Dear all,

I am currently using ICC and have recently been checking on solar assistant. One thing I like about solar assistant is the detail level of info that you also get about your batteries.  The thing is that I have hands on experience with ICC but have not tested Solar assistant (only seen the videos and research info available on their site).

 

Any one with experience using both systems? If yes which of the two would you recommend and why? (pro & cons etc)

 

Screech

Hi there. 

I have never used ICC. But I absolutely love solar assistant. It's my Goto. 

Jay

11 hours ago, Screech said:

Dear all,

I am currently using ICC and have recently been checking on solar assistant. One thing I like about solar assistant is the detail level of info that you also get about your batteries.  The thing is that I have hands on experience with ICC but have not tested Solar assistant (only seen the videos and research info available on their site).

 

Any one with experience using both systems? If yes which of the two would you recommend and why? (pro & cons etc)

 

Screech

happy to give you view rights into my SA instance if you're keen? I dont have my batteries connected though

11 hours ago, Screech said:

Any one with experience using both systems? If yes which of the two would you recommend and why? (pro & cons etc)

I used to run ICC (from ICC) while I had older Axperts in my system. Was generally happy with it. It ran stable most of the time (though every once the comms with the Axperts would hang up and needed a restart). Also used their APM tool to switch my pool pump on/off based on available PV.

When I replaced my Axperts with Sunsynks, I switched to SolarAssistant. Have been really happy with it. Not a single hang-up in more than 12 months. It's been running rock solid.

In terms of features I would say they are very similar. I have to admit that I prefer the looks of SolarAssistant

12 hours ago, Screech said:

One thing I like about solar assistant is the detail level of info that you also get about your batteries.

If I remember correctly, I could get the similar details on my Pylons both on ICC and SolarAssistant (with the Pylons also directly connected to the Pi)

I have run both and the newer ICM...   I find the information in ICM / ICC more detailed especially when you want to look back over time. This may be biased as I have worked on it for longer and am more used to it.  I now use Solar Assist at my office where I just have a UPS type setup and no solar.

My biggest bug bear with Solar Assist is the Solar 24h value on the dash board is a rolling 24 hours and not current day. For me this is a value I look at constantly on my system and I want to know what I have generate currently today and not in the last 24 hours.   I know it is small but was enough for me to revert to ICM.

Solar Assistant is a lot cleaner and neater. It is also browser and mobile friendly which is a BIG advantage.

It all comes down to your needs and the information you want to see. Also... Need to keep in mind.. If you run anything else on your Pi, you cant with Solar Assistant

A very important thing to take note off:

With Solar Assistant your data lives on your own device on the card. You have no way of accessing that data in any form other than through Solar Assistant. (It is time for somebody with a bit of Linux skill to look at the SA installation and figure out how to remove the monitor off, no keyboard instruction, add back SSH access to enable backups over the network). 

Solar Assistant DOES NOT BACKUP YOUR DATA.  If anything happens like a corrupt card your data is gone forever, the recovery method from Solar Assistant is to install it onto a fresh card and start over. 

There IS NO WAY TO BACKUP YOUR data, other than pulling the card out every now and again and making a file image manually of it. 

In comparison with ICC you have FULL access to the system running ICC and can easily do your own backups, or move your data from one installation to a new one. 

 

5 hours ago, Jay-Dee said:

IMy biggest bug bear with Solar Assist is the Solar 24h value on the dash board is a rolling 24 hours and not current day. For me this is a value I look at constantly on my system and I want to know what I have generate currently today and not in the last 24 hours.  

Join the beta channel, in the new beta version is now shows for current day.

3 minutes ago, CyberJoe said:

Join the beta channel, in the new beta version is now shows for current day.

Thanks... Dont have it live on solar, so will wait a while for it to launch properly as I dont want to purchase another install just yet

11 hours ago, wolfandy said:

I have to admit that I prefer the looks of SolarAssistant

If only it had a dark mode select. Very satisfied with it too.

My biggest problem with Solar Assitant will be that you can't use the Pi for anything else.

 

I use my PI for home assistant and many other features as well apart for my solar system.

 

 

19 hours ago, CyberJoe said:

With Solar Assistant your data lives on your own device on the card. You have no way of accessing that data in any form other than through Solar Assistant. (It is time for somebody with a bit of Linux skill to look at the SA installation and figure out how to remove the monitor off, no keyboard instruction, add back SSH access to enable backups over the network).

I have some Linux skills but no access to SA. Surely the sdcard can be accessed via a card reader to fiddle with the setup?

I have Solar Assistant and am very happy with the software. The data can be saved off the charts to a spreadsheet, but no actual "backup" option to external sources via USB or network. Maybe this needs to be requested?

I know some other systems require a monthly subscription, but SA is a one time payment, and lifetime updates, which I like.

On 2022/10/25 at 4:18 PM, p_i said:

I have some Linux skills but no access to SA. Surely the sdcard can be accessed via a card reader to fiddle with the setup?

I am pretty sure this is the case. I could see in the startup that the monitor is disabled etc. 

No display from SA is super annoying, I've had to install a second PI with a monitor in the server room just to be able to see what is going on without going to pc or hauling my phone out.

#jailbreakSA!

Edited November 6, 20223 yr by CyberJoe

On 2022/10/25 at 6:52 PM, TimCam said:

I have Solar Assistant and am very happy with the software. The data can be saved off the charts to a spreadsheet, but no actual "backup" option to external sources via USB or network. Maybe this needs to be requested?

I know some other systems require a monthly subscription, but SA is a one time payment, and lifetime updates, which I like.

Problem here is that this is only sustainable for the developer while sales are going. The moment the next kid hits the block and sales die it might mean the end of all SA installations out there.

18 minutes ago, CyberJoe said:

Problem here is that this is only sustainable for the developer while sales are going. The moment the next kid hits the block and sales die it might mean the end of all SA installations out there.

With the world as your market, it is unlikely that sales will die, and as more solar installations are completed, with worldwide energy problems, business looks good for SA. With any technology, if you don't provide what the customer wants (or someone does it better), you will eventually loose market share. (Unfortunately monopolies excluded)

Call me old fashioned, but I have never paid for any subscription software, and never will. Everyone has freedom of choice. 👍

Solar Assistant is NOT a subsciption service. You outright purchase the software for R899 (IT IS ONEN HELL OF A BARGAIN!!). There are no license fees or monthly subs that needs to be paid. 

I have an ancient old Pi-B 2011 (C) in my drawer which I used to run SA on, and it works perfectly. Buying the cable form the for the Pi to plug into your battery's BMS is most definitely worth the money as well.

I have used both ICC and SA. ICC works very well, but to me feels and looks dated. SA is constantly working on their system with updates and even more improvements.