Introduction

Welcome to the Denowatts Hardware Installation Guide!

Simply Put: Denowatts is a state-of-the-art solar PV benchmarking technology. We use our proprietary, highly engineered, self-powered, wireless sensors to measure sunlight and back-of-module temperature to simulate a PV system's expected performance in real time. Learn more here!

Objective#

The objective of this installation guide is to provide technicians with all of the necessary information to seamlessly install a full Denowatts hardware package within a couple of hours (for most sites). If you are new to this process, we urge you to carefully review this entire guide to guarantee a successful installation on the first trip.

If you are looking for a specific part in this process, use the side-bar menus on the left of the page to navigate to the desired topic.

Please contact Denowatts at any point while reading this guide with questions, comments, or concerns:

• By Phone: 978.309.6688 x1
• Email: support@denowatts.com

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Definitions#

• Gateway - The central datalogger to which all Deno Sensors and onsite device report.

• Hub - The central landing spot for all power and serial RS-485 wires.

• Antenna - a device used to enable wireless communications between the gateway and the Deno sensors.

• Deno Sensor - the primary sensor (about the size of a TV remote), installed in a GHI or POA orientation. Contains two pyranometers, a charging cell, antenna connection port, and wire terminals for Aux sensors.

  • POA - Plane-of-Array: a sensor installed in the same orientation as the panels are in.
  • GHI - Global Horizontal Irradiance - This references a sensor that is installed perfectly flat in both X and Y directions.

• Aux Sensor - These are sensors that are plugged into the main Deno Sensor. They can be one or all of the following: rPOA, Tbom, or Auxiliary pyranometer.

  • Tbom - Back of Module Temperature - This term describes the back-of-module temperature sensor or sensor reading.
  • rPOA - Rearside Plane-of-Array: This term is used only with bifacial modules and indicates a sensor installed with an orientation that faces the backside of the solar module.

• DAS - Data Acquisition System - the site's data acquisition system. The Denowatts gateway is typically installed in the site's main DAS enclosure and powered up behind the UPS (uninterruptible power supply)

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Additional Training & Resources#

1. Check out the Denowatts Support Center for more articles that dive deeper into our methodology and software.

2. We also encourage you to take our available course offerings that are free on Heatspring:

   • Hardware Installation Certification

   • Denowatts for Project Managers