Kimono: Outback Monitoring Software

[Echo5]

I have been working on some monitoring software for my Outback PV System and a beta version which should be suitable for general use is now ready. The software runs on a Windows PC and connects to the Mate3s. It displays the system state information on the screen in a configurable way and can also record the data to disk so historical plots can be generated.

Kimono is free and open source.

It is strongly recommended that you view the introductory video before using Kimono. Kimono functions a bit differently than is typical and the video will provide you with a good overview of the software.

The Introductory video can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtzF9pmowZg

The home page for the Kimono software is: http://www.ofitselfso.com/Kimono/Kimono.php

All bug reports, feedback and suggestions for improvements will be cheerfully received.

[JRHill]

184 views of the post and no replies or feedback. Sorry, I don't do youtube videos. Maybe some others too.

Maybe you could give a run down of the benefits and what your thing offers? I really appreciate innovative stuff.

I'm reading your page... It's pretty cool.

[Echo5]

Ok, reasonable point. Here is an overview.

Another project I am working on needs to have access to the current "state of play " of my Outback system because it will involve making relatively complex decisions regarding the acceptable current draw of a diversion load. I do not have any visibility regarding the meaning of the undocumented fields in the ModBus data and the published information seems to offer little more than that which is already available via http/web in a much more accessible format. So Kimono uses http/web for simplicity. Because of this it is read-only - it cannot update the configuration of the Mate3s or any attached devices.

Kimono reads the system state from the Mate3s webserver and can display it on the screen. It can also record this data to a database for historical use. The screen display consists of configurable little modules called Monitor Blocks which can be dragged and dropped into place. These Monitor Blocks can be set to display a number value, a text value or a small summary graph of a state value over time.

The incoming data is referred to in Kimono by simple names such as FNDC#SOC or MATE3S#Sys_Batt_V. The Kimono software is written for the general case and is probably only suitable for the more advanced user. It does not come pre-configured, the user is expected to set the Monitor Blocks to display the information they wish to see.

The Monitor Blocks implement a modest spreadsheet type capability. It is possible to perform complex calculations and display that result rather than see just the raw state information. For example instead of using CC1#Out_kWh to see the output wattage from the first charge controller, a formula like =(CC1#Out_kWh*0.40) could be used to display a calculated currency value or a formula like =(CC1#Batt_V*CC1#Out_I) could be used to display the current PV Wattage. The Monitor Blocks can be named and thus the results of that blocks calculation can be used in another Monitor Blocks formula. It is possible to record the results of the complex calculations to the database along with the Mate3s data so it can be accessed later.

Once the historical data has been recorded, Kimono has a pretty sophisticated plotting function which can drill down into the data and plot various items against one another over time. This includes, as mentioned above, any values calculated by the user and stored in the DB.

So thats it. Kimono, gets the system state, stores the data, displays in realtime what its told to display, displays complex calculations on the base data and can store those values back to the database as well. It does not present the user with the information it thinks they probably need to know. It is up to the user to put on the screen what they wish to see. Fortunately this is very easy to do.

I plan to add in the near future the following additional Monitor Blocks (at the moment there are only Number, Graph and Text).
- A Progress Bar Monitor Block (like the one on the Mate3s main display)
- A level trigger monitor Block that can display the first or last time a state value reached a level or dropped below a level.
- An aggregate Monitor Block that can Sum or average a value over a time period. For example weekly or monthly kWh or equivalent grid purchase value for a year etc.


The software is in beta and I am open to suggestions as to other functionality.

[Echo5]

It might be more useful to think of Kimono as "a Realtime Spreadsheet for Outback System State Information with Recording and Plotting Capabilities" rather than as "Monitoring Software".

Have attempted to add a screenshot below - not sure it is working. Try http://www.ofitselfso.com/Kimono/Kimono1.jpg if it doesn't show up.

[Echo5]

Hello All

Version 01.00 of Kimono is now released. The software now does pretty much everything I want it to do and so no further development will take place unless there are some compelling user demands for new functionality. I'm happy to fix bugs - so let me know if you find them. A change list from v00.90 beta is below.

https://www.ofitselfso.com/Kimono/Kimono.php

Version 01.00
- Works on both 64bit and 32 bit Windows systems. Has been observed to work well on an extremely under-resourced 32 bit Windows 7 notebook.
- The 5x3 Grid of Monitor Blocks has now been changed to a 5x4 grid in order to provide more slots for data items.
- A Min/Max Monitor Block has been added. This can test an incoming value from a datasource and record the minimum and maximum over a preset number of days.
- A Bool Monitor Block has been added. This can test an incoming value from a datasource (number or text) and display a user defined string of text if the current value
is currently meeting or exceeding a defined reference value.
- A Latch Monitor Block has now been added. This will display a user defined string of text and the date-time if a preset value has been met or exceeded.
- An Integral Monitor Block has now been added. This Monitor Block can sum a value over time in realtime - for example, converting an Amp value to AmpHours.
- All Monitor Blocks will now autoscale their font size if the text is too big to display at the default font size.
- The Number Monitor Block now has a property to set the number of decimal points on the display
- A UserData Reference Summary button is now on the Setup Tab. It displays the usage of all UserData References in the Monitor Blocks.