomalies with integrating older equipment but I'm not sure on that. Good Luck On Mon, Oct 12, 2020 at 6:51 PM Howie Michaelson <howie.michael...@gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks guys. I really appreciate the info. That does a lot to clear up my > misgivings with attempting this! > > My only hesitancy at this point is switching to the Mate3. When it first > came out, I put it into an off grid upgrade, but ended up hating it - I > found it more complicated and less intuitive than the original Mate (which > says a lot considering the lack of intuitive design of that). So it seemed > harder to explain to my clients. (Maybe I just hate change). > > Dan, do you know why satellite won't work for the optics internet > connections? Many of my remote sites only have satellite internet access. > > Thanks again, > Howie > Howie Michaelson > Sun Catcher > NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ > Solar Electric & Heat Pumps Systems Sales & Service > 802-272-0004 > > On Mon, Oct 12, 2020, 7:56 PM Dan Fink <danbo...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Howie; I'm pretty satisfied with the current condition of the OpticsRE >> world. Most of the past problems have been ironed out, and I've had good >> email tech support from Outback (!). >> >> You'll need a Mate 3S, an Outback Hub, and a Flexnet DC with shunts for >> each channel you want to measure. If all your equipment is Outback, you >> only need the Net shunt on the FLexnet DC, otherwise, more shunts. As Jerry >> mentioned, the Mate 3S will automatically get it's IP address from the >> router and connect online, you just type its MAC address into the OpticsRE >> portal and it starts communicating. >> >> The critical thing is the internet connection -- it must be rock solid or >> you'll have no end of woes. Satellite internet (Hughes, Exced) will NOT >> work with it (nor with Midnite's monitoring system BTW). Wired LAN (Cat 5) >> has worked the best for me, but do NOT exceed (or even approach, in my >> experience) the 50 foot limit. If you use a wifi adaptor on the Mate 3S >> instead of wired, make sure you have an *excellent* wifi signal in the room >> with the Mate 3S. I've never tried a cell adaptor, as where I work cell >> service is weak and spotty if it even exists, but I assume a very strong >> cell connection would be needed. In one situation with no cell service, >> long wire run for ethernet and bad interior wifi (concrete/stucco/adobe >> style walls) but good local coax modem internet, I just ran fiber optic >> cable with a fiber to ethernet adaptor on each end (Mate 3S and cable >> modem) outdoors in conduit, about $150 in equipment, and that cable could >> be half mile long but seem like 3 feet to the Mate 3S. >> >> As for the Midnite controller, just put one shunt for the Flexnet DC on >> the output of the Midnite CC, and you'll at least be able to read amperage >> and work the watt/hour meter. The Flexnet DC gives you a shunt channel for >> net on the main DC negative, plus 3 more shunt channels to measure whatever >> you want -- wind turbine, other brand CCs, etc. >> >> The configurable email alerts and automated daily data dumps are super >> handy for systems that are hours drive away. I also learned to set the Mate >> 3S to automatically reboot every 24 hours....this (oddly) cleared up many >> problems I had in the past with the Mate 3S dropping offline randomly. >> >> Dan Fink >> Owner, Buckville Energy Consulting >> NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector >> IREC Certified Instructor™ for: >> ~ PV Installation Professional >> ~ Small Wind Installer >> NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers >> d <dan.f...@greendustrialtraining.com>anbo...@gmail.com >> 970-672-4342 >> >> >> >> >> On Mon, Oct 12, 2020 at 5:05 PM Howie Michaelson < >> howie.michael...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Hey FOlks, >>> While Outback had been my goto offgrid system, over the last many years >>> I have gravitated to the Conext and Sol-Ark systems. However, I have many >>> legacy Outback VFX systems out there and some could really use remote >>> communication. Unfortunately, I have stayed far away from Optics RE, as I >>> haven't been thrilled with the reports of issues the system had. However, >>> it seems it is the best option for remote oversight, so I am trying to >>> figure out what is required and what it is capable of. >>> I've read through the initial documentation and as best I can gather, I >>> need a Mate 3s and an internet connection - is that all? I assume having a >>> FlexnetDC in the system is critical as well. I'm also wondering if there >>> is a way to monitor basic production data from a Midnite Classic through >>> the Optics system. And is the Optics RE system fairly solid since I'm not >>> thrilled about putting in systems that need too much fussing or attention >>> to keep operating once they are set up properly. Finally, are there any >>> other comparable monitoring equipment that would work for monitoring such >>> systems? >>> Thanks, >>> Howie >>> >>> *Howie Michaelson**Sun Catcher* >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. 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