What is SolarDashboard?
SolarDashboard can monitor your photovoltaic system. It shows solar values, consumption data and the home battery state. With that information SolarDashboard can make use of surplus solar power. You can use your devices with green energy from your photovoltaic system. If there is no longer enough solar power, the devices are switched off again. For Tesla, even dynamic surplus charging is supported. This means that the charging power is adjusted according to the available surplus power, so that you do not have to buy additional power.
Which devices are supported?
SolarDashboard supports the use of surplus solar power for the following devices:
- Electric vehicles: Tesla (S,3,X,Y, Cybertruck), Volkswagen ID models, Škoda Enyaq, Audi e-tron, Seat Cupra born and more soon
- EV Home charger: Fronius Wattpilot, go-e Charger (V2 and newer models)
- HomeKit: Smart devices that support HomeKit, like sockets or switches
Which inverters or energy meter are supported?
- SolarEdge inverter
- SMA inverter
- Tesla Powerwall
- Kostal inverter
- Huawei inverter
- More will follow soon.
Are smart meters also supported?
We currently support Tesla Powerwall which has an internal energy meter.
Support for more smart meters – such as those from Shelly – is currently being planned.
How much is SolarDashboard?
Currently SolarDashboard is completely free of charge. We are always happy to receive donations.
How are 3rd party usernames and passwords handled?
No usernames or passwords are stored directly. Only the access tokens are stored encrypted in the iOS or macOS keychain.
Is it necessary that the app runs in the foreground?
The use of the solar surplus works best when the app is always open in the foreground. Ideally, an older iPhone or iPad that is permanently connected to the power supply and has SolarDashboard actively running in the foreground is suitable for this. For example, you can use an older iPad mounted on the wall. Alternatively, SolarDashboard is also available for macOS. If the app and the Mac are permanently open and active, the solar and surplus update interval works very frequently and promptly.
Does the app remain active in the background?
In principle, the app runs in the background on modern iPhones / iPads. The update frequency cannot be determined exactly, since the background behavior is controlled by Apple. But the update occurs every 20 to 30 minutes on modern devices. The update interval in the background depends on the battery level, available resources (CPU & RAM) and the type of Internet connection (Wifi or 5G).
How much do I save when charging an electric vehicle per year with SolarDashboard?
SolarDashboard can save several hundred euros a year on electricity costs.
The following example shows possible savings in Germany:
Annual mileage: 15,000 kilometers
Average consumption Model 3: 16 kWh / 100 KM
Total consumption per year: 2400 kWh
Proportion of charging processes at home: 75%
= 1800 kWh at home and 600 kWh at the fast charger
Electricity costs (without SolarDashboard) at home (at an average of 40 cents / kWh): 720 euros
Share of charging with solar surplus via SolarDashboard: 50% (900 kWh)
However, 900 kWh were not fed in, so the feed-in tariff of approx. 65 euros is lost
Electricity costs with solar surplus: 425 euros (50% grid consumption + 65 euros lost feed-in tariff)
Savings of approx. 300 euros per year
What happens when the EV is not located near the solar system?
SolarDashboard can automatically determine whether the EV (Tesla, Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda) is located at the site of the photovoltaic system. Your location data is not used for other purposes and will not be transferred to 3rd party providers.
Which smartphones, computers and tablets does SolarDashboard support?
Currently SolarDashboard is available for iPhone and iPad (iOS 16 and above). In addition, SolarDashboard can be installed on Mac computers from macOS 13.
Which EVs or home chargers support automatic adjustment of the charging power?
Currently, only Tesla supports this. Here, the power can be dynamically adjusted from 1 KW to 11 KW to the available green power (solar surplus). Home chargers also support a dynamic charger power.
Can I also specify that a certain battery level is guaranteed to be charged when there is not enough solar power available?
Yes, in SolarDashboard various settings can be made for the charging behavior. For example, a certain charge level must be present to enable dynamic charging with solar surplus.
What is the impact on the battery consumption from the iPhone / iPad when the app is running continuously?
The background update is controlled so well by Apple’s iOS operating system that it does not have a noticeable impact on the battery level of the iPhone or iPad. However, a constantly open app in the foreground shortens the battery time. However, a dimmed screen can help here. Alternatively, simply connect a charging cable permanently.
Is the Tesla always kept “awake” when SolarDashboard is connected to the Tesla?
No. SolarDashboard knows exactly when the Tesla needs to be “woken up”. However, during charging, the Tesla is always “awake”. At night or when there is not enough solar energy, the Tesla is not kept awake.
Which HomeKit devices do you recommend?
We have tested a lot of HomeKit devices. For smart outlets we have found out that Eve Energy are the most reliable.
For smart relays we tested a lot. You can use Meross smart switches. We will support more appliances based on matter, zigbee or shelly devices in the near future.
How can I can contact the developers?
Just write us an email to info@tapwork.de