Explore APsystems ECU-R Using Ethernet ==> 0% complete

Explore APsystems ECU-R Using Ethernet

For 22 of the solar panels (currently, more to come) they are configured in pairs attached to 11 DS3-L microinverters, with these microinverters communicating via encrypted Zigbee with the ECU-R. The ECU-R is configured with WiFi and subsequently uploads data to the cloud for analysis and tracking of stats.

Home monitoring is therefore dependent on using the APsystems OpenAPI to talk to the cloud instance, however the data must exist in the ECU-R as well. For local monitoring, tapping into the encrypted Zigbee is more than difficult, and the WiFi remote access requires periodic clicking on a button on the outside of the device to get it to activate remote access via wireless. By setting up Ethernet connectivity from the ECU-R to the local network, this will still allow the device to talk to the Internet for cloud access, however this might open up the possibility for local monitoring without the cloud or API access - the monitoring could continue to work during a cloud or even local provider Internet access disruption.

Steps to Complete

• Attach Ethernet cabling from the server rack to the ECU-R.
• Configure the ECU-R to use Ethernet instead of WiFi.
  • Test to ensure the uploading of data still works.
• Disable WiFi.
• Attempt local access to the ECU-R via its Ethernet IP address.
• Rewrite integration for APsystems monitoring for Home Assistant.
• Rewrite health monitoring script for APsystems solar panels.