APsystems ECU-3 Installation & User Manual
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APsystems ECU-3 Installation & User Manual

Energy communication unit
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Installation/User Manual
APsystems ECU-3
Energy Communication Unit (ECU)
Version 8.0 1/16
APsystems.com
© All Rights Reserved

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Summary of Contents for APsystems ECU-3

  • Page 1 Installation/User Manual APsystems ECU-3 Energy Communication Unit (ECU) Version 8.0 1/16 APsystems.com © All Rights Reserved...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Changing the Date, Time Zone Changing the ECU Language Managing the Network Connection Assigning a Static IP Address to the ECU Managing The Wlan/Wifi Connection To Change the ECU to WLAN Mode REMOTE ECU MANAGEMENT ECU Configuration Setting the ECU Time Zone Managing Inverter UIDs and Updating the Inverter UID List TECHNICAL DATA APsystems ECU-3 V7.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 3: Introduction

    Internet database in real time, requiring only a single data and power cable. Through the APsystems Monitor software, the APsystems Communicator gives you precise analysis of each microinverter and module in your solar installation from any web-connected device.
  • Page 4 Collects individual module and microinverter statistics • Communicates in real time • Requires no additional wiring The APsystems Microinverter is used in utility-interactive grid-tied appli- cations, and is made up of three key elements: • APsystems Microinverter • APsystems Energy Communication Unit (ECU) •...

  • Page 5: Hardware Installation

    • A broadband router with either a CAT5 Ethernet, or wireless router is available for your use. • A laptop with a web browser (to view the APsystems EMA online monitoring application). • An ECU. SELECTING AN INSTALLATION LOCATION FOR THE ECU •...

  • Page 6: Using Wall Mount

    Doing so allows the ECU to automatically update its internal software while the rest of the physical installation is underway. The ECU will then communicate with the inverters when the installation is complete and the array is energized. 6 6 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 7: Cable Ports

    Connect the supplied power cable to the power connection port on the bottom of the ECU. As noted in the previous section, the ECU communicates with the NOTE: inverters using the Power Line Communications (PLC) protocol through the power connection port.   7 7 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 8: Internet Connection

    Using a wifi extender: Make sure the CAT5 cable is connected to the network port on the bottom of the ECU. Connect the CAT5 cable into the wifi extender. Join the wifi extender to the site’s LAN. 8 8 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 9: Power Up Ecu

    ECU.   Do NOT plug the ECU into a power strip, surge protector, WARNING: or uninterruptable power supply (UPS). The surge suppression and/ or filtering on these sorts of devices will substantially diminish PLC   performance. 9 9 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 10: Ecu Initialization Sequence

    If, however, the LED displays “60.190.131.228”, the ECU-router connection has not been successful, in which case you’ll need to check all of the cabling connections and reboot the ECU by removing the power cable for a few seconds and reconnecting. 10 10 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 11 EMA Communication: A “+Web” indicates that the ECU is communicating with the APsystems EMA via the Internet. “-Web” is an indication that there is a problem and the ECU is not communicating with the APsystems EMA.
  • Page 12 UIDs that have been programmed into the ECU (see Managing Inverter UIDs pg. 22). The inverter UIDs MUST BE PROGRAMMED into the ECU for NOTE: the ECU to recognize the inverters. The ECU will NOT auto-sense the   inverters (see Managing Inverter UIDs pg.22). 12 12 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 13: Using The Ecu Menu Button

    The ECU has the following menu structure (displayed on LED screen): Figure 15 Press and hold the MENU Button, releasing the button to gain access to the functionality of each menu item. Exit Menu: Returns the ECU to the normal operating screen (see Operating Interface Pg. 11). 13 13 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 14 Turn off all: Shuts down the entire system. The Shutdown screen. Figure 17 Leaving the MENU Button untouched for one (1) minute returns NOTE: the ECU to the normal operating screen (see Operating Interface Pg. 11).   14 14 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 15: Resetting The Ecu To Factory Defaults

    RESETTING THE ECU TO FACTORY DEFAULTS Insert a paperclip, or something similar, into the reset access along the bottom of the ECU for three (3) seconds or longer. The ECU will reset to its factory settings. Figure 18 Reset Access 15 15 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 16: Troubleshooting Ecu Operation

    Problem: -Web If the ECU’s LED is displaying “-web”, the ECU is not communicating with the APsystems monitoring system. Solution: Reboot the ECU by unplugging the power cord for at lease seven (7) seconds, and plugging it back in. If the LED still indicates “-web”, check network connectivity to the router.

  • Page 17: Local Network Interface

    Make sure both your computer and the ECU are correctly connected by the LAN. Using a standard web browser on your computer, enter the IP Address that is displayed on your ECU in to the URL search field. The ECU’s Home Page is displayed. Figure 19 17 17 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 18: Connecting Directly To The Ecu

    Close the LAC Status window. Close the Network and Sharing Center. Using a standard web browser on your computer, enter the IP Address that is displayed on your ECU in to the URL search field. Figure 20 18 18 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 19: Using An Apple Mac

    IP Address: 60.190.131.190 Subnet Mask: 255.0.0.0 Leave the “Router” field blank. Select “Apply”. Using a standard web browser on your computer, enter the IP Address that is displayed on your ECU in to the URL search field. Figure 21 19 19 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 20: Viewing The Ecu's Home Page

    Amount of power that has been generated during the most current day. Last connection to Website: The last time the ECU checked into the central APsystems EMA database. Number of Inverters: Number of inverters that have programmed into the ECU.
  • Page 21 The PLC signal strength measured from 1-5, with higher number being stronger signal strength. Signal Level will not be displayed if there is no PLC, or if the ECU NOTE: has a UID less than 203000018226.   21 21 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 22: Managing Inverter Uids

    Select “Administration” at the top of the page. Administration Tab Figure 23 The UID Management page is displayed. Figure 24 The “Enter Inverter ID” window field will be blank if you have not NOTE: yet entered any of the inverter UIDs.   22 22 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 23: If Manually Entering The Uids Into The Ecu

    Enter the new UID. Press “Update”. Deleting an Existing Inverter UID Select “Administration” at the top of the page. The UID Management page with the existing inverter UIDs is displayed. Delete the “obsolete” UIDs from the list. Press “Update”. 23 23 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 24 Combine the above two (2) steps when swapping out an inverter. NOTE: Add the new inverter, and Delete the old one. Remember to follow up with the same process on the APsystems EMA because the ECU and EMA need   to be in synch with each other.

  • Page 25: Changing The Date, Time Zone

    The Date, Time, Time Zone page is displayed. Time Zone Field Figure 27 Select the “Date Time” field. The Date, Time page is displayed. Figure 28 Date is displayed in “international date format” – YYYY/MM/DD. NOTE:   25 25 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 26 LOCAL NETWORK INTERFACE Select the correct date on the calendar Enter the correct time. Press “Update”. Select the correct time zone using the Time Zone pull down field. Press “Update”. 26 26 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 27: Changing The Ecu Language

    Select “Administration” tab at the top of the page. Select the “Language” tab. Language Tab Figure 29 The Language Management page is displayed. Figure 30 Select the ECU’s display language using the Language pull down field. Press “Update”. 27 27 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 28: Managing The Network Connection

    Select “Administration” tab at the top of the page. Select “Network Connectivity” tab. Network Connectivity Tab Figure 31 The Network Connectivity page is displayed. Use the following IP address button Figure 32 Select the “Use the following IP address” button. 28 28 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 29 LOCAL NETWORK INTERFACE The Static IP Address page is displayed. Figure 33 Enter the “IP Address”, “Netmask”, “Gateway IP”, “Primary DNS Server”, and “Secondary DNS Server” (Refer to your local network administrator for these settings). Press “Update”. 29 29 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 30: Managing The Wlan/Wifi Connection

    The ECU operates as a wifi hub by default. NOTE:   To Change the ECU to WLAN Mode Select “Administration” tab at the top of the page. Select “WLAN” tab. WLAN Tab Figure 34 30 30 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 31 The “Hotspot” page is displayed. WLAN Tab Figure 35 Select “WLAN” tab. The “WLAN” page is displayed. WLAN Toggle Figure 36 Click on the “WLAN toggle” to select WLAN. The system displays a confirmation message. Figure 37 Press the “OK” button. 31 31 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 32 If the Available networks page fails to load, enter the router’s NOTE: IP address that is displayed on the ECU’s display screen into the browser’s URL search field. Router IP Address Figure 40 Select the network you want to join. 32 32 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 33 The WLAN Connection page is displayed. Figure 42 To access the ECU with a mobile device or PC, enter the IP NOTE: address that is displayed on the WLAN Connection page into a browser URL search field. 33 33 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 34: Remote Ecu Management

    REMOTE ECU MANAGEMENT The ECU has been design with remote connect functionality. You can access this remote functionality through the APsystems Energy Monitoring & Analysis [EMA] website, using your installer login credentials. Changes made remotely through the EMA do not take affect until the ECU’s next reporting cycle.
  • Page 35 NOTE: knowledge of the APsystems EMA.   Log onto your APsystems EMA account. Your Customer List within the Installer Portal is displayed. Select the customer’s ECU you want to manage and click on the pencil icon in the “Change ECU Status” column.

  • Page 36: Ecu Configuration

    UIDs. The ECU will not be able to collect data from the inverters until the inverter UIDs are loaded,. Update Inverter UID list • The ECU’s programmed list of inverters will need to be updated if an inverter(s) is added or swapped for a new unit. 36 36 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 37: Setting The Ecu Time Zone

    SETTING THE ECU TIME ZONE 1. Select the “ECU SETTING” tab. The ECU Configuration page is displayed. Time Zone Pull Down Field Figure 45 2. Using the “Time Zone” pull down field, select the appropriate time zone. 3. Press “Send”. 37 37 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 38: Managing Inverter Uids And Updating The Inverter Uid List

    UIDs within the EMA system, but does not   upload the UIDs to the ECU until you complete the following. 1. Select the “ECU SETTING” tab. The ECU Configuration page is displayed. 2. Select the “Inverter Links” tab. Inverter Links Figure 46 38 38 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 39 Uploading a Complete List of Inverter UIDs for a Newly Installed System Select “Add” in Operation Selection. Select “Select the Special Ones” in Inverter Selection. Open the pulldown menu in the “Operation select” column. Select “Check all”. Press “Send”. 39 39 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...
  • Page 40 Delete UIDs from Inverter List Select “Delete” in Operation Selection. Select “Input the Special Ones” in Inverter Selection. Select (check box) the inverter UIDs you want to delete from the system in the “Operation select” column. Press “Send”. 40 40 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

  • Page 41: Technical Data

    (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. 41 41 APsytems ECU-3 V8.0 Installation/User Manual...

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