Solar Monitoring Double Pole Install Questions

[charlie]

I had solar installed recently and it feeds into my panel via a double pole breaker.
I wanted to make this post to help educate others with similar install questions:

I installed the Emporia Vue with expansion system yesterday. The two main clamps I have installed with the Ls on the bottom directed toward the breakers and the Ks pointing out towards the town meter/utility company.

1. Are the two main clamps enough to measure Net Metering?
2. Do I also need one or two more smaller clamps on the Double Pole Breaker the PV system feeds into?
3. Can I just have one clamp and set the multiplier to 2 like the rest of my double poles?
4. If having a clamp or two on the double pole solar breaker is optional, what information would I be missing if I left them off?
5. I read something about people installing for solar here, and something about having to put in a negative multiplier. I didn’t quite understand what they were talking about. Would we all need to do this too? Is this something that will eventually be addressed?
6. I also read about values going negative at night time. Should we ignore or has this been addressed or can it be eventually fixed?
7. One person had their production numbers fluctuating wildly and you guys were looking into it but I never saw a follow up. Is that an isolated incident?

I need to add here that I initially thought with the Double Pole Breakers that I needed clamps on both poles only to find out online here that I could double the multiplier (2) in the app. This is a really excellent feature. However, I wasn’t sure if this also applied to the solar portion. Part of the reason why I ask is that before I got this system, I had been looking at Sense Solar which has two additional clamps just for the solar breaker and I’m wondering if there’s a particular reason why one would need both.

 

[Marty @Emporia]

@charlie  Please see the responses below.

Are the two main clamps enough to measure Net Metering?

Yes the two main clamps are capable of net metering your whole homes usage, no other hardware is required.

Do I also need one or two more smaller clamps on the Double Pole Breaker the PV system feeds into?

The 50A (smaller) sensors that come with the expansion module are NOT required nor do they impact your net metering from the mains.   The 50A sensors are also non-directional and only measure the flow of current, therefore will be positive numbers by default.

Can I just have one clamp and set the multiplier to 2 like the rest of my double poles?

Yes, you can use the multiplier on your two pole solar feed just like you do with other circuits that are double pole. 

If having a clamp or two on the double pole solar breaker is optional, what information would I be missing if I left them off?

If I understand your question, not having the 50A clamps on your solar lines feeding the circuit breaker, you would not be able to see total production of your solar system, however, as mentioned above you would still be able to do net metering.   

The main Vue and Expansion readings do not impact each others readings.

I read something about people installing for solar here, and something about having to put in a negative multiplier. I didn’t quite understand what they were talking about. Would we all need to do this too? Is this something that will eventually be addressed?

Putting in a negative number on the expansion circuit that is monitoring your solar system is purely aesthetic.   If you put in a negative number it will show negative readings with green graphs vs the default of positive numbers and blue graphs. 

I also read about values going negative at night time. Should we ignore or has this been addressed or can it be eventually fixed?

This is most likely do to a configuration issue.   You should not see negative numbers for an extended period of time if your Vue is installed and configured correctly according to the installation directions. 

However, as the solar system begins to wind down for the evening, the Vue might take a few minutes to recognize that there is no solar production before the system switches to a blue graph positive number indicating a net load  on the system. 

One person had their production numbers fluctuating wildly and you guys were looking into it but I never saw a follow up. Is that an isolated incident?

As stated above, if individuals were seeing wild fluctuations it could of been for various reasons and we work with those individuals to correct their problem. 

I need to add here that I initially thought with the Double Pole Breakers that I needed clamps on both poles only to find out online here that I could double the multiplier (2) in the app. This is a really excellent feature. However, I wasn’t sure if this also applied to the solar portion. Part of the reason why I ask is that before I got this system, I had been looking at Sense Solar which has two additional clamps just for the solar breaker and I’m wondering if there’s a particular reason why one would need both.

As stated above, we measure net metering from the mains.   The expansion module is just a added tool to monitor specific circuits. 

 

 

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