IQ7 vs IQ8 panel data update frequency

[dmbryson]

So I finally got around to moving my Sunpower panels (with IQ7HS micros) from a PVS6 to an Enphase IQ Gateway. My Enphase system has a few IQ8H panels in it as well (separate gateway). Now that I have it all working, I have noticed a notable difference in the panel level data between the two. Specifically, the IQ7HS micros appear to report power levels far more frequently, to the tune of once every 6 minutes. The IQ8s update basically once an hour.

This seems counterintuitive to me. I would have expected the 8’s to be more detailed. Is it something special about the IQ7HS variant? Is it possible to adjust/increase the reporting frequency of the IQ8’s? (More data please… Enhance!)

 

[dmbryson]

Hmm, I may have found a factor. It seems the Gateway that hosts the IQ8’s hasn’t actually updated firmware to match. It’s still on a 7.3 version vs. 8.2 on the other one.

 

[Orangehichew]

Did you DIY the enphase gateway install to migrate over the SunPower micros to enphase, via the university route?

Also curious how you have your hub+/sunvault setup, now that you have the micros moved over to enphase.

 

[MikeInKingman]

The polling window from Gateway to MI has always been something like 6-7 minutes...going all the way back to the M190 days.
Data then gets aggregated into reports that slice up the day into 15 minute chunks.
Data reporting from the Gateway to the Enphase servers has a couple of different rates depending on if your Gateway internet connection is via WiFi to your router (15 minute intervals), Hard Wired to your Router (15 minute intervals), or a Cellular Modem (4 times per day).

 

[dmbryson]

Yeah, that’s why I am surprised my iQ8s are updating less frequently. Not a big deal, just odd. I still haven’t gotten the gateway hosting those micros to update to 8.2, despite a couple of chats with Enphase support.

I did DIY my install, which does seem to confuse the Enphase servers a bit. I, perhaps mistakenly, used the same account as the installer and client when I set up the original iQ8 subsystem. That seems to make the firmware update buttons not show up in the web UI.

As far as the Hub+, I had some major instabilitycaused by apparent firmware “updates” from Sunstrong. It would drop comms with the XWs forcing them into standby dozens of times a day. The icing was that it then started opening the contactor during some reboots, and with the XWs offline/out of sync, there wouldn’t be backup either. Blackouts and UPS beeping in the middle of the night was the last straw.

So that was the impetus to make the switch. For the MID, I have a Schneider BCS between the Hub+ chassis and the grid connection. I have a modbus control loop that uses the Wattnode readings from the BCS to control the XWs the way the PVS6 in the Hub+ used to. The gateway that monitors the iQ7 panels is mounted in the Hub+ chassis where the PVS6 used to be.

 

[MikeInKingman]

As far as updating the Gateway software, it looks like they finally removed the Update Gateway Software button from even the Installers version on Enlighten.
I imagine that mean they've moved that function to the ITK(Installer Took Kit)app, which I refuse to use.
I wonder if you can do it by getting into the gateway directly?
You probably know already, but if not...you can type it's IP address that your router assigned it into a browser window on the same network and talk to it directly. Login is admin, password is admin, unless it was changed.

 

[dmbryson]

I’ve used and checked all of the above. The toolkit app just says it’s “compatible” and doesn’t offer the update option like the documentation suggests. At least the interfaces are consistent…