A solar monitoring system is necessary to control energy production and consumption. It also shows the slightest problems in the system, which can be quickly eliminated without turning into serious issues. This is important to ensure that your solar installation continues to perform optimally and that you feel comfortable and can continually benefit from solar energy.
The scheme of a monitoring system is as follows:
Source: WiiHey
It is also essential for a solar remote monitoring system to offer an app, helping users to keep tabs on its real-time performance and everything related to the solar system, like electricity generation and consumption, and electrical appliances in the house.
This article will explore the top 7 solar power monitoring systems, their advantages and differences, and give tips on choosing the most suitable solar system monitoring app.
Types of Solar Panel Monitoring Systems – Which One to Choose?
If you have not yet picked the monitoring system that goes with your solar installation, consider taking a closer look at the types of such systems.
There are three main types of solar panel monitoring systems:
- When monitoring is integrated into the equipment by the manufacturer (inverters are often used for this purpose).
- When monitoring is implemented into your system by the installation company.
- Autonomous home monitoring.
The table below shows the best solar monitoring systems in Chicago grouped by type:
| Integrated | Installation | Autonomous |
| ➥ Enphase Enlighten
➥ SolarEdge Monitoring ➥ SMA SunnyPortal |
➥ Tesla | ➥ Sense Monitor
➥ Curb Energy Monitoring ➥ Emporia Energy Monitoring |
In Chicago, the best solar monitoring systems are offered by companies such as Enphase, SolarEdge, and SMA, which specialize in inverters. Enphase and SolarEdge monitoring systems have a long warranty period for solar system service and monitoring. SMA offers a shorter warranty period, but solar panel monitoring systems are much cheaper.
Tesla installs monitoring systems in Chicago on its own. However, their systems can only be used if your household has Tesla solar panels and Tesla Powerwall or if you own a Tesla electric car.
Autonomous home monitoring in Chicago is offered by the following companies: Sense Monitor, Curb Energy Monitoring, and Emporia Energy Monitoring. Such a system can be called a DIY solar monitoring system. You buy a separate monitoring system, which you then integrate into your solar scheme. Such systems are affordable but require specific qualifications for proper installation.
Regardless of the solution you choose, the main functions of your solar energy monitoring system will be basically the same. Here are the basic functions:
➥ The monitoring systems help you ensure your solar system is running and producing solar energy.
➥ The monitoring systems allow you to compare the expected performance with actual performance over time.
The Best Solar Panel Monitoring Systems in Chicago
If you’re a Chicagoan looking to install a monitoring unit on your solar system, the following information will likely interest you.
So, what is the best solar monitoring system currently available in Chicago? We present you with the 7 best companies that deserve your attention, consideration, and trust.
Get your free solar quote and find the best solar monitoring system in Chicago, Illinois!
Enphase Enlighten
Enphase Enlighten is a solar remote monitoring system from a leading microinverter manufacturer. Enphase’s microinverters send data from each solar panel to its cloud-based monitoring platform, which can be monitored either through an app or a web portal. The Enphase solar monitoring system provides detailed information in real-time, showing how each solar panel works and sends alerts for faulty panels or low performance levels.
Homeowners can access system data through the Enphase website or the Enlighten Mobile app (available for Android or iOS devices). The application contains a wide range of input and output analysis tools that allow users to see how their systems produce and use energy over time.
Advantages of a solar panel monitoring system from Enlighten:
- Monitoring occurs in real-time
- Notification system for detected faults
- Archive of data on energy production and consumption
- Ease of installation and configuration
- Compatibility with Android and iOS devices
- Long-term guarantee of system operation
- Convenient application interface
The application Enlighten Mobile is free upon installation of Enlighten equipment and allows users to stay up to date with the efficiency of their solar installation.
Get your free solar quote and find the best solar panel monitoring system in Chicago, Illinois!
SolarEdge Monitoring
SolarEdge Monitoring is a solar energy monitoring system from a leading manufacturer of inverters and optimizers SolarEdge, popular not only in the USA but throughout the world.
A key feature of the SolarEdge monitoring system is its user-friendly control panel. It is designed to provide detailed analytics about energy production, reports on the health of the overall system, and possible problems that require attention.
The application is available for Android and iOS mobile devices, and the existing SolarEdge web portal is similar in functionality to the Enphase platform, but the user interface differs a lot.
Advantages of a solar power monitoring system from SolarEdge:
- Monitoring occurs in real-time
- Notification system for detected faults
- Controllable system modules
- Archive of data on energy production and consumption
One of the best solar monitoring systems from SolarEdge is an excellent choice for homeowners who want to monitor the performance and health of their solar panel system any time of the day, anywhere.
SMA SunnyPortal
Sunny Portal is a high-level monitoring system from SMA designed specifically for SMA inverter systems. It allows users to understand exactly how much solar energy they produce while analyzing how well their installation performs.
Homeowners or businesses can easily access the SMA Sunny portal through web browsers or download the app for mobile devices (Android and iOS), so system tracking can be done on the go. Users can see how much energy the panels produce, how much is used, and how much is saved.
Advantages of a solar energy monitoring system from SMA:
- Monitoring occurs in real-time
- Notification system for detected faults;
- Social comparison and exchange of solar energy performance
- Archive and comparative characteristics of data on energy production and consumption.
Flaws of the SMA solar monitoring system:
- Weak application interface
- No detailed data
Users can download the SMA Sunny Portal app for free and begin to easily monitor solar panel performance and compare a household’s energy production and consumption with others in their area.
Tesla
Tesla Monitoring is a monitoring application that works with Tesla solar panels, Tesla Powerwall, and Tesla electric vehicles. This solar PV monitoring system is offered to users only by the installation company Tesla.
The app allows you to comprehensively manage your Tesla products by simply adding them to your tracking system. The application also makes it possible to visualize the monitoring object with detailed information for each module in real-time.
Advantages of solar system monitoring from Tesla:
- Real-time data tracking
- Accumulated data on energy production and consumption over time
- Comparative characteristics of data carried out by the time of the day
- User-friendly interface
- Multiple settings
The main disadvantage of this system is that Tesla offers monitoring of solar energy generation and consumption activity only through a mobile application and does not provide alternatives through a web portal.
Get your free solar quote and find the best solar panel monitoring system in Chicago, Illinois!
Sense Monitor
Sense Monitor is an innovative home solar monitoring system from the Sense company that uses AI device profiles to monitor and optimize energy consumption throughout the home.
It assures users that they will get the maximum return on their investment in solar energy shortly after implementing the monitoring system ( the system offers home automation, cloud storage, and early warnings of operational disruptions).
Access to monitoring data is carried out through an application for mobile devices (iOS or Android) or via a web portal.
Advantages of the monitoring system from Sense Monitor:
- Ability to estimate monthly energy costs in kilowatt-hours and dollars
- Real-time data tracking
- Archive and analysis of data on energy production and consumption
- Visualization of the operation of each module
- Quick connection of the monitoring system to the solar energy system
- Accounting for excess solar energy received from panels
- Compliance with all safety requirements so the system can be used in U.S. residential buildings
- Intuitive application interface
If you’re still looking for a way to monitor solar energy production, Sense Monitor is an inexpensive and easy-to-install solution that provides instant access and accurate data on monitoring parameters. No wonder it’s considered one of the best solar monitoring systems in the United States.
Emporia Energy Monitoring
Emporia Energy Monitoring is a solar panel monitoring system from Emporia that provides accurate and detailed analysis of household energy consumption and practical recommendations that help homeowners save energy and money.
By clearly analyzing the energy consumption pattern of each individual case, the system provides the user with energy usage data and offers various options to achieve greater energy efficiency.
Advantages of a solar panel monitoring system from Emporia:
- Real-time monitoring
- Archive of data on energy production and consumption
- Analysis and comparative characteristics of each parameter for any period of time
- Ability to calculate energy savings based on recommendations
- Notification system for detected faults
A home solar monitoring system from Emporia has many additional features that are useful to average U.S. households and is also a low-cost solution for monitoring solar installations.
Curb Energy Monitoring from Elevation
Curb Energy Monitoring is a solar monitoring system by Curb. It includes energy consumption alerts for set thresholds. The alerts are customizable to the data the user needs. Ultimately, it allows you to control energy consumption and save household money. Instead of using AI devices, Curb uses current transformers connected to each circuit.
In 2020, CURB merged with Elevation Solar and became part of its division. The Energy Curb app is available in the Apple Store and Google Play. This solar battery monitoring system offers real-time performance tracking of solar energy systems, home appliances, as well as electric vehicle chargers, and even smart home devices.
Advantages of a solar panel monitoring system by Curb:
- provides accurate monitoring parameters data;
- monitoring occurs in real-time;
- there is an automatic notification of faults in the panels;
- has an easy-to-use application;
- the ability to analyze accumulated energy;
- there is a notification about accidentally left working devices;
- notifying the user about failures and malfunctions in the operation of the solar installation and its components.
The home solar monitoring system Curb does not require connecting numerous pieces of equipment. It is easy to install and remains one of the best low-cost solutions for U.S. households.
The cost of a solar panel remote monitoring system depends on the complexity of features and design. To figure out which system can meet your needs, you need to compare the installation and maintenance costs.
Don’t waste another second—get your free solar quote and find the best solar monitoring system in Chicago, Illinois!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are solar panel monitoring apps?
Applications have been developed to monitor the operation and performance of your PV system to ensure that you are always aware of the operation and performance of it. They process various readings from sensors related to energy consumption and energy production.
Processed information about what is happening in the system comes to the user in the form of graphs, visual models, etc. Applications also help achieve energy efficiency for a particular household and troubleshoot operational problems.
How do solar panel monitoring apps work?
The software communicates with sensors installed on various modules of the solar energy system. It then processes and transmits the received data to the monitoring application.
In the application, the user monitors various information in real-time, which makes it possible to control the energy efficiency and performance of a specific unit and the entire installation as a whole.
Can I use a solar panel monitoring app with any solar system?
It is necessary to install an application that will be compatible specifically with your solar energy system. If monitoring protocols and communication modes are not synchronized, it simply will not work.
