Short answer: monitor at least five things: battery state of charge, household load, solar generation, grid import/export and alarms. Good monitoring tells you whether the system is saving money, whether batteries are being stressed, whether CTs are reading correctly and whether a fault is developing before it becomes an outage.
The five numbers every owner should understand
| Metric | What it tells you | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Battery SOC (%) | Estimated stored energy remaining | SOC drops unexpectedly or never reaches expected charge level |
| Load (W/kW) | What the house/business is using now | Unexpected high base load or repeated inverter overload |
| PV power / daily yield | What solar is producing | Sudden unexplained drop versus similar weather |
| Grid import/export | Energy bought from or sent to grid | Negative/incorrect readings may indicate CT setup issues |
| Battery charge/discharge current | How hard the battery is working | Repeated operation at limits or unexpected current |
Why state of charge can be wrong
SOC is not simply a voltage gauge on lithium systems. BMS data, current measurement, battery calibration and communication all influence the displayed value. Victron's SmartShunt documentation explains that battery monitors calculate SOC from current flow and need periodic synchronisation to prevent drift. See Victron battery monitoring operation.
What should I look at every day?
- Did the battery reach its expected charge level?
- Did solar production rise in the morning and fall normally in the evening?
- Did load spikes line up with actual appliances?
- Was grid import high during sunny hours?
- Were there alarms, disconnects or communication faults?
What should I review monthly?
Historical data is more useful than one screenshot. Look at solar kWh, grid kWh, battery cycles, lowest SOC, largest loads and recurring alarms. This can show whether you need more panels, more storage or simply better load scheduling.
CT meters: small device, big consequences
A current transformer can tell the inverter whether the building is importing or exporting. If it is facing the wrong direction, fitted to the wrong conductor or configured incorrectly, the inverter may make poor energy-management decisions. Always verify the live reading against a known load during commissioning.
Whitehouse products with monitoring capability
The Luxpower SNA5000 5kVA Inverter + Wi-Fi includes remote monitoring support in the current product listing. The Luxpower SNA6000 Hybrid Inverter + CT includes a CT in the product naming/configuration. Deye hybrid systems also provide monitoring options depending on the installed communication hardware.
Monitoring does not replace the BMS
The inverter app is a user interface. The BMS remains responsible for battery-level limits and protection. If the BMS reports a lower charge-current limit because of temperature or SOC, the inverter should respect it when compatible communication is working.
A useful seven-day monitoring routine
For one week, record the battery SOC at sunrise and bedtime, total daily PV generation, grid import and the largest evening load. You will quickly see whether the system is limited by solar production, battery capacity or household behaviour. This is far more useful than looking at one “today” screen after a cloudy morning.
Battery monitor vs inverter app vs utility meter
These devices answer different questions. A battery monitor measures energy flowing into and out of the battery. The inverter app shows inverter-side loads, PV, grid and alarms according to connected sensors. The utility meter measures energy exchanged with the grid according to the distributor's metering rules. Small differences between screens can be normal because they measure at different points and use different sampling intervals.
When monitoring should trigger a support call
- SOC repeatedly jumps or freezes.
- One MPPT consistently reads zero in good sun.
- Grid import/export direction appears reversed.
- Battery temperature or current alarms recur.
- PV yield falls sharply compared with similar weather.
- The inverter regularly reaches overload or derating conditions.
FAQ
Why does the app show 100% battery but the system still charges?
SOC estimation, balancing, battery charge targets and BMS behaviour can produce short periods where displayed SOC and charge power do not appear intuitive.
Why does solar show zero when the sun is shining?
Possible causes include PV isolator position, MPPT voltage outside the operating window, wiring/fuse faults, inverter settings or a communication/display issue. Do not open live DC equipment without qualified support.
What data should I send when asking for support?
Send inverter model, battery model, screenshots of SOC/load/PV/grid, alarm codes, firmware versions if visible, and the time the problem occurred.
Get a tailored Whitehouse solar or backup-power quote
Whitehouse Lighting & Electrical can help you build a solution around your actual loads, budget, property and expansion plans. We do not rely only on the products shown online; where a project needs a different inverter size, battery bank, protection arrangement or commercial configuration, we can source around the brief.
We arrange solar and backup-power solutions for homes and businesses across South Africa, including Secunda, Ermelo, Mpumalanga, Mbombela/Nelspruit, Johannesburg, the East Rand, Pretoria, North West and Bloemfontein. Panels, batteries and other bulky equipment may need a dedicated delivery quotation depending on route and handling.
Important: this guide is for planning and buying decisions. Cable sizes, protection ratings, earthing, DB alterations, PV strings and final system settings must be confirmed for the actual installation by appropriately qualified persons and the relevant manufacturer documentation.
