How To use the Tigo Energy SMART App to create and monitor a Tigo system.

The App is named Tigo SMART. It is free to install and use on your Android or IOS smart-phone and tablets. Also, a web browser on a computer can be used to Create a Tigo website system.

• For App installation information, see: Install Tigo Smart App 3.1 for iOS and Android

Article Chapters

This article consists of the following chapters. You can jump to a specific section by clicking on any of the following quick links.

1. Setup and Monitor
2. Site Info
3. Site Owner Info
4. Select Equipment models: Inverter, Cloud Connect and MLPE optimizers
5. Configure or Edit the Module Layout
6. Configure Internet Communication
7. Set the Planned Turn On Date
8. Run Discovery
9. Download the PowerPoint Version of this Article

 

The Tigo SMART Mobile App is useful to create, edit and view a Tigo system when a personal computer is not available. The App is most practical to use to create systems with fewer than 50 PV modules, such as typical residential sites. For systems using 50 modules or more, we recommend doing system creation using the Tigo SMART Website on a personal computer (PC).  See "Pre-Commissioning: Create a Tigo System on the App or Website".  This allows you to take advantage of the larger monitor screen size to enable easier placement of many module symbols, and enter their serial numbers.   Sign in at smart.tigoenergy.com

App Features:

The Tigo SMART Mobile App provides the ability to:

• Create a system which includes entering equipment types, optimizers and serial numbers.
• Place equipment symbols in two dimensions to represent a roof top module layout, provides for easy-to-use viewing of production data.
• To change Serial numbers when equipment is replaced.

Note: When using the App, the phone/tablet must have either mobile data service, or Wi-Fi Internet access, to enable system selection for viewing, new system creation and equipment type changes/editing.

The Cloud Connect Advanced (CCA) unit, as well as the Cloud Connect and the Maximizer Management Unit data-loggers needs Internet connectivity to do any of the following:

• Monitor production data on the Tigo Monitoring Portal. 
• Initially, to download Tigo equipment serial numbers.
  • Serial numbers are required to be downloaded to the CCA when rapid-shutdown operation is desired. Internet service to the CCA is not required during operation.

Note: If solar plant system site does not have Internet service:

At a minimum, the CCA needs temporary Internet service during commissioning, in order to download MLPE/optimizer serial numbers into the CCA.  This can be done with a mobile Wifi hotspot or similar.  Once the commissioning process is complete, the internet is no longer required for the rapid shutdown and optimization features to work.  Access to monitoring data requires an internet connection.

Setup and Monitor

This article walks you through the creation and editing of a system with the Tigo SMART Mobile App.   For a video run-through, watch this video!

 

• To create a new site, press + at the top right of the screen. It is to the right of the All Systems page title, as indicated by the green arrow outlined in red in the screen image below:

 

Note: To service or monitor a system that has already been configured, tap on the relevant system.

Site Info

• Fill in a name, address information, select a Time Zone, then tap 'Create System':

• Bottom portion of the New System page showing the Timezone setting field:

• Verify that ‘Site Info’ is now checked with a green arrow:

• Tapping Site Info text to revisit the ‘Site Info’ page will now show the assigned system identification number, a ‘System ID’. It is the 5 digit number shown for system selection purposes:

• Tap the text 'Site Owner Info.' to configure system owner access to the monitor the system.

Site Owner Info

• Enter the email address and name of the site owner.
• ‘Site Owner Info’ is not mandatory to setup up the new system and can be entered and edited at any time.
• Tapping Save Owner Info button will send an invitation email to the site owner to setup their Tigo Monitoring Portal account in order to be able to view the system and its production data.

Select Equipment

• After leaving ‘Site Owner Info’, verify it is checked.
• Tap on ‘Select Equipment.’

• Tap on the + symbol at the top right of the Equipment page to begin adding equipment used at this site.

• Tap on the text Cloud Connect Advanced - (CCA).

• Enter a unique name for every CCA or leave the default name 'CCA x' where 'x' starts with the number 1 for the first CCA added to a system.
  • Note, Using a physical location as a CCA name can help site owners locate it years later, such as 'Garage Cloud Connect'.
• Enter the number of TAPs that are connected to the CCA. This must be accurate as all TAPs must be detected for Discovery to start finding Tigo TS4 units.
• Enter the CCA serial number(s) manually or by scanning the CCA bar code by taping the word 'scan' in the section Cloud Connect Advanced Serial Number, as shown in the below screen shot:

• When Scanning for the bar code: If not previously done, Allow the Tigo app to access the camera.
• Then position the phones camera to focus on the bar code sticker, so the sticker fills the screen horizontally in the middle vertically:

• Tape Done. Then enter or scan any other CCA that is used in the system.

• When ‘Cloud Connect Advanced’  serial number entry is completed, select ‘Inverter and PV Modules.’

• Name the inverter (better),  or leave the default name of 'Inv 1'. Again a location can be useful: 'Garage Inverter 1'.
• Choose the inverter model, or create one if needed.
• Set the number of MPPTs used, for a given inverter, and the CCA used to managed the PV modules connected to that given inverter.
• Select the manufacturer and model of the PV modules.

 

Note: If you need to add an inverter or module that’s not in the list, click the “+” sign at the top right corner. This device will not be available for use on other systems, it is private to this system only.

• Assign the number of strings, modules for each string, and which MPPT they are connected to.
• Toggle the uneven strings switch  to ON, when the number of panels in the strings connected to a particular MPPT are not the same.
• Select Done in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
  

• Note: You can change the inverter and module types, numbers and MPPT assignments at by tapping on Edit button at the bottom of the second screen.

 

• Verify that ‘Select Equipment’ is now checked.

• Tap on the text ‘Configure Layout’.

Configure or Edit the Module Layout

Note: You can also change the MLPE Optimizer serial numbers here at any time.

• Place a CCA icon onto the Layout page by tapping anywhere you want it to appear on the layout plan. Note, the CCA icon is not displayed in the System View.
• Note: Press and hold on a Icon to drag it to a different position on the screen.

• After all Cloud Connects are place you will see equal values for the Placed status such as shown here, 1/1 Placed:

• Next, Inverter icons are placed:

• After all Inverter Icons are placed:

• Finally, PV module icons are placed on the Layout grid.
  • one by one with accuracy in position according to their relative physical placement on site.
  • Module with label A1 is placed first, then A2, etc until all string A icons are placed.
  • Then String B modules are placed.
  • Repeat until all modules from all strings are placed.

 Note: It is essential to place the modules on the Layout page as they appear in the physical layout.

• An accurate physical site map enables understanding of shading effects on production and energy recovery, and assists future maintenance activities requiring accurate physical location information.

Note: After all PV module icons have been placed, the MLPE units need to be registered that is, their individual serial numbers must be entered.

• You must enter serial numbers, for all MLPE units installed.
• After all module Icons are placed, tap Register to begin entering serial numbers:

• Tap on any gray module icon in the layout to enable typing or scanning (with camera or bar code scanner) the attached MLPE serial number on the sticker.
• There are peel-off bar code stickers on each MLPE unit that should be collected during physical installation to ensure accurate position information.

• After tapping on a  module icon, it turns green to indicate that it's serial number needs entering:

• Enter the module’s serial number manually by typing it, or scan it with phones camera by tapping on Scan.

• Below is what a serial number/bar code sticker looks like for our Safety model. The peel-off sticker is the smaller white one to the right of the permanent Model and serial number sticker. The red background used on this sticker indicates it is a TS4-S (safety) model.

Note: You can change the serial numbers by using this page at any time. Tap on Register button to initiate editing.

• After entering serial numbers for all MLPE units, you will see this message:

• Below screen shot shows ‘Configure Layout’ having a green check mark, indicating all equipment (CCA, Optimizers, Inverter) icons are now placed on the Layout page as needed in order to be shown in the System View.
• Tap on text 'Configure Communication’ to go to the Connect to CCA page to setup Internet access for the CCA.

 

Configure Communication

If you have difficulty connecting your smart phone to the CCA, see "Why can I not connect my smart phone to my CCA?" in our FAQ section.  This article is also attached as a PDF file.

Connect smartphone to CCA via Bluetooth (recommended):

• Tap Bluetooth button.
• Tap the serial number of the CCA you wish to connect with.

Note: Please only use the Tigo Smart App to access Tigo CCA devices, never use the phone’s Bluetooth pairing screen.

 

Connect smartphone to CCA via Wi-Fi:

• Tap the Wi-Fi button.
• Tap the CCA’s Wi-Fi SSID (name) in the phone’s wireless connection settings.

Note: Using the Wi-Fi connection disconnects the smartphone from any previously connected Wi-Fi access point.

Note: Connecting the phone to the CCA via Wi-Fi mandates leaving the App to use the device Settings, then switching back to App. You do not have to close the App while doing that.

• After your Smartphone is communicating with the CCA, Tap ‘Next’.
  
  

Configure Internet access settings:

Either an Ethernet cable, or a Wi-Fi connection, can be used to provide Internet service.

For basic Network information read: https://support.tigoenergy.com/hc/en-us/articles/201072448-Network-101-Providing-Internet-access-for-data-loggers-Cloud-Connect-Advanced-CCA-Cloud-Connect-CC-and-Maximizer-Management-Unit-MMU-

The Wi-Fi access point can a home networking router, a Cellular data service Mobile Hot Spot, or a Smartphone acting as a Wi-Fi Hot Spot.

Ethernet Note: Ethernet port is always enabled, and is factory configured to Automatic IP assignment using DHCP. For security enhancement, a static IP address may be required as specified by a local-area network administrator.

• To connect with Ethernet cable tap Ethernet  button, then Manual to set a network administrator specified value.
  • For Manual IP the following values must be configured
    • The values, below, are example values, and typical for a small business and home network. These values might work in your system.
    • Don't use Manual IP, or the other settings shown - unless instructed to do so by a network administrator. Manual IP is only needed so that the CCA has a known, and unchanging, IP address that the firewall is configured to allow the CCA Internet access.
  • IP: 192.168.1.136
  • Subnet [mask]: 255.255.255.0
  • Gateway: 192.168.255.255
  • DNS1: 8.8.8.8 (used as primary Public DNS)
  • DNS2: 8.8.4.4

• To connect the CCA via Wi-Fi, tap Wi-Fi button, then choose the local Wi-Fi connection from the list of available Wi-Fi routers that is generated after a two minutes - be patient here.
• Enter the Wi-Fi router password in the dialog that displays.
  • Incorrect password: After a 5 minutes, the App will show 'WI-FI STATUS ERROR' and  'ATTEMP_EXCEEDED_LIMIT_TRY_AGAIN'
  • Password must be at least 8 characters in length, and have no unprintable characters.
  • Wi-Fi can not be a Captured Portal, meaning you have to agree to a Terms Of Service before connection to Internet is provided.
• Tap ‘Run Test’, the middle button on the line with the green arrow in the below image.
  • NOTE: The ‘Run Test’ feature checks the Internet connection status of the CCA to ensure communication with a  Domain Name Server (DNS) and the Tigo web page server, i.e. the 'Tigo cloud'.

Test in progress display:

CCA Network Test Status - test results displayed:

Many local network router and Internet access tests are performed and the technical results are shown.  If this test is successful, you can continue to the next step, system Discovery.

 

• Note: When an Ethernet cable is not connected, the orange exclamation point in a circle to the right of Ethernet Cable is Unplugged  test result, is expected. Otherwise, these are good/normal results as indicated by the white check mark in a green circle,
• To go back and see the configured CCA Network values, tap Done at the upper right of the screen, to the right of 'CCA Network Test Status'.

 

Start Discovery

If Discovery has not already been started automatically by the App: tap ‘Next’ which is at the bottom of the ‘CCA Network Settings’ page as shown below, to manually start Discovery. Discovery looks for the configured MLPE units via the TAP.   If MLPE serial numbers have not completely downloaded to the CCA, you will be notified that Discovery is waiting for serial number download to complete.

If you have any trouble or doubts during Discovery, see "Discovery Troubleshooting" in our FAQ section.  This article is also attached as a PDF file.

 

 

After tapping "Next" from the "CCA Network Settings" screen, you will see the following screen:

 

• You can tap "Start" to begin the Discovery process.  Please note that Discovery may also start automatically, so you may see that some MLPE units have already been discovered.
• After tapping "Start", you should see the message below, indicating that Discovery is underway.

• You can tap 'Dismiss' to acknowledge that you may quit the application at this time, the CCA continues with the Discovery process, independent of the application activity including phone connection to the CCA.
  • You may disconnect from the CCA, and reconnect at a later time to check Discovery progress.
  • However it may be desirable to keep the app. connected to the CCA until the CCA reports that the number of Gateways Found equals the number of Gateways/TAPs installed on the system, and that the number of Modules Found equals the number of modules installed for the system. This normally takes only a couple of minutes for residential systems.
  • Discovery will run in the background, regardless if the App is active
  • If you keep the App running, tap ‘Exit’ after Discovery completes, to view the production data.
• After tapping Exit, the App displays a new window to tell you that it is OK to stop the App from running, and disconnect your phone from the CCA.

As shown below, when Discovery receives communication from a given MLPE, the number of Modules Found will increase. When all Modules (MLPE devices) are found, Modules Found will show x modules found out of y modules.

• If the connection between the smartphone and the CCA was by Wi-Fi, reconnect the smartphone to a Wi-Fi access point with Internet access so that the application can communicate with the Tigo cloud servers. This is not necessary if the phone is using mobile data for Internet, or the phone is already on a Wi-Fi access point with Internet (which could be the situation if Bluetooth connection to CCA is used)

After pressing Exit to finish Discovery (Exit is shown in above screen shot), check that ‘Configure Communication’ now has green check mark.  This indicates the CCA still has working Internet as needed to communicate with the Tigo cloud, as configured prior to starting Discovery.

1. If a system is not to be monitored, Internet access can be removed now. This is the case if a phones Wi-Fi hot spot is being used to provide temporary Internet access.

Planned Turn On Date

Note: By using Planned Turn On Date button, you can set a date that the system is expected to be operational for full production. This is for reference only, to indicate system production expectations. It does not effect operation of the Tigo products. Lack of full production prior to this date, might be normal. - for example in the situation that a system is installed in phases.

• Before the Planned Turn On Date, the system will be shown as Ready.
• Once the date is reached, the system status will show as Active.
• This is useful to allow time for testing and the passing of inspections prior to expectation of normal production operations.

Tap on ‘Planned Turn On’, (shown in above screen shot) to select a planned (expected) fully operational date. Before this date, a system will be shown as Ready on the System View.

• Tap Set Planned Turn On Date, shown below
• Choose a date.
• After choosing a date, a green check mark appears next to Planned Turn On on the Systems home page of the App, This is shown in second screen shot, below:

 

Monitoring Inverters and Meters.

Tigo SMART website can display values measured by Inverters and Meters if they are connected to the CCA.  Please use "Set up Inverters, Meters & Sensors" article for detailed information on setting up optional devices. This needs to be done with the TigoSMART mobile app.