Solar Panel Monitoring

Question

Level 1

6 points

Solar Panel Monitoring

I could REALLY do with some help!

After 25 years of using Windows based products, in June this year I took the plunge and bought my first Apple Laptop. To say that I was impressed is understating it significantly, the speed, ease of use and beauty of a Macbook Air blew me away. I was a fan.

You notice the use of the past tense there? Last week I updated the operating system from 'Yosemite' to the new and improved 'El Capitan'.

First impressions were fine. I wasn't expecting any new features, but it was definitely quicker and more responsive. I then plugged in my Sunny Beam Monitor...

My Macbook totally ignored it. It was if it didn't exist. No icon, no details of an external memory device, nothing.

I rang Apple who, as always, were terrific, but eventually they had to admit defeat. Presumably, because SMA know longer produce Sunny Beam Monitors the software required to run it on the new 'El Capitan' operating system doesn't exist.

"It's not me, it's you."

It was like a relationship breaking down.

I'd loved her, she was something special, not like the others, but no, after 5 months she'd broke my heart and changed.

Do any of you use a Macbook to download details of your systems output? Could you leave a comment if you've had a similar problem and how you've solved it?

If my Sunny Beam won't work with 'El Capitan' I'm probably looking at 3 options.

1: Revert to the old 'Yosemite' operating system.

2: Dig out my old windows based Laptop and email the data to my Macbook.

3: Buy a new monitor which will receive bluetooth data from my 'Schuco' inverter.

None of them are appealing. Does anyone have any suggestions?

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 14, 2015 9:23 AM

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Answer 1

tony1tf

Level 1

8 points

Apr 3, 2017 11:38 AM in response to cogito2

I have the same problem, having not collected data from my Sunny Beam for a year. I had updated my MacBook OS to El Capitan in the meantime. I don't particularly want to upgrade to Sierra unless it is much better, as I have been happy with El Capitan. I can of course get at the data with my old Windows 7 PC, and then I transfer with a USB memory stick. Would be pleased to know if anybody found any other workaround solutions.

Tony

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Answer 2

Oct 20, 2015 1:17 AM in response to SolarIcarus

I have the same issue with the Sunny Beam Monitor since updating to El Capitan.

The usb monitor is recognised under the System information but does not show on the desktop. Under Yosemite on connecting the monitor is displayed on the desktop and the data can be accessed.

Fortunately I have separate disk running Yosemite and boot into this from the Startup disk utility to access the data on the Sunny Beam.

Are there any other usb devices that are not compatible with El Capitan?

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Answer 3

SolarIcarus Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 20, 2015 1:25 AM in response to robbiefromsomerset

Hi Robbie

Thank you for the reply. It's frustrating isn't it...

You mention you have a separate disk running Yosemite, is this an internal section on your Mac or an external hard drive?

Unfortunately, because I opted for the cheapskate 128GB Macbook Air version I suspect that I don't have enough storage to run two versions. I do however have a 1TB external hard drive which might be useful.

Any additional information would be really useful.

Thanks again

Ian http://www.solarpowerdiary.co.uk/

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Answer 4

Oct 20, 2015 10:38 AM in response to SolarIcarus

Hi Solarlcarus

The disk with Yosemite is internal disk on a Mac Pro 2010. I have tried to access the Sunny Beam data by running Windows using Parallels software. The Sunny Beam is recognised as a device but I am unable access its data.

Robbie

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Answer 5

SolarIcarus Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 20, 2015 10:42 AM in response to robbiefromsomerset

Hi Robbie

It looks like I'm digging out my old Windows based laptop for the foreseable future. That's the trouble with technology, it moves on so fast that unless you have the 'latest thing' it all goes pear shaped.

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Answer 6

adriandw

Level 1

18 points

Oct 23, 2015 3:43 PM in response to SolarIcarus

I have the same problem.

After I upgraded from Yosemite to El Capitan I could no longer access the data on my Sunny Beam device.

It shows up under System Information under USB 2.0 Hub as

Product ID: 0x008f

Vendor ID: 0x1587 (SMA Technologie AG)

Version: 1.00

but the 2 FAT drives on the Sunny Beam device are not readable.

I just installed the El Capitan 10.11.1 upgrade but it doesn't help.

I have to read it on my wife's Windows 10 PC.

If the Sunny Beam has been discontinued, are there any replacement Bluetooth devices which can read the data from my Sunpower inverter?

I'm regretting having upgraded to El Capitan which has caused other problems as well (for example Acrobat XI crashes)

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Answer 7

SolarIcarus Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 23, 2015 11:30 PM in response to adriandw

Hi.

Your story is a mirror image of mine, I've just installed the latest El Capitan update hoping for a happy ending.

I'm now taking my readings on an old Windows 7 laptop and then emailing the Excel 2003 file to my Mac running Excel 2011. Don't start me off about the compatibility problems!!!!!

We obviously are not going to have our problem solved by SMA or Apple, I suspect that long term a new monitoring device will be the only answer.

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Answer 8

adriandw

Level 1

18 points

Oct 24, 2015 12:49 AM in response to SolarIcarus

Yes and after uploading the file to my wife's Win 10 pc I noticed that Excel 2013 launched significantly more quickly than Excel 2016 on my (faster) iMac.

I found a replacement device: the Sunny View, where file transfer is done by an sdhc card.

But it seems ridiculous to have to invest in a Sunny View because Apple broke the USB device driver

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Answer 9

HanvZ

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2015 2:06 AM in response to adriandw

Hi Sunny beam users. I have exactly the same problem as described in all above cases. When I connect my Sunny beam to the upgraded iMac with El Capitan you can see it in the system overview list as Sunny beam with all the information. What lacks is the last step to mount the device, so no icon on the desktop dos cannot access the data. Tried Windows 7 as VM on parallels. I requests to connect to iMac or Windows, however if I connect it to the Windows VM it does not mount the disk to the VM. El Capitan does not pass the right info for the mounting process to Windows I guess. I borrowed the old laptop from my son which runs Windows Vista and could access the data !!!! and Plug & Play !

Very frustrating, hopefully Apple will do something to fix it or hopefully someone has a solution for a patch to El Capitan, can't be that we have to buy a new device to replace the Sunny beam or use Windows, which I abandoned a few years ago to access the data.

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Answer 10

cogito2

Level 1

43 points

Jan 8, 2017 11:52 AM in response to HanvZ

It seems to be OK now under Sierra. Now I don't have to bug my neighbour with his PC!

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