How to Monitor Your Solar & Battery System

One of the most rewarding parts of owning a solar energy system is watching it generate electricity.

Today's solar and battery systems can provide detailed information about how much electricity you're producing, how your system is operating and, depending on the installed equipment, how energy is moving through your property.

At Stellr Solar, we help customers get connected to the appropriate monitoring platform so they can better understand their investment.

What Can I See in My Monitoring App?

Most modern monitoring systems provide access to information such as:

• Current solar generation.
• Daily, monthly and annual energy production.
• Historical system performance.
• System operating status.
• Individual module or inverter information, where supported.
• Energy consumption and grid imports/exports, where suitable metering equipment is installed.
• Battery charge and backup status, if applicable.

The information available depends on your equipment, monitoring gateway and installed sensors.

Which Solar Monitoring App Will I Use?

Stellr Solar works with different equipment manufacturers.

Your monitoring platform is determined by the products included in your installation.

Some systems use more than one app, especially when the solar inverters and batteries come from different manufacturers.

Our team will explain the monitoring arrangement for your specific installation.

Hoymiles S-Enduser Monitoring

Customers with compatible Hoymiles microinverters may use the Hoymiles Energy Monitoring and Analysis platform.

Depending on the system, it can provide:

• Overall solar production.
• Historical energy generation.
• Microinverter-level information.
• Supported panel or inverter-channel performance.
• Operating alerts and equipment information.

Module-level monitoring can be useful for understanding differences between parts of a solar array.

Enphase App

For compatible Enphase systems, the Enphase App provides an overview of solar generation and system performance.

Depending on the equipment and metering configuration, you may be able to view:

• Live solar production.
• Daily, monthly and lifetime energy.
• Individual panel performance.
• Household electricity consumption.
• Electricity imported from and exported to the grid.
• Battery status and supported controls.

Consumption data requires compatible equipment and properly configured monitoring.

Tesla App

If your system includes compatible Tesla Powerwall equipment, the Tesla App can show how electricity moves between your solar system, battery, property and the utility grid.

You may also be able to review:

• Battery charge level.
• Backup reserve settings.
• Solar generation history.
• Energy imports and exports.
• Battery charging and discharging.
• Available operating modes.

Battery settings affect how much stored energy is reserved for potential outages.

Solis Cloud App

For compatible Solis systems, the Cloud App allows customers to follow solar generation and system performance.

Depending on the system configuration, the app can show:

• Overall solar production.
• Historical energy generation.
• Panel-level information (integrating an add-on is needed)
• Supported panel or inverter-channel performance.
• Operating alerts and equipment information.

mySigen App

For compatible Sigenergy systems, the mySigen App provides information about solar and battery performance.

Supported features may include:

• Real-time energy flows.
• Solar generation.
• Battery charge levels.
• Historical electricity data.
• Energy management settings.
• Equipment operating status.

The available features depend on the installed products and their configuration.

Understanding kW and kWh

Two measurements appear frequently in solar monitoring.

Kilowatts (kW) measure power at a particular moment.

For example, if your system is generating 5 kW, that is its approximate current power output.

Kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy accumulated over time.

If your system generates an average of 5 kW for two hours, it produces approximately 10 kWh.

When reviewing your monthly production, the kWh total is one of the most useful measurements.

Why Does My Solar Production Change?

Solar production varies throughout the day and across the seasons.

Common influences include:

• Sunlight intensity.
• Cloud cover.
• Roof or array orientation.
• Temporary or permanent shading.
• Daylight hours.
• Snow coverage.
• Inverter operating conditions.
• Utility or system operating restrictions.

Solar generation typically increases after sunrise, becomes stronger during suitable daylight conditions and decreases toward sunset.

Winter production in Nova Scotia is generally lower than summer production because of shorter days, weather and sun angles.

A single cloudy day is not a reliable measure of the system's overall performance.

How Do I Know How Much Money I'm Saving?

Solar production is one part of the savings calculation.

Your actual electricity savings also depend on how much solar energy you use directly, how much you export, your utility rate and your consumption patterns.

For some systems, the monitoring app can estimate financial savings.

However, the most reliable way to understand actual utility savings is to compare system production and electricity bills over suitable periods.

Monthly utility fees and commercial demand charges may still apply.

What Happens When My Internet Goes Down?

Most cloud-based monitoring platforms depend on a working internet connection to update the app.

If your internet stops working, the monitoring platform may display an offline status or outdated information.

Depending on the equipment, solar generation may continue normally even while cloud monitoring is unavailable.

Once the connection returns, some systems upload information stored during the interruption.

If the app remains offline, contact our team.

What If I Change My Wi-Fi or Router?

If you change internet providers, replace your router or update your Wi-Fi password, the monitoring gateway may need to be reconnected.

Start by checking the manufacturer's supported reconnect instructions.

If you need assistance, send us the monitoring app name and a screenshot of the message you're seeing.

How Often Should I Check the App?

You don't need to monitor your system constantly.

We recommend checking occasionally to become familiar with normal generation patterns.

Reviewing monthly and yearly trends is often more meaningful than watching short-term fluctuations.

If you notice a recurring fault, prolonged monitoring outage or unusual decline in production, contact Stellr Solar.

Does our Software/Portal Also Show Monitoring?

Where Stellr Solar has enabled and connected the applicable functionality, the customer portal may provide access to selected project information, documents and monitoring.

Your equipment manufacturer's monitoring app remains an important source of product-specific information.

Need Help or Have Questions?

Our team is here to support you throughout your solar journey.

Stellr Solar Customer Support

Email: info@stellrsolar.ca
Phone: 1-800-971-1295
Website: www.stellrsolar.ca

Explore our other guides in the Stellr Solar Learning & Support Centre for more information about installation, monitoring, maintenance, and energy savings.

Stellr Solar — Helping You Get More From Your Solar Investment.