Today, monitoring a renewable energy system is essential. The Studer monitoring provide continuous information (real-time and past behaviour) for a deep understanding of the operation of the system. Having the right information at hand facilitates the follow up of the main performance indicators as well as remote diagnostics and problem anticipation. 

On the nx-interface all settings necessary for the monitoring are managed in the Monitoring menus. On the main screen, the state of the different aspects of monitoring can be checked quickly: 

• Is there space left for datalogging on the usb key?
• Is internet connected?
• Is the studer webportal connected and operational?

 

A record of all electrical values is done in nx-interface but also in the next3 devices themselves. In all cases, the usb key on nx-interface is the way to take the data out of the system. 

The USB memory is used for a periodical backup of monitoring data. A daily .csv files is copied automatically as soon as an USB memory stick is plugged on the nx-interface and has sufficient storage space left. The daily files contain all the data recorded with 1min/1hour/1day/1month rate, and the day notifications. 

There is no limit for the USB key capacity, however the USB key must have a valid FAT32 partition where the data will be saved.
For a 32 GB partition on USB key, and same installation as described hereabove, the partition can hold more than 10 years of data. When the USB key is full, a message is shown on the nx-interface. 

The internal memory of the next3 is limited and stores the data for a limited timeframe. The quantity of log data that can be stored in a next3 device depends on the type of next3 device (-s, -t, -st, ...). Here is an indication of the data that can be stored in the next3: 

• 1min data: at least the last 3.5 days of data (nx3 with full options), up to the last 50 days (nx3 inverter only). 
• 1hour data: at least the last 50 days of data, up to the last 3 years 
• 1day data: at least the last year of data, up to the last 15 years 
• 1month data: at least the last 26 years of data 
• List of notifications: 130’000 last notifications (~15 years if 1 notification/hour)
  In the nx-interface, the quantity of data that can be stored depends on several factors:
  -  Installation configuration, number of devices
  -  Other data saved in nx-interface internal memory, e.g. datalog from previously connected
  installations.
  Here is an indication of the data that can be stored in the nx-interface, assuming there is only one installation datalog in internal memory, and this installation has only one next3 device: 
• 1min data: last 200 days of data 
• 1hour data: last 6 years of data 
• 1day data: at least the last 10 years of data 
• 1month data: at least the last 10 years of data 
• List of notifications: at least the last 10 years of data
  The memory for each type of data is managed with a first-in first-out strategy: when the memory is full, the oldest data are overwritten. 

Without an internet connection it is still possible to find out what is going on in a next3 installation. All data from the next3 is saved daily on the USB stick supplied with the nx-interface as a .csv file. These files can be uploaded to the "Datalogs" page of the installation on the internet portal to view the data.

If a new USB key is plugged in the nx-interface, it is possible export the monitoring data recorded internally. This is performed in the “manage datalog” app. 

As the transfer can take a long time, the menu allows you to choose what is transferred.

Webportal

The remote monitoring is done via the Studer Monitoring Portal: https://portal.studer-innotec.com  

                 

To connect an installation on the web portal, you’ll need a to perform a pairing, which means you have to identify an installation and make the link to your portal account. This is none with a unique identification number called GUID that is entered on both side of the communication channel: in the next3 and in the web portal: 

Never give the same GUID two times to two different installations. In case of doubt, use the automatic GUID generatio n

Here you can read about scada Monitoring. You can also get further information about ModbusNext in the application notes.
 

The user can develop its own monitoring and control of a next system with the use of MODBUS communication. Modbus RTU and TCP are supported. RTU with RS485 connection and TCP with the Ethernet connections, both situated on the nx-interface. 

The Modbus specification with the registers list is given in a dedicated document for developers. 

You can read all detailed technical specifications about Studer Modbus Adresses in the document below.