Device Management

Devices are the energy equipment connected to your gateways, including solar controllers, batteries, inverters, and other monitoring equipment.

Understanding Devices

Supported Device Types

AERL Cloud currently supports:

• SRX Solar Controllers: Full monitoring with dedicated detail pages
• Pylontech Batteries: Basic monitoring (list view only)
• XESS One (Inverter): Inverter monitoring and control
• XESS Ion (Battery): Battery management system monitoring
• AERL LiFe2 (Battery): AERL battery system monitoring
• Earth Guards: Earth leakage detection monitoring
• Generic Devices: Basic support through device table

Device Communication

Devices connect to gateways through:

• CAN Bus: High-speed digital communication
• Modbus RTU: Serial communication over RS485
• Modbus TCP: Network-based communication
• Proprietary Protocols: Manufacturer-specific interfaces

Viewing Devices

Device List

Navigate to Devices to see all equipment across your organization:

• Status: Online (green), Sleeping (yellow), Offline (red)
• Name: Device identifier
• Type: Equipment category
• Serial: Manufacturer serial number
• Location: Site where device is installed
• Gateway: Connected gateway name

Device Status Meanings

• Online: Actively communicating
• Sleeping: In power-save mode (normal for solar equipment at night)
• Offline: No recent communication
• Unknown: Status cannot be determined

Filtering and Search

• Search Bar: Find devices by name, serial, or location
• Type Filter: Show only specific device types
• Status Filter: View online/offline devices
• Location Filter: Devices at specific sites

Device Details

Accessing Device Information

Click on any device to view:

• Real-time telemetry data
• Historical trends
• Configuration parameters
• Communication statistics
• Error logs

Solar Charge Controllers

Key metrics displayed:

• PV Voltage & Current: Solar panel input
• Battery Voltage & Current: Charging status
• Daily Yield: Energy harvested today
• MPPT Status: Maximum power point tracking
• Temperature: Controller temperature
• Error Flags: Active faults

Battery Systems

Essential information:

• State of Charge (SOC): Battery capacity percentage
• Voltage: Total pack voltage
• Current: Charge/discharge current
• Temperature: Cell temperatures
• Cell Voltages: Individual cell monitoring
• Alarms: Over/under voltage, temperature

Inverters

Monitored parameters:

• AC Output: Voltage, current, frequency
• DC Input: Battery or solar voltage
• Power: Active, reactive, apparent
• Efficiency: Conversion efficiency
• Grid Status: Connected/disconnected
• Faults: Active error codes

Device Configuration

Automatic Discovery

Most devices are discovered automatically:

1. Gateway scans connected buses
2. Devices appear in the device list
3. Default parameters are applied
4. Customize as needed

Manual Configuration

For devices requiring setup:

1. Navigate to device details
2. Click Settings tab
3. Configure:
   • Communication parameters
   • Scaling factors
   • Alarm thresholds
   • Reporting intervals

Device Naming

Best practices for device names:

• Include location identifier
• Add device function
• Use consistent format
• Examples:
  • "SiteA_Solar_MPPT1"
  • "Building2_Battery_Bank"
  • "MainOffice_Inverter"

Telemetry Data

Real-Time Monitoring

Live data updates every 30-60 seconds:

• Current operational values
• Status indicators
• Active alarms
• Performance metrics

Historical Data

Access historical trends:

• Select time range
• Choose parameters to display
• Compare multiple devices
• Export data for analysis

Data Export

Export device data:

1. Select date range
2. Choose parameters
3. Click Export to CSV
4. Use in Excel or other tools

Troubleshooting Devices

Device Shows Offline

Common causes and solutions:

1. Communication Cable Issues

   • Check cable connections
   • Verify termination resistors
   • Test cable continuity

2. Address Conflicts

   • Ensure unique Modbus addresses
   • Check for duplicate CAN IDs
   • Review device documentation

3. Power Issues

   • Verify device has power
   • Check auxiliary power supplies
   • Review power-save settings

4. Gateway Configuration

   • Confirm correct protocol
   • Verify baud rate matches
   • Check polling intervals

No Data from Device

If device shows online but no data:

• Verify correct device template
• Check scaling factors
• Review register mappings
• Contact support with details

Intermittent Data

For sporadic communication:

• Check cable quality
• Reduce bus speed if needed
• Add repeaters for long runs
• Shield cables from interference

Device Templates

Using Templates

Device templates define:

• Register mappings
• Data types and scaling
• Alarm configurations
• Display formatting

Available Templates

AERL provides templates for:

• Popular solar controllers
• Major battery brands
• Common inverter models
• Standard Modbus devices

Custom Templates

For unsupported devices:

1. Document register map
2. Contact AERL support
3. Template created and tested
4. Applied to your devices

Maintenance & Calibration

Scheduled Maintenance

Track maintenance tasks:

• Service intervals
• Calibration dates
• Firmware updates
• Component replacements

Calibration Records

Document calibrations:

• Date performed
• Technician name
• Values adjusted
• Next due date

Security Considerations

Device Access

• Devices inherit location permissions
• User groups restrict visibility
• Read-only access for viewers
• Configuration requires admin role

Data Integrity

• Encrypted transmission
• Tamper detection
• Audit logging
• Backup retention

Integration with Alerts

Device-Specific Alerts

Create alerts based on:

• Device offline duration
• Parameter thresholds
• Error conditions
• Maintenance due dates

Alert Examples

• Battery SOC below 20%
• Inverter temperature > 65°C
• Solar controller error flag
• No data for 1 hour

Best Practices

Device Organization

• Consistent naming convention
• Logical grouping by function
• Clear location assignment
• Regular status reviews

Performance Optimization

• Appropriate polling intervals
• Efficient register grouping
• Minimize communication overhead
• Regular gateway maintenance

Documentation

Maintain records of:

• Device installation dates
• Configuration changes
• Maintenance history
• Known issues

Next Steps

• Configure alerts for your devices
• View metrics and create dashboards
• Export data for analysis
• Troubleshoot common issues