Collect data from a second generation Ginlong/Solis inverter equipped with a WIFI stick.
A Ginlong/Solis second generation inverter equipped with a WIFI 'stick' sends it's data to the Ginlong Monitoring website (http://www.ginlongmonitoring.com/) once every six minutes, when the inverter is live. It is also possible to log onto the WIFI 'stick' locally with a browser to configure the inverter and read the six minute updated generation stats.
Assuming you have already set up your system to do this. If not back-pedal a bit and get that working first. Refer to the instructions provided.
Once you have set up your account on the Ginlong website you can view graphs and statistics compiled from the automatically uploaded data from your inverter. You can also make this information public so that other people also view it.
But what if you want to compile your own statistics, or automate energy usage depending on available power yourself? The local web page relies very heavily on Java script making it difficult to automate reading the inverter's stats. Another option is to get the inverter to send the data it sends to Ginlong monitoring to a local computer on your own network.
Log onto your inverter and click on 'Advanced' Now click 'Remote server' Enter a new ip address for 'Server B' (your computer) enter a port number (default 9999) select 'TCP' Click the 'Test' button and a tick should appear. Click 'Save' and when prompted 'Restart'
There are two scripts here, 'read-ginlong.bash' and 'read-ginlong.py' the bash script uses bash commands and needs to be ran on a Linux machine. The other is written in Python and should run on any Python enabled system, although this one is also for Linux based systems. You only need one of them, they both do the same thing.
Open the one you wish to use with a text editor and set the file locations for the log file and the webfile to suit your system. The defaults should work for a standard Linux installation.
The files have plenty of comments and help inside them so I won't repeat it here. Both versions are deliberately left simple without error reporting. All the variables have readable names to make them easy to follow/modify.
Once you have modified the file locations inside the file set it running. Wait for a few minutes and the first entry should appear when the inverter sends it's data. You may have to disable/modify any running firewall on your system.
Both programs produce the same output.
The 'logfile' contains 5 values separated by spaces, as follows:-
Date Time Watts_now Day_kWh Total_kWh Each new entry occupies it's own line, new entries are appended to the end of the file as they arrive.
The 'webfile' contains 15 values again space delimited:-
Date Time Watts_now Day_kWh Total_kWh DC_volts_1 DC_amps_1 DC_volts_2 DC_amps_2 AC_volts
AC_amps AC_freq kwh_yesterday kwh_month kwh_last_month inverter_tempEach new entry overwrites the existing one. The intention is to use this file to display currant information on a webpage.
This works fine on my Solis 3.6 2G inverter equipped with a WIFI 'stick'. According to Ginlong, the WIFI stick is compatible with all it's current solar and wind generation 2G inverters. It would be logical therefore to assume that these scripts would be compatible with all the current second generation inverters. The simple fact is that I only have one inverter installed and these scripts work for me! Please feel free to try them on other Ginlong inverters and let me know how you get on, please.