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# SunSpec

This extension adds support for the SunSpec protocol.

SunSpec is a format for inverters and smart meters to communicate over the Modbus protocol. It defines how common parameters like AC/DC voltage and current, lifetime produced energy, device temperature etc can be read from the device.

SunSpec is supported by several manufacturers like ABB, Fronius, LG, SMA, SolarEdge, Schneider Electric. For a list of certified products see this page: https://sunspec.org/sunspec-certified-products/ (opens new window)

# Supported Things

This bundle adds the following thing types to the Modbus binding. Note, that the things will show up under the Modbus binding.

Thing Description
inverter-single-phase For simple, single phase inverters
inverter-split-phase Split phase inverters (Japanese grid and 240V grid in North America)
inverter-three-phase Three phase inverters
meter-single-phase Single phase meters (AN or AB)
meter-split-phase Split single phase meters (ABN)
meter-wye-phase Wye connected three phase meters (ABCN)
meter-delta-phase Delta connected three phase meters (ABC)

# Auto Discovery

This extension fully supports modbus auto discovery. It automatically detects the register addresses for each model.

Auto discovery is turned off by default in the modbus binding so you have to enable it manually.

You can set the enableDiscovery=true parameter in your bridge.

A typical bridge configuration would look like this:

Bridge modbus:tcp:modbusBridgeName [ host="10.0.0.2", port=502, id=1, enableDiscovery=true ]

# Thing Configuration

You need first to set up either a TCP or a Serial Modbus bridge according to the Modbus documentation. Things in this extension will use the selected bridge to connect to the device.

For defining a thing textually, you have to find out the start address of the model block and the length of it. While the length is usually fixed, the address is not. Please refer to your device's vendor documentation how model blocks are laid for your equipment.

The following parameters are valid for all thing types:

Parameter Type Required Default if omitted Description
address integer yes N/A Start address of the model block.
length integer yes N/A Length of the model block. Setting this too short could cause problems during parsing
refresh integer no 5 Poll interval in seconds. Increase this if you encounter connection errors
maxTries integer no 3 Number of retries when before giving up reading from this thing.

# Channels

Channels are grouped into channel groups. Different things support a subset of the following groups.

# Device Information Group (deviceInformation)

This group contains general operational information about the device.

Channel ID Item Type Description
cabinet-temperature Number:Temperature Temperature of the cabinet if supported in Celsius
heatsink-temperature Number:Temperature Device heat sink temperature in Celsius
transformer-temperature Number:Temperature Temperature of the transformer in Celsius
other-temperature Number:Temperature Any other temperature reading not covered by the above items if available. Celsius
status String Device status:
  • OFF=Off
  • SLEEP=Sleeping/night mode
  • STARTING=Grid Monitoring/wake-up
  • ON=On - producing power (also called MPPT by Specification)
  • THROTTLED=Production (curtailed)
  • SHUTTING_DOWN=Shutting down
  • FAULT=Fault
  • STANDBY=Standby/Maintenance/Setup
status-vendor Number Vendor Specific Status Code

Supported by: all inverter things

# AC Summary Group (acGeneral)

# Inverters

This group contains summarized values for the AC side of the inverter. Even if the inverter supports multiple phases this group will appear only once.

Channel ID Item Type Description
ac-total-current Number:ElectricCurrent Total AC current over all phases in Amperes
ac-power Number:Power Actual AC power over all phases in Watts
ac-frequency Number:Frequency Actual grid frequency
ac-apparent-power Number:Power Actual AC apparent power
ac-reactive-power Number:Power Actual AC reactive power
ac-power-factor Number:Dimensionless Actual AC power factor (%)
ac-lifetime-energy Number:Energy AC lifetime energy production for this device in WattHours

Supported by: all inverter things

# Meters

This group contains summarized values for the power meter over all phases.

Channel ID Item Type Description
ac-total-current Number:ElectricCurrent Total AC current over all phases in Amperes
ac-average-voltage-to-n Number:ElectricPotential Average Line to Neutral AC Voltage over all phases
ac-average-voltage-to-next Number:ElectricPotential Average Line to Line AC Voltage over all phases
ac-frequency Number:Frequency Actual grid frequency
ac-total-real-power Number:Power Total Real Power over all phases(W)
ac-total-apparent-power Number:Power Total Apparent Power over all phases (W)
ac-total-reactive-power Number:Power Total Reactive Power over all phases (W)
ac-average-power-factor Number:Dimensionless Average AC Power Factor over all phases (%)
ac-total-exported-real-energy Number:Energy Total Real Energy Exported over all phases (Wh)
ac-total-imported-real-energy Number:Energy Total Real Energy Imported over all phases (Wh)
ac-total-exported-apparent-energy Number:Energy Total Apparent Energy Exported over all phases (VAh)
ac-total-imported-apparent-energy Number:Energy Total Apparent Energy Imported over all phases (VAh)
ac-total-imported-reactive-energy-q1 Number:Energy Total Reactive Energy Imported Quadrant 1 over all phases (VARh)
ac-total-imported-reactive-energy-q2 Number:Energy Total Reactive Energy Imported Quadrant 2 over all phases (VARh)
ac-total-exported-reactive-energy-q3 Number:Energy Total Reactive Energy Exported Quadrant 3 over all phases (VARh)
ac-total-exported-reactive-energy-q4 Number:Energy Total Reactive Energy Exported Quadrant 4 over all phases (VARh)

Supported by: all meter things

# AC Phase Specific Group

# Inverters

This group describes values for a single phase of the inverter. There can be a maximum of three of this group named:

acPhaseA: available for all inverter types

acPhaseB: available for inverter-slit-phase and inverter-three-phase type inverters

acPhaseC: available only for inverter-three-phase type inverters.

Channel ID Item Type Description
ac-phase-current Number:ElectricCurrent Actual current over this phase in Ampere
ac-voltage-to-next Number:ElectricPotential Voltage of this phase relative to the next phase, or to the ground in case of single phase inverter. Note: some single phase SolarEdge inverters incorrectly use this value to report the voltage to neutral value
ac-voltage-to-n Number:ElectricPotential Voltage of this phase relative to the ground

Supported by: all inverter things

# Meters

This group holds values for a given line of the meter. There can be a maximum of three of this group named:

acPhaseA: available for all meter types

acPhaseB: available for meter-split-phase, meter-wye-phase and meter-delta-phase meters

acPhaseC: available only for meter-wye-phase and meter-delta-phase meters type inverters.

Channel ID Item Type Description
ac-phase-current Number:ElectricCurrent Actual current over this line in Watts
ac-voltage-to-n Number:ElectricPotential Voltage of this line relative to the neutral line
ac-voltage-to-next Number:ElectricPotential Voltage of this line relative to the next line
ac-real-power Number:Power AC Real Power value (W)
ac-apparent-power Number:Power AC Apparent Power value (VA)
ac-reactive-power Number:Power AC Reactive Power value (VAR)
ac-power-factor Number:Dimensionless AC Power Factor (%)
ac-exported-real-energy Number:Energy Real Energy Exported (Wh
ac-imported-real-energy Number:Energy Real Energy Imported (Wh)
ac-exported-apparent-energy Number:Energy Apparent Energy Exported (VAh)
ac-imported-apparent-energy Number:Energy Apparent Energy Imported (VAh)
ac-imported-reactive-energy-q1 Number:Energy Reactive Energy Imported Quadrant 1 (VARh)
ac-imported-reactive-energy-q2 Number:Energy Reactive Energy Imported Quadrant 2 (VARh)
ac-exported-reactive-energy-q3 Number:Energy Reactive Energy Exported Quadrant 3 (VARh)
ac-exported-reactive-energy-q4 Number:Energy Reactive Energy Exported Quadrant 4 (VARh)

Supported by: all meter things

# DC General Group

This group contains summarized data for the DC side of the inverter. DC information is summarized even if the inverter has multiple strings.

Channel ID Item Type Description
dc-current Number:ElectricCurrent Actual DC current in Amperes
dc-voltage Number:ElectricPotential Actual DC voltage
dc-power Number:Power Actual DC power produced

Supported by: all inverter things

# Full Example

# Thing Configuration

Bridge modbus:tcp:modbusBridgeName [ host="hostname|ip", port=502, id=1, enableDiscovery=true ]
Thing modbus:inverter-single-phase:bridge:myInverter "SE4000h" (modbus:tcp:modbusBridgeName) [ address=40069, length=52, refresh=15 ]

Note: Make sure that refresh, port and id values are numerical, without quotes.

# Item Configuration

Number Inverter_Temperature "Temperature [%.1f C]"  {channel="modbus:inverter-single-phase:bridge:se4000h:deviceInformation#heatsink-temperature"}

Number Inverter_AC_Power "AC Power [%d W]" {channel="modbus:inverter-single-phase:bridge:se4000h:acGeneral#ac-power"}

Number Inverter_AC1_A "AC Current Phase 1 [%0.2f A]" {channel="modbus:inverter-single-phase:bridge:se4000h:acPhaseA#ac-phase-current"}

# Sitemap Configuration

Text item=Inverter_Temperature
Text item=Inverter_AC_Current
Text item=Inverter_AC_Power
Chart item=Inverter_Temperature period=D refresh=600000
Chart item=Inverter_AC_Power period=D refresh=30000

# Vendor Specific Information

# SolarEdge

Newer models of SolarEdge inverters can be monitored over TCP, but you need to enable support in the inverter first. Refer to the "Modbus over TCP Configuration" chapter in this documentation: https://www.solaredge.com/sites/default/files/sunspec-implementation-technical-note.pdf (opens new window)

Modbus connection is limited to a single client at a time, so make sure no other clients are using the port.