All,

If you are interested in a FreeWare software for monitoring Xantrex XW systems, we have officially released the first version called - PDLite.

The url for downloading this software can be found at:
http://www.briery.com/downloads.html

It is derived from the PowerDashboard software and has similar (but limited) capabilities. Some of the exclusions include:
- Reminders
- Warnings
- Remote Access
- Meters Page
- No support for Turbine
- No support for Dataq
- No support for Weather Station
- limited logging

Even with the limited logging the application can display
- instantaneous watts
- average watts
- today's watts
- month to date watts total

No registration is required and this software may freely be re-distributed. It is intended to act as a bridge for those that are not currently utilizing monitoring software.

It provides an econimical way to allow you to visualize how your system is working.

Dan Lenox

I bought an apox can to usb and dongle from you .....works great....also downloaded the pd light software

I have a question I want to take that program and put it on my webpage....I host my own website on a server I built at my home http://www.southcentralkentuckysolar.com ....I'm still working on it so this isnt the final layout(it's only been up 4 days as of this post)I'm also still learning html format(I got this far by myself in 3 months using a template and modifying it)

I want to be able to show people what my output is when they pull the web page up .....do you know of any way I can do this

I would also like to put your weblink on the page this would be on

tia

forgot to mention I'm using ubuntu server 8.4

Chris,

I made an update today and posted a new version (2.0.5.9) of the PDLite software.

A change was made to optionally create a textual log file in the logs directory, this file contains ascii data values which are updated every second, and you can simply parse through this file to obtain the values that you are looking for.

Because of the additional overhead this feature by default is not enabled, and if desired you have to edit the installed PowerDashboard.ini file.

First update your software by going to our downloads page.

In order enable this feature and to create this totals text file you have to edit the PowerDashboard.ini file in the installed directory, as installed it is as follows:

[Logging]
;; undocumented
TotalsTextFile=False

If you change the line from "TotalsTextFile=False" to "TotalsTextFile=True", save the file and restart the PDLite software this textual totals data file will be created for you.

Because this file is updated every second, the best way to access this data is first to copy the logs/PowerDashboard.out file to a temporary file, and then parse through the temp file to obtain the data you are looking for.

Dan Lenox

Hello,
How you compare the FreeWare Xantrex XW monitoring software from a Webwatcher and StaffCop. These two also are monitoring software that can monitor keystroke logging, email monitoring and web site monitoring.

KenlySol,

Webwatcher and StaffCop do not have the capability to connect to the Xantrex XW Xanbus.

PowerDashboard acquires all communication packets from the Xanbus, derives information and displays it in a graphic representation.

PowerDashboard also can be used in Outback environment, as well as a Wind Only version, and soon another version for the PowerOne Aurora inverter.

Dan Lenox

I see on your ORDER page, that the fine print says :
* Xantrex equipment
(XW-6048, XW-4548, XW-4024 XW SCC, also works with non-XW charge controllers

What are the suoported non-XW charge controllers ? Does that include Morningstar TS MPPT 60 ?

Mike,

Mixing of equipment with some limitations can still work.

For instance: if using an XW inverter with non-XW charge controller then charge controller, then power can be derived since XW inverter gives summary information. But in this environment if more than one charge controller exists (and since the power information is derived) then all the power would be attributed to a single charge controller.

In the works is a version that can support up to 3 wind turbines as well as solar.

Dan

specifically, I have an XW6048, and a Morningstar TS MPPT 60

So, I need the xanbus converter dongle, do I need anything to connect the MS MPPT 60A

Mike,

Dongle is necessary to talk to the XW inverter, power from the charge controller will be derived from the data that comes from the inverter.

No connection to Morningstar TS MPPT 60 is needed as all data will be coming from the XW inverter.

If you have more questions contact me offline at "dlenox at briery dot com".

Dan