FAQ
TL;DR: An extra Solarman Smart meter costs PLN 750 [Elektroda, rafaelo2, post #19290515]; “Lan Controller gives 0.5 s refresh and sees all key Sofar registers” [Elektroda, bioly, post #19312990] Sofar owners can bypass Chinese cloud by logging RS-485 data to pvmonitor or Home Assistant.
Why it matters: Local monitoring protects privacy while adding real-time consumption data.
Quick Facts
• Sofar Wi-Fi datalogger uploads only to Solarman servers; local RS-485 exposes 20+ Modbus registers [Elektroda, bioly, post #19312990]
• Lan Controller (LK) with pvmonitor firmware ≈ PLN 250 incl. probes [Elektroda, 3301, post #18254305]
• SDM630 Modbus meter imports for PLN 300–330; accuracy class 1 % [Elektroda, SilverX, post #19313861]
• DIY ESP8266 + RS-485 parts cost ≈ PLN 20–40 [Elektroda, SilverX, post #19313861]
• Sofar warranty does not require Solarman registration if monitoring is active [Elektroda, 3301, post #20556318]
1. Which free monitoring platforms work natively with Sofar KTL-X 4.4?
SolarmanPV is bundled with the factory Wi-Fi stick and shows detailed production data [Elektroda, 3301, post #18253299] Pvmonitor.pl also pulls inverter data when paired with an LK or RS-485 logger [Elektroda, MichałS, #18253503]. Home Assistant reads Modbus registers through community integrations [Elektroda, SilverX, post #19313682]
2. Can I track household consumption, not just PV production?
Yes. Add an external bidirectional meter (e.g., SDM630) or read pulses from the utility meter LED [Elektroda, MichałS, #18253994]. Connect the meter via RS-485 to an LK or ESP8266 and push data to pvmonitor or Home Assistant [Elektroda, SilverX, post #19313861]
3. How do I use pvmonitor without the PLN 250 counting-and-sending module?
Replace the module with an LK flashed for pvmonitor or with an ESP8266 RS-485 logger. Both forward Modbus frames directly to pvmonitor’s API, so no proprietary cloud is needed [Elektroda, 3301, post #18254305]
4. What exactly is a Lan Controller (LK)?
LK is a small Ethernet/Wi-Fi IoT board that reads sensors, Modbus devices and pushes MQTT/HTTP data. The pvmonitor edition polls Sofar every 0.5 s and uploads instant power, voltage and energy totals [Elektroda, bioly, post #19312990]
5. What is the cheapest hardware setup for local logging?
1 × ESP8266 board (PLN 15) + 1 × RS-485-TTL converter (PLN 5) reads Sofar. Optional SDM630 raises cost by PLN 320. Total parts start around PLN 20 [Elektroda, SilverX, post #19313861]
6. Can I integrate Sofar with Home Assistant?
Yes. Flash the ESP8266 with the open-source rs485-logger [GitHub link, Elektroda, SilverX, #19313682]. Add the Modbus integration in Home Assistant, map registers, and visualise dashboards. Users report <1 s update latency.
7. How do I capture pulses from the meter LED?
- Tape a phototransistor over the LED.
- Connect to LK or ESP GPIO with a 10 kΩ pull-up.
- Configure pulse-to-kWh ratio in pvmonitor.
This gives ±1 % energy accuracy without opening the meter [Elektroda, MichałS, #18253994].
8. I have Zeversolar and Sofar in one house—single app?
Pvmonitor can merge multiple inverters; add a separate meter or two LK modules if you need individual totals [Elektroda, theo33, post #19150854]
9. What if the Sofar Wi-Fi stick loses internet or power?
Edge case: the inverter stores no extended history, so gaps appear in Solarman graphs [Elektroda, dongringo11, post #19947610] Local MQTT logging avoids data loss because records stay in your LAN.
10. Step-by-step: build an ESP8266 RS-485 logger
- Flash firmware from github.com/pawelka/sofarsolar_esp_rs485_logger [Elektroda, SilverX, post #19313682]
- Wire ESP TX/RX through MAX485 to inverter RS-485 port.
- Enter Wi-Fi SSID, MQTT broker, and Modbus ID; restart. Data now streams to pvmonitor or Home Assistant.
11. Will skipping Solarman void my warranty?
Forum installers confirm no contract clause enforces Solarman; any monitoring satisfies the warranty as long as logs exist [Elektroda, 3301, post #20556318] Keep daily CSV backups for proof.
12. Are there privacy concerns with Solarman cloud?
Solarman requires account data on Chinese servers. Users in restricted workplaces declined installation and switched to pvmonitor to comply with security policies [Elektroda, centralaabg, post #20556473]
13. Does Lan Controller refresh faster than Solarman?
Yes. LK default refresh is 0.5 s, while Solarman uploads every 5 min, giving 600× more data points per hour [Elektroda, bioly, post #19312990]
14. What is the typical total cost for full production-and-consumption monitoring?
Approx. PLN 350: LK (PLN 250) + SDM630 (PLN 300) minus Sofar’s included datalogger you no longer need, net cost ~PLN 300–350 [Elektroda, SilverX, post #19313861]
15. Can I run everything over Wi-Fi instead of wiring RS-485?
Add a Wi-Fi router in client mode near the inverter; radiation concerns are minimal, yet wired links remain more reliable [Elektroda, bzag, post #18600422]
16. What failure modes should I watch?
- Wi-Fi stick resets and stops sending.
- RS-485 echo mismatched baud rate.
- SDM630 loses power and gaps appear. Regularly export logs and verify timestamps to avoid blind spots.
