Data Sources for Solar
Sense has two methods of tracking your solar production: Solar Sensors connected to your Sense monitor, and algorithmic solar detection. Depending on your solar configuration, either or both methods may benefit you. For homes with solar, tracking that solar production is essential to enable accurate estimates of overall usage, and allows for the detection of devices.
Solar Sensors
In most cases, Solar Sensors will give you the most accurate data about your home’s solar production and electricity usage.
If you’re adding Solar Sensors to your existing Sense monitor,
- Head to Settings > Solar, select “Set Up Solar Sensors,” and follow the instructions.
Solar Detection
Sense can use machine learning to estimate solar production and usage based on the signals the monitor receives in homes that produce solar and do not have Solar Sensors installed, or homes where the Solar Sensors do not monitor the full solar array. This can also be a good option if you would prefer to use the middle port on your Sense monitor for Dedicated Circuit Monitoring.
Solar detection is enabled by default, and you’ll be notified if Sense begins estimating solar production for your home.
To disable detection, whether or not an estimate has been issued,
- Go to Settings > Solar, and select “Disable Solar Detection.” If you add solar to your home at some point in the future, you can enable detection again from the same page at any time.
How can I add my solar sell-back rate?
Many solar customers have a separate rate at which their utility provider purchases their excess solar production.
If Sense is tracking your solar, you can set this separate rate in the Sense app.
- Go to Settings and select Solar
- In the “Solar Sell-Back.” Section
- Set the Net Metering toggle to on if your solar sell-back rate is the same as your cost/kWh, including time-of-use rates if relevant.
If your sell-back rate is different from your cost/kWh, set the toggle to off, and input your sell-back rate in the box that appears.