Elios4you pro

[woko]

Anybody installed a Elios4you pro?

I'm doing a farm install and need a monitoring system. Any experience of how far it will transmit to a router?

TIA

 

[SibertSolar]

What size PV system is it and what physical cable sizes for generation phases and mains incomer? Does the client need a full 360degree monitoring solution, or would simple remote generation monitoring be adequate?

 

[Gavin A]

all depends on the aerial I'd expect, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to use a high gain directional antenna Wireless Network Antennas, High Gain Antennas, Antenna Cables at TigerDirect.com

you're presumably only going to be able to monitor generation though.

was installing one today, though it was only 10 feet from the wifi router.

 

[SibertSolar]

Woko - just to add, the Elios can transmit its own WiFi network ("Direct Mode") but works better if it can pick up on your client's existing WiFi network ("Indirect Mode") so, basically, if your phone can see the WiFi network where you are planning to site the Elios PRO then the Elios PRO should be able to pick it up too.

As Gavin has indicated though, you can purchase a WiFi antenna to help pick up the signal, or you can look to boost the WiFi network with a plug-in (13A socket) repeater at some point between the router and the PRO.

HTH

 

[woko]

Great thanks for the replies.

I have aver looked further into this today and the sunny webconnect seams like a better product to go for. I also have a route for an outdoor cat 5 back to the farm house.

thanks.

 

[oldsalty]

Anybody installed a Elios4you pro?

I'm doing a farm install and need a monitoring system. Any experience of how far it will transmit to a router?

TIA

I bought a unit to install in a rented house with the CU and GM sited in an understairs cupboard, I was hoping to be able to stand outside the front door to get a reading (with my iPad Mini) so I could tell if the solar array was, at least, functioning, without going into the house.

On testing in my own house (which is exactly the same layout) I could not get a signal from the unit with the door of the understairs cupboard closed.

With the understair cupboard door open I could not get a signal beyond 8 feet (in old money) in direct line of sight. Sadly, the front door is 14 feet (in old money) away from where the unit was sited.

I even bought a supposed high power antenna to see if I could boost the signal - didn't work!

I also could not get a signal on the stairs above the unit (wooden stairs plus underlay plus carpet between me and the unit) over an estimated distance of 18 inches.

All of this was reported to Greenologic and the unit was returned to them, tested and found to be working properly.

In the end I moved the GM from inside the house to an outside wall and currently have to be within 2 feet of the plastic meter cupboard it is in, to get a signal. At least it avoids the need to go into the house!

I have no doubt that the unit will work perfectly with a mobile phone signal but, equally, I failed to get such a signal in my understairs cupboard, and still can't get a signal there so mobile phone monitoring is not an option.

If you have any luck please let me know so that I can have a look at what I am doing wrong which causes the signal to be so short ranged.

 

[Gavin A]

I don't understand that, we've not had those sort of issues.

 

[shanky887614]

I bought a unit to install in a rented house with the CU and GM sited in an understairs cupboard, I was hoping to be able to stand outside the front door to get a reading (with my iPad Mini) so I could tell if the solar array was, at least, functioning, without going into the house.

On testing in my own house (which is exactly the same layout) I could not get a signal from the unit with the door of the understairs cupboard closed.

With the understair cupboard door open I could not get a signal beyond 8 feet (in old money) in direct line of sight. Sadly, the front door is 14 feet (in old money) away from where the unit was sited.

I even bought a supposed high power antenna to see if I could boost the signal - didn't work!

I also could not get a signal on the stairs above the unit (wooden stairs plus underlay plus carpet between me and the unit) over an estimated distance of 18 inches.

All of this was reported to Greenologic and the unit was returned to them, tested and found to be working properly.

In the end I moved the GM from inside the house to an outside wall and currently have to be within 2 feet of the plastic meter cupboard it is in, to get a signal. At least it avoids the need to go into the house!

I have no doubt that the unit will work perfectly with a mobile phone signal but, equally, I failed to get such a signal in my understairs cupboard, and still can't get a signal there so mobile phone monitoring is not an option.

If you have any luck please let me know so that I can have a look at what I am doing wrong which causes the signal to be so short ranged.

depends on the wifi router, some just lie.

better to use an ac router because the signal goes through walls easier apprently 802.11ac

 

[oldsalty]

depends on the wifi router, some just lie.

better to use an ac router because the signal goes through walls easier apprently 802.11ac

Thanks for that. JUST realised where the confusion might be. My last communication with Greenologic was being told that the only way to 'talk' to Elios4you was on an iPad (or other tablet) DIRECT because the software to 'cloud' through a router hasn't yet been developed. There is no ethernet port on the Elios4you so hard wiring to any sort of router is not an option.

If somebody out there has an Elios4you communicating with a router, please reveal how you have done it.

also, perhaps the PRO version, which I assume is commercial as opposed to residential, sends out a stronger network signal plus, it sounds to me ( from comments above), that the PRO version DOES have hard wire capability.

 

[SibertSolar]

No, the PRO version connects in "indirect mode" to the App via a wifi router, or in "direct mode" via its own generated wifi network. Indirect mode is best and allows App use outside the home as well as access to the 4-Cloud portal via the internet (really aimed at installers, not end-users).

As far as I am aware, the Elios4You single phase and three-phase units have ALWAYS had indirect-mode/wifi connectivity functionality, not entirely sure why Greenologic would have told you different tbh

 

[oldsalty]

No, the PRO version connects in "indirect mode" to the App via a wifi router, or in "direct mode" via its own generated wifi network. Indirect mode is best and allows App use outside the home as well as access to the 4-Cloud portal via the internet (really aimed at installers, not end-users).

As far as I am aware, the Elios4You single phase and three-phase units have ALWAYS had indirect-mode/wifi connectivity functionality, not entirely sure why Greenologic would have told you different tbh

Thanks for that Andy.

There MUST be a difference between what I bought and the PRO version. I have tried EVERYTHING to get it to communicate INDIRECTLY with my router (wirelessly because there is no ethernet port on the unit), my laptop, my pc without success.

The ONLY way I can talk to it is DIRECTLY with the Elios4you unit wifi network connection and my iPad mini. Had I not had an iPad mini (which I bought for the Mrs at Christmas) I would not be able to enjoy the functions of Elios4You at all, which I bought in January.

To be entirely fair to Jo and Greenologic, she has ALWAYS said that the ONLY way to communicate is DIRECTLY using the Elios4You app, with an iphone or an ipad.

If ANYBODY out there has come up with an alternative I will be very pleased to hear about it.

As an aside, am expecting delivery of an OWL Intuitive-pv unit tomorrow (£100.00p) so will be trying to talk to my solar array with them by midnight tomorrow night - hoping for some sunshine!

Again, thanks for your comment.

 

[Gavin A]

you can't use any type of PC to do the set up, you have to use the ipad or android tablet / smart phone to set it up, but set it up in the indirect mode, and it will work via the wireless router. Then register it with the elios 4 you portal and you can then log in to view the data on your laptop via the internet portal.

 

[oldsalty]

you can't use any type of PC to do the set up, you have to use the ipad or android tablet / smart phone to set it up, but set it up in the indirect mode, and it will work via the wireless router. Then register it with the elios 4 you portal and you can then log in to view the data on your laptop via the internet portal.

Thanks Gavin, though you must be talking about Elios4You PRO. Elios4You will NOT connect with anything but an iPhone or an iPad - been trying since January.

 

[Gavin A]

Thanks Gavin, though you must be talking about Elios4You PRO. Elios4You will NOT connect with anything but an iPhone or an iPad - been trying since January.

I'm not, we've installed a fair few of both types - the pro is just for 3 phase systems.

It works exactly how I said it does, you use the set up wizard on the tablet, select indirect mode and the tablet will set it up to connect via the wireless router. You can then register the elios unit to upload data to the portal.

This is how it works, I'm not making it up, you've obviously just been doing the set up wrong - btw you have to send the details via your supplier to 4noks to actually get the unit registered on the internet portal, which might be where you've come unstuck.

eta - but no you can't connect to it directly or via the wireless router with anything other than a tablet or ipad / smart phone, it doesn't work directly with PCs, you can only get the data to a PC via the internet portal.

 

[oldsalty]

I'm not, we've installed a fair few of both types - the pro is just for 3 phase systems.

It works exactly how I said it does, you use the set up wizard on the tablet, select indirect mode and the tablet will set it up to connect via the wireless router. You can then register the elios unit to upload data to the portal.

This is how it works, I'm not making it up, you've obviously just been doing the set up wrong - btw you have to send the details via your supplier to 4noks to actually get the unit registered on the internet portal, which might be where you've come unstuck.

eta - but no you can't connect to it directly or via the wireless router with anything other than a tablet or ipad / smart phone, it doesn't work directly with PCs, you can only get the data to a PC via the internet portal.

Interestingly that is the very first time ANYBODY has mentioned that basic requirement so I now know that it isn't possible to connect this unit to my wi-fi router. Many thanks for that. Still doesn't overcome the lack of wireless range of the unit. Just been out to it, opened the box cover and can't get a signal from it without being within 6 feet, direct line of sight with open air between the iPad and the Elios4You unit! From that same spot I am able to communicate with my own wireless router, in my own house which is next door but one, through two cavity walls and whatever furniture etc there is inbetween me and my router.

It continues to baffle me but I will live with it.

OWL unit just arrived from Amazon, see how that gets on now.

 

[SibertSolar]

Just to clarify - it's not strictly required for an end-user to request and receive access to the 4-Cloud portal, once the device is set up in "indirect mode" on the home router's wifi. Basic online portal access is achieved just by logging in to the portal with the serial ID of the device (user name) and password (last 5 digits of the device's ID). It's only the "installer level" access that has to be set up by 4-Noks once requested by the distributor. The installer-level access allows a higher overview of all installed devices (Elios4You and Intellymodem) within one portal and also allows configuration of alarm/email notifications etc.

There is a new dashboard that is under final live testing now, all existing installer-level accounts will be ported over to the new site by end of June.

Note - the online 4-Cloud portal was/is never intended to be the primary monitoring platform for the end-user. The APP is the primary way of communicating with the E4U and displaying data etc. The 4-Cloud portal is really aimed at the installer.

 

[SibertSolar]

OldSalty - if you are not able to pick up the E4U's WiFi network (begins typically with 5EA-) from even a close distance then that suggests that there is an issue with the device, or that the aerial is not connected properly perhaps. Even when running in "direct mode", using the device's own WiFi network, comms is normally achieved even up to 20m or 30m distance, depending on obstacles. It's a standard 802.11-b protocol.

 

[oldsalty]

Just to clarify - it's not strictly required for an end-user to request and receive access to the 4-Cloud portal, once the device is set up in "indirect mode" on the home router's wifi. Basic online portal access is achieved just by logging in to the portal with the serial ID of the device (user name) and password (last 5 digits of the device's ID). It's only the "installer level" access that has to be set up by 4-Noks once requested by the distributor. The installer-level access allows a higher overview of all installed devices (Elios4You and Intellymodem) within one portal and also allows configuration of alarm/email notifications etc.

There is a new dashboard that is under final live testing now, all existing installer-level accounts will be ported over to the new site by end of June.

Note - the online 4-Cloud portal was/is never intended to be the primary monitoring platform for the end-user. The APP is the primary way of communicating with the E4U and displaying data etc. The 4-Cloud portal is really aimed at the installer.

Thanks for that further clarification.

 

[oldsalty]

OldSalty - if you are not able to pick up the E4U's WiFi network (begins typically with 5EA-) from even a close distance then that suggests that there is an issue with the device, or that the aerial is not connected properly perhaps. Even when running in "direct mode", using the device's own WiFi network, comms is normally achieved even up to 20m or 30m distance, depending on obstacles. It's a standard 802.11-b protocol.

Thanks for that, again.

 

[Gavin A]

Interestingly that is the very first time ANYBODY has mentioned that basic requirement so I now know that it isn't possible to connect this unit to my wi-fi router. Many thanks for that. Still doesn't overcome the lack of wireless range of the unit. Just been out to it, opened the box cover and can't get a signal from it without being within 6 feet, direct line of sight with open air between the iPad and the Elios4You unit! From that same spot I am able to communicate with my own wireless router, in my own house which is next door but one, through two cavity walls and whatever furniture etc there is inbetween me and my router.

It continues to baffle me but I will live with it.

OWL unit just arrived from Amazon, see how that gets on now.

is the aerial actually connected to it? Sounds like it isn't to me, we have units working through cavity walls no problem at all.

ps Andy Sibert is really your man for sorting this out, though your actual supplier really should be doing this given that they're the ones who took your money for it.

 

[oldsalty]

is the aerial actually connected to it? Sounds like it isn't to me, we have units working through cavity walls no problem at all.

ps Andy Sibert is really your man for sorting this out, though your actual supplier really should be doing this given that they're the ones who took your money for it.

Greenologic!