how to add APSystems ECU-3 solar inverter monitor

[Benneton]

Hi,

Tomorrow I will get my solarpanels installed. they will be connected via APS Micro inverters (MPPT YC500i).
To monitor the panels a APS Systems ECU-3 (Energy Communication Unit) is installed.
This device has a LAN interface and can be read via a webbrowser.

My aim is to integrate this into Domoticz but I have no idea how.
Any suggestions?

More information on the Microinverters and ECU-3 http://www.focus-e.com/apsystems-aps-downloads

Thanks for the support

[krizzz]

Sorry to bump this topic from february this year. I have received the identical system with inverter here last week. APsystems appaerently uses it's own datatabase. I am terrifief if every something happens with APsystems, what will happen with cloud solutions?

I have seen a RS323 and USB port on the inverter. Maybe somebody knows a way to tap into these inputs?

[Benneton]

HI Krizzz,

I still have no idea on how to get this done.
I know the ECU 3 has web interface and maybe there is a possibility to read data via this interface into Domotticz.
Seen some uses of JSON to read from web interface into Domoticz, but I ah a noob on programming.

Out of curiosity what firmware version is your ECU 3 running?
Mine is version 4.1

any input to make this happen is welcomed.

[krizzz]

HI Krizzz,

I still have no idea on how to get this done.
I know the ECU 3 has web interface and maybe there is a possibility to read data via this interface into Domotticz.
Seen some uses of JSON to read from web interface into Domoticz, but I ah a noob on programming.

Out of curiosity what firmware version is your ECU 3 running?
Mine is version 4.1

any input to make this happen is welcomed.

Maybe a stupid question, but how do i check? I do not seen to find somewhere the id of the firmware being mentioned?


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[Benneton]

You can see this when you logon to the webinterface.
It is on home sections, it lists there all system info i.e.
ECU ID
Lifetime generation 2925.64 kWh
Last System Power 166 W
Generation of Current Day 0.29 kWh
Last Connection to website 2018-12-26 12:17:16
Number of Inverters 6
Last Number of Inverters Online 6
Current Software Version V4.1
Current Time Zone Europe/Amsterdam
ECU Eth0 Mac Address
ECU Wlan0 Mac Address
Inverter Comm. Signal Level

Bernard

[krizzz]

You can see this when you logon to the webinterface.
It is on home sections, it lists there all system info i.e.
ECU ID
Lifetime generation 2925.64 kWh
Last System Power 166 W
Generation of Current Day 0.29 kWh
Last Connection to website 2018-12-26 12:17:16
Number of Inverters 6
Last Number of Inverters Online 6
Current Software Version V4.1
Current Time Zone Europe/Amsterdam
ECU Eth0 Mac Address
ECU Wlan0 Mac Address
Inverter Comm. Signal Level

Bernard

Thanks! Mine is 4.1 also...


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[krizzz]

Seems that https://sites.google.com/site/ecu2pvo/home could be a solution, but i do not like the 70 dollar part for an arduino and Some software + acrylic.


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[Benneton]

I believe this is overkill for what we need.
As we already have Domoticz running with logging capabilities.
So we should figure out what script or software bit is used to log the USB port of the ECU 3 unit and have this feed Domoticz server.
in my case a Raspbery PI. I still have a port left on the PI so that will fit and PI and ECU are close enough to run cable, but I have no idea how to configure the Domotics software to read the USB port and use the generated data by ECU into database and item on dashboard.

I am open for suggestions

[Benneton]

Link to the manual of ECU 3
https://usa.apsystems.com/wp-content/up ... .20.16.pdf

[Eleanor]

APsystems EMA software, the APsystems ECU gives you precise analysis of each microinverter and module in your solar installation from any web-connected device.

[Benneton]

Hi Elanor,

Aware this is in place. Problem I have is that I have to share my data with a third party.
I would like to have the information I get from the ECU and ECU web interface into Domoticz so I have all in 1 place.

[PRB617]

Connect the panels of a solar bank together, if there are more than one. They are usually wired in parallel to preserve the voltage of each panel, but you can also wire sets of them together in series to increase the voltage to conform to the voltage of the battery bank, if need be.
For more info click here

[krizzz]

Connect the panels of a solar bank together, if there are more than one. They are usually wired in parallel to preserve the voltage of each panel, but you can also wire sets of them together in series to increase the voltage to conform to the voltage of the battery bank, if need be.
For more info click here

I do not see the added value of this post to this thread. We just would like the data coming from the ECU to a third party app like Domoticz.


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[dheuts]

Hi,

I have the same inverter monitor and found this info:
https://medium.com/@rukmalf/extracting- ... 2b8e8942b6

Maybe someone can make some plugin or script so we can use this? I'm not a programmer so I have no idea how to fix it...

[krizzz]

I found a solution which works quite well for me. Since the standard EMA app is really not sufficient. i decided to look for an options to download the data from my ECU to pvoutput. Appaerntly somebody uploaded a script for specific the APSystems ECU to upload to pvoutput. The link is below and I try to make a short installation guide.
https://github.com/willemstoker/aps-to-pvoutput

How to install?

First make an account @ PV output (https://pvoutput.org)

Than just created a new script within Domoticz/scripts/python:

Code: Select all

cd domoticz/scripts/python

Create script

Code: Select all

sudo nano apstopvoutput.py

- Copy code from https://github.com/willemstoker/aps-to- ... voutput.py and paste it into the apstopvoutput.py file

- change the things below in in the script. Leave the ' ' and replace the (for example) <ecuid> with the corresponding data

Code: Select all

ECU_ID = '<ecuid>'
PV_OUTPUT_SYSTEMID = '<systemid>'
PV_OUTPUT_APIKEY = '<apikey>'

you can find the ECU id in your app for example. The PV_OUTPUT_SYSTEMID and APIKEY you can find @ pvoutput.org

exit the file with Crtl-X and than save with Y(es) and confirm with enter

Than just follow the pvoutput guide (https://www.domoticz.com/wiki/Domoticz_and_PvOutput.org) to get the pvoutput data in your domoticz.

[FireWizard]

Hi,

I understand the owners/users of the solar panels, that they want to have control over their own data. They paid for their system! Unfortunately the manufacturers/suppliers of the (micro) inverters do not understand this. Otherwise they should have documented an API, so that programmers can made their own interface to Home Automation systems, such as Domoticz, Home Assistant or OpenHab.
It is pitty, but it is the way it is.

However, what I read so far it looks not too difficult.

The options to use PVOutput as an intermediate station is possible. But again you make use of a party, that is not under your control.
It should be possible without any external party.

I own solar panels, equipped with Enphase IQ7+ micro-inverters. They do not provide a fully equipped API either. They even claim that it is not possible to read the individual power production of each panel. However some posts were available and combining each other made it possible to get the information per panel in Domoticz. See example below.

Screenshot_solar-panels_roofplan_small.png (118.3 KiB) Viewed 11485 times

If this is your intention, you can follow these steps in order to install a MQTT broker and Node Red, if you have not done so.

1. Install Mosquitto MQTT broker. This can be done on the same device as Domoticz is running.
There are many guidelines on the Internet available.
E.g. See: https://appcodelabs.com/introduction-to ... spberry-pi
Test your MQTT broker, so that you know that it is working properly. Install also mosquitto-clients.

Test that you can connect with your tool to the Mosquitto broker. Default port is 1883.

Do not forget to secure your broker with at least username/password.

2. Install in Domoticz the MQTT Client Gateway with LAN interface and fill in the required fields
See:

MQTT Domoticz.png (134.46 KiB) Viewed 11485 times

Check that you can communicate between Domoticz and the MQTT Broker.
Subscribe with any client to domoticz/out and you will see various messages passing.

Install Node Red. This can be done on the same device as Domoticz is running.

I have installed NodeJS and Node-RED according to this guide:
NodeJS: https://www.instructables.com/id/Instal ... pberry-Pi/
Node-RED: https://nodered.org/docs/getting-started/installation

A tool, I use, on the desktop is MQTTfx. (See https://mqttfx.jensd.de/) But there are many others.

Test everything in order to be sure that you can communicate between Domoticz, Mosquitto and Node Red.
Connect the (default) Node Red MQTT in node to domoticz/out and connect a debug node and check that you can see the topics published by Domoticz.

Both the script used for the PV Output solution and the curl points to: http://api.apsystemsema.com:8073/apsema ... tPowerInfo

If you use this URL in your favorite browser what do you see?
In addition I found the following link: https://community.openenergymonitor.org ... rters/3491

It might be possible to use that solution "out of the box", but maybe you can use the output of the URL.
Can you publish the output of http://api.apsystemsema.com:8073/apsema ... tPowerInfo?

Regards

[dheuts]

I found a solution which works quite well for me. Since the standard EMA app is really not sufficient. i decided to look for an options to download the data from my ECU to pvoutput. Appaerntly somebody uploaded a script for specific the APSystems ECU to upload to pvoutput. The link is below and I try to make a short installation guide.
https://github.com/willemstoker/aps-to-pvoutput

How to install?

First make an account @ PV output (https://pvoutput.org)

Than just created a new script within Domoticz/scripts/python:

Code: Select all

cd domoticz/scripts/python

Create script

Code: Select all

sudo nano apstopvoutput.py

- Copy code from https://github.com/willemstoker/aps-to- ... voutput.py and paste it into the apstopvoutput.py file

- change the things below in in the script. Leave the ' ' and replace the (for example) <ecuid> with the corresponding data

Code: Select all

ECU_ID = '<ecuid>'
PV_OUTPUT_SYSTEMID = '<systemid>'
PV_OUTPUT_APIKEY = '<apikey>'

you can find the ECU id in your app for example. The PV_OUTPUT_SYSTEMID and APIKEY you can find @ pvoutput.org

exit the file with Crtl-X and than save with Y(es) and confirm with enter

Than just follow the pvoutput guide (https://www.domoticz.com/wiki/Domoticz_and_PvOutput.org) to get the pvoutput data in your domoticz.

THanks a lot, looks really good! Will give it a try.

Hi,

I understand the owners/users of the solar panels, that they want to have control over their own data. They paid for their system! Unfortunately the manufacturers/suppliers of the (micro) inverters do not understand this. Otherwise they should have documented an API, so that programmers can made their own interface to Home Automation systems, such as Domoticz, Home Assistant or OpenHab.
It is pity, but it is the way it is.

However, what I read so far it looks not too difficult.

The options to use PVOutput as an intermediate station is possible. But again you make use of a party, that is not under your control.
It should be possible without any external party.

I own solar panels, equipped with Enphase IQ7+ micro-inverters. They do not provide an fully equipped API either. They even claim that it is not possible to read the individual power production of each panel. However some posts were available and combining each other made it possible to get the information per panel in Domoticz. See example below.


Screenshot_solar-panels_roofplan_small.png

If this is your intention, you can follow these steps in order to install a MQTT broker and Node Red, if you have not done so.

1. Install Mosquitto MQTT broker. This can be done on the same device as Domoticz is running.
There are many guidelines on the Internet available.
E.g. See: https://appcodelabs.com/introduction-to ... spberry-pi
Test your MQTT broker, so that you know that it is working properly. Install also mosquitto-clients.

Test that you can connect with your tool to the Mosquitto broker. Default port is 1883.

Do not forget to secure your broker with at least username/password.

2. Install in Domoticz the MQTT Client Gateway with LAN interface and fill in the required fields
See:


MQTT Domoticz.png


Check that you can communicate between Domoticz and the MQTT Broker.
Subscribe with any client to domoticz/out and you will see various messages passing.

Install Node Red. This can be done on the same device as Domoticz is running.

I have installed NodeJS and Node-RED according to this guide:
NodeJS: https://www.instructables.com/id/Instal ... spberry-Pi
Node-RED: https://nodered.org/docs/getting-started/installation

A tool, I use, on the desktop is MQTTfx. (See https://mqttfx.jensd.de/) But there are many others.

Test everything in order to be sure that you can communicate between Domoticz, Mosquitto and Node Red.
Connect the (default) Node Red MQTT in node to domoticz/out and connect a debug node and chech that you can see the topics published by Domoticz.

Both the script used for the PV Output solution and the curl points to: http://api.apsystemsema.com:8073/apsema ... tPowerInfo

If you use this URL in your favorite browser what do you see?
In addition I found the following link: https://community.openenergymonitor.org ... rters/3491

It might be possible to use that solution "out of the box", but maybe you can use the output of the URL.
Can you publish the output of http://api.apsystemsema.com:8073/apsema ... tPowerInfo?

Regards

This looks even better, thanks a lot! Unfortunately when I open the link, I get an error. I also tried it with = and my ECUid after the url, but I get:

type Status report
message Method Not Allowed
description The specified HTTP method is not allowed for the requested resource (Method Not Allowed).

[FireWizard]

HI,

So it is maybe not that easy.
I also see that result. (HTTP Status 405 - Method Not Allowed)
I now realize that this URL is the API of AP systems.

You have to use your communication unit:
Try: url = "http://" + ecuIP + "/cgi-bin/parameters?target=main" where ecuIP is the IP address of your ECU unit.
So as an example: url = "http://192.168.1.25/cgi-bin/parameters?target=main".

What happens if you poll your ECU, like http://<IP address>?

Regards

[Benneton]

This looks promising will try it next week
Thanks for sharing


Bernard

[Benneton]

Hi FireWizard, Dheutz,

Been fiddling with my Domoticz and using your tutorial to get MQTT, Node JS and node red installed.
This all works fine (as far as I could test).
Can receive MQTT messages from Domoticz when my broker subscribes to domoticz/out

What I did not understand is the bit:
"Connect the (default) Node Red MQTT in node to domoticz/out and connect a debug node and chech that you can see the topics published by Domoticz."

I have no experience at all with node red and MQTT etc. so how do I connect node red to domoticz/out?
When I connect to node red I can add a MQTT input to listen to the domoticz/out channel.
But what do I need to do more? Pass it in a file? Could you please let me know and specify a bit more on how to build the node red needed config/script.

Next to this I tried to connect to the API from AP systems.
so I used API.ECU-IP:8073/apsema/v1/ecu/getPowerInfo
got error server not found. As I saw v1 (thought maybe version 1) I know I have a version 3 ECU and therefore also tried:
so I used API.ECU-IP:8073/apsema/v3/ecu/getPowerInfo

tried it without API in the url but also server not found.

Looked at the script from openenergy but I read I need "EmonPI" no idea what it is.
When I see the URL in the script I tried this to:
http://ECU-IP/cgi-bin/parameters?target=main
I get a 404 not found page.

So here ends my knowledge.

I hope there will be someone that can get this a few steps further and working
Ultimate goal would be just to have a hardware device in Domoticz to select APS ECU via LAN

EDIT 01/09/2019:
Did some searching again and run into this thread:
https://www.solarpaneltalk.com/forum/so ... 3-scraping
a member DRPUMP:
"Wrote a quick python script to scrape from my ECU. Requires python 3.x (scripting language) and the "BeautifulSoup" module. Might not work for newer models, but you'll get the idea. The forum won't let me attach it as a file, so you'll need to grab the gist from https://gist.github.com/anonymous/c4...bf83c69fd6a1ee"

No idea if that could work on the PI that runs domoticz and then passes data on to domoticz to create the solar panels and stats.

Some more searching in the ECU-3 I saw that it is build using:
JQUERY | https://api.jquery.com/

On this site it states information on the interface and API.
Unfortunately for me this is all abacadabra no clue if it will help us further in integrating the monitoring of APS Micro inverters to Domoticz.

Thanks!
Bernard