ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
Altenergy Power System
Energy Communication Unit
(ECU)
Installation and User Manual
Version 3.0
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC.
All rights reserved
1
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ............................................... 3
2 INSTALLATION .................................................. 5
3 BASIC OPERATION............................................ 7
3.1 POWER UP .................................................... 7
3.2 MENU STRUCTURE ........................................ 9
3.3RESTORE THE FACTORY SET OPERATION ....... 10
3.4 TROUBLESHOOTING .................................... 10
4 ECU LOCAL INTERFACE ................................... 11
4.1 HOME SCREEN ............................................ 11
4.2 REAL TIME DATA SCREEN............................. 12
4.3 STATUS ....................................................... 13
4.4 CONFIGURATION ........................................ 13
4.5 ADMINISTRATION SCREEN .......................... 14
5 TECHNICAL DATA............................................ 18
2
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
1 Introduction
The APS-ECU is the information gateway for APS inverters. This internet ready
data logger is able to communicate with every kind of APS interactive inverter
available and provides the latest in system monitoring for your PV plant. The
APS-ECU contains an integrated HTTP web server to allow the simplest and
most flexible network integration of any data logger currently on the market.
The user-friendly browser based interface provides you system level access in
moments. Several configuration options ensure that any APS inverter system,
regardless of the number of inverters, remoteness of the plant or internet
connection type, can be used with the APS-ECU.
Meter
Distribution Box
PV
Module
Micro-inverter
ECU
Neutral
Ground
Outlet
Internet
EMA
APS Microinverter
AC power line
APS ECU
Ethernet Router
APS EMA
3
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
Other Elements in the APS microinverter System:
 The APS Microinverter is a fully integrated device that converts the DC
output of a single solar module into grid-compliant AC electricity.
 The APS EMA (Energy Monitoring and Analysis) web-based is constantly
monitoring every module on every installation. It analyzes the data
collected by ECU from each microinverter.
4
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
2 Installation
Preparation
The ECU can be used as a table-top or wall-mounted unit. Before installing the
ECU, make sure that your sites meets the following minimum requirements:
· Broadband is always on with a reliable Internet connection
· Web browser to view APS-EMA is available
· Route / LAN with Ethernet port is available
· Standard AC electrical outlet is available
Suitable Locations
Please note the following required ambient conditions:
· Protect the ECU from dust, liquids, acidic or caustic substances and vapors
· The ambient temperature must be between -40oC to +65oC
Tabletop Use
If using the ECU as a tabletop unit:
· Arrange the cables so that their weight does not cause them to
disconnect
· Do not cover the ECU, this can cause overheating. Allow normal airflow
around the unit
Wall Mounting
To mount the ECU on a wall:
1. Select a cool, dry, indoor location to locate the ECU. Avoid heat
generating devices( wall heaters, toaster ovens, etc)
2. Use two drywall screws or wall anchors to affix the ECU to the wall
mounted at the dimensions shown (not included in kit).
3. Slide the ECU onto the mounting screws aligning the ECU screw holes
with screws installed in step 2.
Install the ECU Cable Connections
The following diagram guides to the connectors back of APS-ECU.
5
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
AC Input
Serial Port
Network Port
USB Port
Reset
Plug the AC power cord into the AC input on the ECU, and then plug the other
end of the power cord into an ordinary 220VAC power outlet (not a power strip )
located somewhere near your broadband router.
Plug the Ethernet cable into the network port on the ECU, and plug the other
end of the cable into a spare port on the broadband router. It could also
connect to a normal LAN (Local Area Network) connection as it needs only to be
able to obtain a DHCP(DAP Samic Host Control Protocol) IP address and have a
path to the Internet. The ECU will only search for a DHCP IP address during
power up sequence.
ECU initial set
Step 1: Power on ECU
After the above installation, ECU have started , wait ten seconds, the screen will
display some information
Initialization Interface:
ALTENERGY POWER
Loading… SYSTEM INC.
浙江昱能光伏科技集成有限公司
Start work Interface:
All rights
reserved
Searching
V3.0
版权所有侵权必究
192.168.2.101
When the inverter ID to find success and ECU connected to the company's
server success , the screen will display the following:
192.168.2.101 +Web
750W
11Kwh 12
6
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
If “–Web” is displayed, Internet itself has problem. Need to setup the security
authority to offer Auto IP configuration.
Step 2: ECU time zone setting
Click “Administration”, then “Date, Time, Time zone”
In the corresponding box, enter local date/time/time zone, click Update after
finished. For details, refer to 4.4.2 time management.
Step 3: EMA Monitoring
After ECU display “+web”，notify contact person in APS. APS will setup your
account with User Name and Password.
3 Basic Operation
APS-ECU has one two-line, 40 character LCD display with alphanumeric and
graphic displays. APS-ECU has one button to set mode.
3.1 Power up
As soon as the ECU is plugged into an AC jack, it will power-up and display
several information screens. At first, the ECU will be ready to work after
7
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
applying power less than 5 minutes. This period is known as a boot sequence.
You will know the ECU has completed booting and has started normal operation
when it displays the following information.
Initialization Interface:
Loading…
Start work Interface:
Searching
192.168.2.101
V3.0
The V2.0 means the code version which the ECU’s operation and features are
dictated. After the ECU establishes an IP address and Internet connectivity, the
ECU contacts an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server so that it can set an
accurate, local time.
Normal work Interface:
192.168.2.101 +Web
750W
11Kwh 12
The number 12 just means the quantity which the ECU connected.
You should let the ECU know how many inverters you want to install. You can
use the ECU Menu button. Press and hold this button and every second the
number underlined plus one, when it reached your expected, released it and
the underline forward, then you can set another number.
After inputting the number, changed the underline under ‘OK’, and continued
holding for 3 seconds to end the setting. And then enter the start work
interface and begin to search inverters.
The symbol “!” behind the number 12means the quantity which the ECU really
connected doesn’t meet the setting number.
192.168.2.101 +Web
750W
11Kwh 12!
This initial scan continues to search for new inverters from a few minutes to
8
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
several hours, just depending on the quality of the power line network. Once
the ECU finished connecting all of inverters, it began to collected information
from all of the inverters.
3.2 Menu Structure
The following figure shows the ECU side of the button:
MENU
You can access the ECU LCD panel menu using the button. Press and hold this
button, after two seconds you will enter the ECU menu. Continue holding the
button and menu items will appear in the following order:
Exit Menu
Device Search
Status
Shutdown
Continue holding the Menu button, when the LCD window displays: “Device
Search”, release the Menu button, and items will appear:
Searching device
Enter the ECU menu. Continue holding the Menu button, when the LCD window
displays: “Status”, release the Menu button, and items will appear:
Connected:
Total:
12
15
9
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
The number means there are 15inverters need to be connected, and the ECU
only connected 12 inverters.
能量控制器 ECU-3.1
安装使用说明书
Enter the ECU menu. Continue holding the Menu button, when the LCD window
displays: “Shutdown”, release the Menu button, and items will appear:
Ok
Cancel
Choose the “Ok” and then you will find the system of inverter shutdown in a
few seconds. Choose the “cancel”, cancel. If within one minute without pressing
the button again, then automatically exit the menu button
Version 3.0
3.3Restore the factory set operation
The following diagram guides to the connectors back of APS-ECU.
AC Input
Serial Port
Network Port
USB Port
Reset
For the ECU restore the factory set, simply press the “Reset” button for three
seconds or more long, ECU will automatic return to the factory default settings.
3.4 Troubleshooting
Potential Problems and Solutions
IP ADDRESS Problem: If the IP address displayed on the ECU’s LCD window
does not match the DHCP subnet on your internal network and shows
something beginning with “60.190.x.x”, this means that it was unsuccessful in
obtaining a DHCP lease from your router.
· Check network connectivity to the router or other DHCP server. You may
also wish to contact your Internet Service Provider or refer to your router
documentation for assistance.
LCD Window displays “-Web”: This means that the ECU could not connect
10
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
to the Internet to find an NTP server and could not connect to the APS website.
· Check network connectivity to the premises router or switch. You may
also wish to contact your Internet Service Provider or refer to your router
documentation for assistance.
LCD Window display “!”: This means that the inverter count doesn’t match
number of installed units. It may indicate that the ECU is having difficulty
communicating over the power lines. It could also be a result of low light levels
and the module voltage is too low for the inverter to power-up.
192.168.2.118 +Web
2776W 1kWh 12!
· Try plugging the ECU into an electrical socket in a different location, keep
away from your router.
4 ECU local Interface
Connection to web-based monitoring and analysis website (EMA) requires an
Internet connection. However, if there is no Internet access at the installation
site, it is still possible to communicate directly with the ECU local interface using
the Ethernet port and a personal computer with a web browser.
4.1 Home Screen
Once the browser has successfully connected with the ECU, the following
screen is displayed in the browser. This home screen provides a system
overview and shows the current status of the inverters that have been
11
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
identified by this ECU. From this screen, you can access other screens in the
interface.
4.2 Real Time Data Screen
To view system real time operation data statistics for your system, click “Real
Time Data” from the ECU home screen to navigate to the real time data screen.
12
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
4.3 Status
To view system status, click “status” from the ECU home screen.
4.4 Configuration
Configure the inverter parameters. Input the parameters in each box, click
“Save”. Then click “Configuration” to view the result in a few minutes. As shown
below:
13
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
4.5 Administration Screen
For the user to set the ECU parameters
(1) ID Management, for the user to input 12 digits inverter ID, each input the ID
number and press “Enter” a line break, then enter the next inverter ID, all
inverter ID into finish, press the "ok" button, the input completed. If you need
to remove the inputted inverter ID, need to check the "empty ID" this button.
The default option is reporting ID automatically, the customer need not manual
input inverter ID. As shown below:
14
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
(2) Time management, in date column, input date, format for day/month/year,
in time column, input time, format for hour/minute/second, after the
completion of the input, click on the "ok" button. The ECU also can connect to
the NTP server for obtaining accurate date and time automatically. In "NTP
server" Spaces place, users can set NTP server address. As shown below:
(3) Language management, Users can switch between in both Chinese and
English. As shown below:
15
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
(4)Network management , for the customer to choose GPRS function (need
matching GPRS module) , set up automatic assign IP address, manual input IP
address and DNS server. As shown below:
Event Messages
The table below lists messages that the ECU can produce to indicate certain
conditions. These messages appear on screen when your computer is
connected to the ECU local interface. These messages can provide APS
Customer Support with information, should you need to call for assistance.
Home Screen
Description
AC Frequency exceeding Range
The frequency of the AC grid has
exceeded the upper limit.
The frequency of the AC grid has
exceeded the lower limits.
The voltage of the AC phase has
exceeded the upper limit.
The voltage of the AC phase has
exceeded the lower limit.
The inverter is producing less power in
an attempt to not overheat.
The AC utility grid is no longer present.
The inverter is not producing power
due to one or more of these
conditions: AC Frequency Out Of
Range, AC Voltage Out Of Range, or
Grid Gone. Note that Grid Instability
AC Frequency under Range
AC Voltage exceeding Range
AC Voltage under Range
Over Critical Temperature
Grid Gone
Grid Instability
16
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
will remain for about 5 minutes after
the underlying conditions clear.
Notes: It must use x-over Ethernet cable to connect ECU and
computer for accessing local ECU interface. If you fail to make a
connection at this point, you can try to manually configure your
subnet to 60.190.131.1, Subnet Mask 255.0.0.0.
17
ALTENERGY POWER SYSTEM INC. CONFIDENTIAL
5 Technical Data
Model: ECU-3
Communication Interface
Power Line
APS Proprietary
Ethernet
10/100M Auto-sensing, Auto-negotiation
USB interface
Standard
RS232 (GPRS)
Optional
Power Requirements
AC Outlet
110~240Vac,50~60Hz
Power Consumption (Watt)
2.5
Mechanical Data
Dimension(W×H×D)
182mm×113mm×42mm
Weight
380g
Ambient Temperature Range
-40ºC to +65ºC
Cooling
Nature Convection; no fans
Enclosure Environmental Rating
Indoor - NEMA 1(IP30)
Features
Standard Warranty Term
3 Years
Compliance
IEC60950,GB/T17799
18