PVBeanCounter not loading data

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What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. Run the service as normal

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

I'm expecting to see entries loaded into the database and for it to be uploaded 
to my pvoutput.org account.

What version of the product are you using (e.g. 1.4.1.9 32bit)?

PV Bean Counter v1.5.0.6 Setup(x64).msi

What Operating system (XP, Vista, Windows 7 - 32bit or 64bit)?

Windows 7 64bit

Which Database Type (MySQL, MS Access, SQLite - If Access, 32bit or 64bit)?

Sql Server 2008

Are there any unusual messages in PVService.log? (upload a copy to this
issue if there are)

Please upload your settings.xml file with the issue. This answers many
questions I would otherwise need to ask.

Please provide any additional information below.

I have resolved issues connecting to the database and I can now see that a few 
records have been created in tables such as 'meter' and 'inverter' but I am not 
seeing any solar generation data from my EnviR display that is connected vis 
usb cable to my pc.

I have tried re-installing the usb driver and rebooting and the service appears 
to operate correctly now without any errors logged. I'm not getting any form of 
backlogged data or even instantaneous data.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 12 Jul 2011 at 2:01

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Re-uploading settings file with database details removed.

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 12 Jul 2011 at 2:03

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I noticed re-installing the usb driver put the Envir on a different COM port 
(COM6). I changed the COM port to COM 6 and set the baud rate 57600 and am now 
getting the attached error log. It looks like a null reference, or object 
reference exception.

Oh, I also downloaded the CC test/terminal utility and was successfully able to 
connect to COM6 and could see data being logged ~6 seconds so I know the data 
is definitely coming through to the pc.

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 12 Jul 2011 at 2:18

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Please install version 1.5.0.7. This is the version I use and it contains 
significant internal changes around meter menagement. This version matches the 
current development codebase and can be easily adjusted if a defect is found.

http://code.google.com/p/pvbeancounter/downloads/list?can=4&q=&colspec=Filename+
Summary+Uploaded+ReleaseDate+Size+DownloadCount

After installation, check "Trace", "Meter Trace" and "Meter Message" on the log 
files tab. Save settings and start PVBC.

Dennis M-F

Original comment by DennisMackayFisher on 12 Jul 2011 at 10:34

• Changed state: Started

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Downloaded and isntalled 1.5.0.7 and appear to have the same issue. See 
attached for latest log file.

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 13 Jul 2011 at 10:06

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Hi Dennis,

Do you have any ideas with regards to the latest log I uploaded? I'd really 
love to get this working. I had a look at the pvoutput.org integration service 
but would much rather use your solution because it logs to a database first 
where as I think the integration service uploads live to pvoutput.org doesn't 
it?

Anyhow, do you have any other suggestions as to what I can try to get the 
service logging data correctly?

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 15 Jul 2011 at 1:23

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The null reference error occurs when PVBC reads 20000 bytes from the CC Meter 
port without finding the leading <msg> (start of a message from the meter).

It looks as though the data from the meter is in the wrong character format (no 
idea why at this stage). I have prepared 1.5.0.8. This will not give the null 
reference error. It should keep running when it cannot find the <msg> entry. 

It will dump the mismatched data to the log file if "Meter Message" and "Meter 
Trace" are checked.

I am stability testing this version on my own system. I will make it available 
when it has been tested for a few hours. Probably tomorrow morning.

Dennis M-F

Original comment by DennisMackayFisher on 15 Jul 2011 at 6:43

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Excellent. I'll test it as soon as it's available.

Cheers,
Joshua

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 15 Jul 2011 at 2:08

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1.5.0.8 is available here:

http://code.google.com/p/pvbeancounter/downloads/list?can=4&q=&colspec=Filename+
Summary+Uploaded+ReleaseDate+Size+DownloadCount

Remember to check "Trace", "Meter Message" and "Meter Trace" save settings 
before you start the service.

I expect it to produce a large log file very quickly. Be ready to stop it a few 
minutes after starting. "Meter Message" and "Meter Trace" are responsible for 
the large log file.

Post the log, or a relevant portion of it when you have a result.

Dennis M-F

Original comment by DennisMackayFisher on 16 Jul 2011 at 12:02

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I have tried both Com1 and Com6 but no matter what I do, it appears it cannot 
find the <msg> header...

16/07/2011 6:21:55 PM :T9 CC Meter Reader :Converse: DoMessageFind: Not Found: 
<msg>

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 16 Jul 2011 at 8:23

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One thing I noticed is that it doesn't appear to be transmitting every six 
seconds like it is supposed too?

I haven't set the clock on that EnviR unit yet and as it is actually 6:30pm, 
the solar has stopped recording anything of note (it still seems to transmit 
~30w overnight due to clamp interference?).

Anyhow, you can see there are *some* messages being broadcast on the usb cable 
but not many. Do you know what's going on here?

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 16 Jul 2011 at 8:33

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Try setting the time. Time must be set correctly to work with PVBC. PVBC relies 
on the time being accurate to support 2 hour history correction.

The C2 display shows gaps of up to 2 minutes between messages. This is causing 
the timeout in the PVBC logs.

It is possible that you are too far from the CC transmitters. Try moving the CC 
display closer to the meter box.

Are the updates ob the CC display at 6 second intervals or are they up to 2 
minutes apart?

Dennis

Original comment by DennisMackayFisher on 16 Jul 2011 at 10:05

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It does indeed seem to be an issue related to the time. Once I set the correct 
time I could see entries being logged into the meterreading table.

The entries appear to be a bit sporadic. It's not that far away from the 
transmitter so I don't think it would have been a signal problem. In terms of 
the actual on screen display, it updates every six seconds.

Is there a way to get history data that was stored in the envir unit?

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 16 Jul 2011 at 10:49

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The "History Hours" setting determines how much of the 2 hour history is used 
to adjust the "Live" data (default is 24). However I suspect any history prior 
to setting the time will be unreliable.

If incorrect history adjusts the Live data you can get large numbers of 
retransmissions to pvoutput, reaching the hourly limit.

I suggest History Hours should not exceed 24 unless your computer has been off 
for a day or more. Set the Tolerance to 5%.

Is it working now?

Dennis M-F

Original comment by DennisMackayFisher on 16 Jul 2011 at 9:32

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I'm not too sure about the history. It hasn't back dated anything (probably 
because of the time issue you mentioned). Everything appears to be working 
nicely for live data though.

I set the current cost yield threshold to 39w to ignore reported generation 
below that (as that is what it tends to sit under over night) but it still 
seems to log entries into the database. Also, is there a way to tell the bean 
service to ignore entries before say 6am and after 5:30 - 6pm?

I noticed there is a suspend option in there but I don't want to suspend the 
computer. Just tell the service to only accept data between those time periods. 
Is this what the inverter start/stop is for on the suspend control page?

Lastly, what exactly is the current cost tolerance doing that you mentioned to 
set to 5%?

Thanks for all your help.

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 17 Jul 2011 at 6:24

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[deleted comment]

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You can close this issue now Dennis as you have resolved the initial issue I 
was having which turned out to be related to the clock not being set on the 
Envir unit (it was on my other EnviR and hence why I hadn't noticed it).

I have everything uploading to pvoutput.org nicely now and have opened a new 
issue related to a different problem I am seeing.

Original comment by joshua.h...@gmail.com on 18 Jul 2011 at 1:59

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Original comment by DennisMackayFisher on 18 Jul 2011 at 10:07

• Changed state: Fixed