Solar assistant for remote viewing Voltronic and Axpert inverters

[Tradie]

I started using this program more than 4 years ago, for our Voltronic/Axpert inverters, I thought it would be a good time to do give some feedback.

We have not experienced any issues with Solar assistant.

I Have a Pi 3B+ demo unit with a really old version of solar Assistant, I couldn't link a Must/Axpert unit, emailed support, they replied with a new image to flash the SD card in the Pi, downloaded restarted the Pi found a software update, restarted the Pi and bingo, it all works. Need I say anymore about support.

Looking at the new software compared to some of the older units, they have certainly expanded the product. My old demo unit could only connect to Axpert, now it has a long list, which include Sunsynk/Deye/Luxpower/Must and many more.

[Tradie]

If you have a couple of Pi3B+ units spare, and know how to flash and SD card, you just buy the software, the best part, it's a once off payment, no monthly fees.

If like me, you dont want to run around trying to find a Pi, a power, supply, SD card (flash it) and cabling, then you just buy the whole package in box, go to site and literally plug it into plug and the inverter and you good to go.

Why would you outlay a couple of thousand rand to remote view your inverter data, once you have access to the data collected in your inverter, you get a better idea of how long the battery will last, with the connected load, but more important, is the state of the battery health. Because FLA batteries dont show you the battery SOH, you can connect a constant load and let it run flat. There is a lot of Voltronic/Axpert inverter which still have FLA batteries, if they are older than 3 years, chances are they dont last very long when you need them (if they were setup correctly) chances are your FLA batteries are long past their sell by date, especially if the cutoff was set to 10,5 VDC.

We use the software to remote monitor on sites, We have used it in the past to identify end of life of FLA batteries, we have been replacing FLA with lithium, but there are still people who just want a cheap replacement FLA battery.

You can also adjust the inverter settings in Solar Assistant.

I have a 6 kw adjustable resistive load with a built in fan, which I use to load test inverters and batteries, which dont have a dongle and BMS. Solar Assistant just makes my life so much easier than trying to connect a bunch of meters to record data.

Don't forget to plug it into the essential side of the inverter.

By the way I am not sponsored by solar Assistant, just thought I would share my experience.