seeing the graph today I can see why I pulled the past data… Forecast.solar api display the entire data forecast, where as solcast api only shows data from that even hour of half hour from the time it is polled onwards. So starting the poll at midday would only show the forecast from midday on.
So I am going to poll backwards once when the integration first starts to fill in so that it looks good when it first loads…
in the end (this happens to me time to time) if anyone needs to configure it to work differently for them they can fork the repo and customise it to fit their needs. ( I have had to do this a few times)
Hi, I recently installed HA on a RPi4, it’s my first use of such a system, and I’m at the wrong end of the learning curve.
I’d like some help in understanding how to install this integration. I’m familiar with Solcast and have had a free account with them ever since they started.
I have two solar PV systems, a small off-grid system and a larger grid tied system.
After much groaning and gnashing of teeth I finally managed yesterday to get my grid-tied Fronius inverter integrated into the HA Energy page. In stark contrast my off-grid system was super easy to integrate as the Solar Assistant system I have operating with my off-grid system comes with a MQTT HA discovery built in.
The Github page linked above tells me to install Solcast into HA and then to enter in Solacast API and system ID but I can’t see Solcast in the HA integrations listing:
Sorry for the silly question but how does one install this integration into HA?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Assuming I can learn the process, my follow up question will be about combining the forecast for two PV arrays (two arrays with different orientations on my grid tied system).
Thanks to all those making all these cool features!
It’s probably worth trying to get your head around HACs. It has some nice custom lovelace cards, amoung other things.
The instructions are reasonably clear. You need to make a github account and need one of the terminal/ssh add-ons. Then follow the instructions from the earlier link. There should be some recent youtube videos to follow along with too.
Alternatively there is a direct yaml you can use instead. Towards the end of this thread
If I type the small light grey box (in the large black area to the right of where it says “Node-RED”) moves to the right but no text appears on the screen. I’ve no idea what it’s meant to do but it doesn’t seem to do anything other than move a grey box about a bit.
The warning on that linked page suggested I not proceed unless…
#3 I can only assume I do. I set it up using the HA home page instructions onto a Raspberry Pi 4.
#4 I don’t know what the question is asking.
I have a file editor tool in my HA and know where the yaml files are and can modify those if that’s what they mean.
#5 That I’m not clear on as there seems to be different logs.
In HA / Supervisor / System there is a log.
In HA / Configuration / Logs there is another log.
#6 LOL. I’m on Australian NBN fixed wireless. Not fast but reasonably stable, no idea how much data they are talking about.
you answered 1. presumably by looking on the supervisor/system page. On that page you would see unsupported install in the supervisor section if it was an unsupported install method. Which would be the answer to 3.
pretty much.
Yeah those logs. Either or both. 4 and 5 are basically your comfort level.
Is basically checking to make sure you are not going to blow out a data cap, by downloading stuff.
As to the terminal… You would have had to install that in addons. Nothing comes installed at the beginning. So you have done that at some stage.
The cursor in terminal looks to be in the right spot. Not sure why you have no text though.
Try going to supervisor/addons/ssh & web terminal and using the “open web ui” button there. Restart the addon if that doesn’t help.
Or just use the yaml stuff from the other link.
yes HACS can get things like custom button card for the web ui
In Safari all I get is the blank screen. Weird. I’d rather not use Chrome unless I really have to but at least seeing that on screen makes some sense and the text I type is visible!
I think I have ~1TB/month data allowance but reality is our speeds are pretty ordinary at times so its not usually at threat.
I have HACS installed now, it’s going through an initial start up phase which takes over an hour according to the documentation. Will check in later with progress on that and hopefully also with Solcast.
OK so last night I added it all and applied my Solcast API key and system resource ID and then chose to include a forecast option to my HA Energy page solar system set up.
The Solcast forecast option appears and is ticked:
Thanks. I asked on the GitHub page and someone suggested doing a reinstall a short while ago. Once I worked out how to do that I now have the forecast appearing on my Energy page!
Which now leads me to my next question - I want to combine two forecasts as my system’s arrays have two orientations.
Any ideas on how to do that?
(Solcast doesn’t provide for split orientation arrays - you need to create separate forecasts).
I haven’t personally tried split arrays, even thou I have split arrays. I just shifted my azimuth manually to be vaguely proportional to my larger north array versus my smaller east array. That actually gets pretty close to my actual production.
I suppose in theory… You could break out your arrays if your inverter data allows and have two separate sensors on the energy panel along with two forecasts…
