Software User Documentation

Transcription

1 ` Software User Documentation For Microcare MPPT Data Acquisition Application Page i

2 Prepared by: Microcare Revision Sheet Release No. Date Revision Description 1 21/10/14 Original document Approvals Title Printed Name Signature Date Client Representative Project Manager Project Leader Page ii

3 Application Documentation Page # Contents GENERAL INFORMATION... 2 RESTRICTIONS:... 2 License Information... 2 Authorized Use Permission... 2 Purpose... 2 Audience Description... 3 Hardware Requirements CPU Memory Other hardware requirements Introduction Installation of the software APPLICATION OVERVIEW The Main Window The graph options File options The Calibrate Window Serial Number Supplier Number MPPT Size Gain Supplier Line 1 and Batch Calibrate Enable The Settings Window Select Solar / Wind Turbine Float Voltage Boost Voltage Boost to Float Change Amps Boost to Float Interval Scan/Time Battery Pack Size External Relay Type Disconnect Voltage Reconnect Voltage Turbine Release Voltage Turbine Load Dump Voltage Turbine Cut-In Voltage Turbine Brake Voltage Equalize Mode Page 1

4 GENERAL INFORMATION RESTRICTIONS: Copyright 2014 by Microcare This publication is protected by federal copyright Law, with all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, translated, transcribed, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means manual, electric, electronic, electro-magnetic, mechanical, chemical, optical, or otherwise, with prior explicit written permission from Microcare. License Information THIS DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, OR ANY SPECIAL INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCTS TO WHICH THE INFORMATION HERE APPLIES TO. Authorized Use Permission CHANGING ANY OF THE SETTINGS IN OUR PRODUCTS DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCT AND MAY CAUSE IT TO FUNCTION INCORRECTLY OR GET DAMAGED. AS SUCH IT IS ADVISABLE TO CONTACT MICROCARE OR AN AUTHORIZED INSTALLER BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES IF YOU ARE NOT SURE OF THE OUTCOME OF MAKING THOSE CHANGES. MAKE ALL CHANGES AT YOUR OWN RISK Purpose The purpose of this software is to provide real-time visual feedback of the performance of the machine. By viewing the graphs one will be able to, in real time, track such aspects as the Charge voltage, current and power. Any 2 of these can be plotted side by side as required and analyzed by a user. The user will also be able to program the MPPT by sending it calibration and settings information by use of a serial cable like USB to RS232. Page 2

5 Audience Description This software is intended for use by personnel who are familiar with the settings of the MPPT and would perhaps like to make a few changes to the operating conditions. The MPPT is sent out already programmed to the best possible settings for most applications but a particular situation may require that one has to make a change to one of the current operating parameters. This was previously fulfilled by use of a time consuming process using the CHARGE and DATA buttons on the MPPT. This software is not intended to be a permanent replacement to the use of these buttons but rather an accompaniment that allows the user to change almost all the settings only previously changeable by use of the CHARGE and DATA buttons on the MPPT. Hardware Requirements A computer/laptop running Microsoft Windows 7 with: Microsoft.Net Framework Installed ( CPU A Pentium 1.0 GHz processor is the minimum recommendation. For best performance, a Pentium 1.7 GHz or faster is suggested. Equivalent AMD processors are also supported. Minimum Pentium 1.0 GHz Processor Recommended Pentium Processor at 1.7GHz or faster Memory Minimum 256MB Recommended 1GB Other hardware requirements 1 USB port USB to serial cable Page 3

6 2. INTRODUCTION The Microcare Data Acquisition application is a designed to work with the Microcare standard protocol developed for use in all Microcare products for communication to and between products. It can also be used to extract data from a product such as the MPPT Installation of the software Double click the installation file to open and run it and follow the easy onscreen instructions to install it. To launch the software click on the desktop icon (if you selected the check box to install a desktop icon) or launch it from the start menu. 3. APPLICATION OVERVIEW The application consists of three main parts. These are: The Main Window The Calibrate Window The Settings Window 3.1. The Main Window The Main Window is the Home Page. From this window one will be able to navigate to the other windows. This is the window where a user can view the graphs showing real values of real time data from the MPPT. A simulation of the display of a real MPPT is also shown so that the user will also be able to view the information as it is displayed on the MPPT. In this window the user will also be able to choose which COM port to use to communicate. The MPPT attempts to connect to a COM Port when loads. If you have only one COM Port available then you may have to choose which one to use. Page 4

7 Points of interest: 1- The real time graphs. Two graphs can be shown sharing the same X-scale but one using the left side Y-axis and the other using the right side Y-axis or on the same axis depending on the option chosen with the radio buttons above the axes. 2- Two drop down boxes are available to choose which two values to plot. Each drop own box can be used to change the line graph corresponding to its back colour 3- Legends: these show what two values are being plotted at the moment. 4- The maximum time to log information for, before scrolling can be set in this drop down box e.g. 1 minute, or 1hour. 5- This menu has options that the user can use to configure the MPPT. 6-7 day log File > Open File > Save File > Exit Tools > Calibrate Tools > Settings Tools > Clear Logs Tools > Old MPPT Software Tools > New MPPT Software Help > Contact Microcare Help > Website Help > About Us 7- Simulated LCD Display showing Real Time information about the MPPT The graph options There are 3 different options for the ways that the graphs can be plotted. Select between the options using the radio buttons above the graphs Use PV as master scale. This is the default option. The two options that are selected for graphing are plotted on the same axes. What this implies is that if the value being plotted on the left axis is higher than the one being plotted on the right axis then both axes will share the same maximum value, determined by the higher value of the two. Page 5

8 Likewise if the value being plotted on the right axis is higher than the one being plotted on the left axis then both axes will share the same maximum value, determined by the higher value of the two Fixed Battery This option is only available if the values being plotted are Battery voltage and panel voltage. The battery voltage will be fixed to within a range that depends on the battery pack size. It allows a user to take a closer look at the battery voltages while also having a glance at the panel voltages which will have a variable scale depending on the panel voltage Auto Scale In this mode both the left and the right scales change depending on the values being plotted File options File > Save This menu option allows you to save the current settings of the MPPT to a file. Two files will be created; one with the calibration information and the other with the current settings. The files will be in the format below; <Setting name>_<year><month><day><t><hhmmss><.txt> For example: callibratesaved_ t txt settingssaved_ t txt The files can be sent to support@microcare.co.za where they can be analysed by a qualified professional. And you will be advised as required File > Open This menu option allows you to open a file containing the settings of the MPPT, and load them to the MPPT. Each file needs to be loaded one at a time. The files will be in the format below; <Setting name>_<year><month><day><t><hhmmss><.txt> For example: callibratesaved_ t txt settingssaved_ t txt Page 6

9 File > Exit This option closes the application Tools > Calibrate This option opens the calibration window which will be discussed in detail later in the documentation Tools > Settings This option opens the Settings window which will be discussed in detail later in the documentation Tools > Clear Logs This option clears all the logs stored in the MPPT. The logs are unrecoverable after they have been cleared Tools > Old MPPT Software Use this option to set the MPPT as an old software MPPT. This application is designed to work with the new software versions (Ver and newer). But if you have an MPPT with an older version then you MUST click this option in order to use the software. The application only has support for two functions in the older software; the real-time data and viewing the 7 day log. Other functions will be disabled when this option is chosen Tools > New MPPT Software If you have chosen the older software and for some reason need to change back to full functionality then select this option Help > Contact Microcare A pop up window with the contact details for Microcare will be shown Help > Website This option will open the Microcare website using your default browser Help > About Us This will display some information about our company. Page 7

10 3.3. The Calibrate Window When the CALLIBRATE option is selected from the Tools menu, the window below appears and the user will have to enter a valid password before being allowed access to the calibration settings window. A user will have up to 10 tries before access will be denied and the user will have to re-click the CALLIBRATE button. In the calibrate window a user can calibrate the MPPT. The calibration settings available are: Serial Number This allows the user to enter serial number that will be programmed into the unit. The serial number is automatically incremented after every successful programming. Page 8

11 Supplier Number This control shows a list of all suppliers who can be programmed into the MPPT. Select the appropriate name. if you need to set a custom Name then select CUSTOM NAME!!!! at the bottom of the list and enter it in the text boxes MPPT Size This control allows you to enter the MPPT size. Select one of the sizes shown in the drop down box Gain Leave this as Supplier Line 1 and 2 When CUSTOM NAME selected as SUPPLIER NAME then the two text boxes above become active and supplier details can be entered. Each has a limit of 14 characters Batch Calibrate Enable When the above checkbox is selected then the BATCH CALLIBRATE mode is enabled. In this mode after sending callibbration settings to an MPPT the windo pops up again and again with the serial number incrementing so that you can programm several MPPTs in a short Page 9

12 When it isnot checked then the CALLIBRATION WINDOW will close after data is sent to the MPPT The Settings Window This is the window that will pop up when the Settings option is selected from the Tools menu. Here a user can change almost all the settings that are available in the MPPT and then send them to the MPPT. These settings can also be accessed using the CHARGE and DATA buttons on the MPPT itself. In every session ALL settings must be changed to the required values otherwise default settings will be chosen for all the settings which have been left blank. Page 10

13 Tooltips have been implemented and so when you are not sure of the range of acceptable values then hover over the control setting with the mouse pointer. This will bring up a tooltip with information about the control. Please exercise caution as you change the settings that are provided. Controls have been put in place to ensure that if an unacceptable value is entered it will revert to the default value to ensure that the product is not damaged by you entering a value outside the safe limits. In spite of this, the onus is on the user to ensure that they only use acceptable safe values. Contact Microcare in case you have any queries. Leave a control setting as default or blank to load the default values. Certain options will remain disabled if they are not needed for the current selections. E.g. the Wind turbine settings will remain disabled in solar mode. The available settings are discussed below: Select Solar / Wind Turbine This drop down box allows the user to choose between a setting the MPPT as a Solar MPPT or as Wind Turbine MPPT Float Voltage This drop box gives two options: MANUAL or DEFAULT. MANUAL: When this option is chosen then a textbox becomes visible and the user can enter a value that is in the acceptable range of Float Voltages. DEFAULT: If no selection is made or the DEFAULT option is chosen then the MPPT Float voltage will be reset to its default settings. Page 11

14 Boost Voltage This drop box gives two options: MANUAL or DEFAULT. MANUAL: When this option is chosen then a textbox becomes visible and the user can enter a value that is in the acceptable range of Boost Voltages. DEFAULT: If no selection is made or the DEFAULT option is chosen then the MPPT Boost voltage will be reset to its default settings Boost to Float Change Amps This changes the charge current at which the BOOST mode, after timing out, changes to FLOAT. This can be amps or Disabled Boost to Float Interval Scan/Time This screen changes the time that the BOOST mode takes to switch to FLOAT mode once the batteries have reached the BOOST voltage level. Page 12

15 Battery Pack Size The battery pack selection can be set to AUTO so that the MPPT automatically identifies the battery pack size or it can be manually selected using one of the options available External Relay Type The external output can be changed from UNUSED OUTPUT N/C to any of the settings shown. The external output is only to be used with MICROCARE MPPT CHARGER accessories Disconnect Voltage This is only enabled for specific External Relays. The user can program the Voltage at which the External RELAY operates. This is between volts per pack and increments in steps of 0.1 volts Reconnect Voltage This is only enabled for specific External Relays. The user can program the Voltage at which the External RELAY operates. This is between volts per pack and increments in steps of 0.1 volts Page 13

16 Turbine Release Voltage Turbine Load Dump Voltage Turbine Cut-In Voltage Turbine Brake Voltage Equalize Mode This can be set to AUTO ENABLED or MANUAL. Page 14