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

• The App is available for smartphones and tablets.
• For App installation information, see: How-To install Tigo Smart App
• Systems may also be viewed by using a WEB browser at Tigo Energy System Monitoring Portal access

Document Topics

This document is composed 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 Tigo 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

App Functions and Features:

The Tigo App provides the ability to:

• Create an Installer Type user account (required to create and view a system)
• New System creation which requires setting:
  • Inverter, PV Module, and MLPE equipment types and serial numbers.
• Place equipment symbols to represent a physical PV module location layout
• To change Serial numbers when equipment is replaced.

Note: During creation, Internet connectivity to Tigo Energy servers is required.

• When using the App, the phone/tablet must have mobile data service or Wi-Fi Internet access.
• The Cloud Connect Advanced (CCA) also needs Internet connectivity to do any of the following:

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

Note: If 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.

• • 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 or more PV modules or more, we recommend creating a system web page using the Tigo SMART Website on a personal computer (PC). For details read "Pre-Commissioning: Create a Tigo System on the App or Website". 

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, it provides a 5-minute long overview of the process.

• Note this video refers to installations.tigoenergy.com, which has become ei.tigoenergy.com

 

To create a new site:

• Tap on the + which is at the top right of the screen. In the screenshot, below, 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 Site Name, street address:

• The bottom of the New System page shows the Timezone setting field, tap to select.
• Then tap 'Create System':

• If valid, the ‘Site Info’ text shows a checkmark.

• Tap the  Site Info text to revisit the ‘Site Info’ page which will now show the assigned system identification number, a ‘System ID’. It is the 5 digit number shown for system selection purposes. On this screenshot, it is 30921. This number is handy for support purposes.

• Tap the '<' to the left of Edit System Info
• Tap the text 'Site Owner Info.' to configure system owner access.

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 a later time.
• Tapping the Save Owner Info button will send an invitation email to the site owner to set up a Tigo Monitoring Portal user account which will enable the user to view the system.

• Tap the '<' to the left of Owner Info
• A green checkmark will now be to the left of  ‘Site Owner Info’, see next screenshot.

Select Equipment

• To set the Inverter, CCA, PV module, and MLPE information: 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'.
  • Systems using multiple CCA may want to use a name that indicates the strings it manages, or which inverter the strings are attached, etc.
• Enter the number of Gateways (now called 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 Tap the word 'scan' in the section Cloud Connect Advanced Serial Number, as shown in the below screenshot:

• When Scanning for the bar code: If not previously done, Allow the Tigo app to access the camera.
• Then position the phone/tablet 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 the ‘Cloud Connect Advanced’  serial number entry is completed, Tap ‘Inverter and PV Modules.’

• Give the inverter a meaningful name (better),  or leave the default name of 'Inv 1'.
  • Again if the name includes physical location information, it can be useful.
  • Example: 'Garage Inverter 1'.
• Choose an existing listed inverter make and model, or create a system-specific inverter if it is not listed.
  • 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.
• Set the number of MPPTs used, for a given inverter, and the CCA used to manage the PV modules connected to that given inverter.
• Select the manufacturer and model of the PV modules.

• Set the number of strings, the number of PV modules per string, and which MPPT they are connected to.
• Toggle the uneven strings switch to ON when the number of PV modules in the strings connected to a particular MPPT is not equal.
• Select Done in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
• Note: You can change the inverter make and model, the PV module types, amounts, and which MPPT they are attached
  • Tap on the Edit button at the bottom of the second screenshot, below.

 

• Tap the 'DONE'.
• Verify that ‘Select Equipment now has a checkmark.

•  

Configure or Edit the Module Layout

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

• Tap on the text ‘Configure Layout’.
• 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 an Icon to drag it to a different position on the screen.

• After all the Cloud Connects icons are placed 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 its serial number needs entering:

• Enter the module’s serial number manually by typing it, or scan it with the smartphone's 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 the Register button to initiate editing.

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

• The below screenshot shows ‘Configure Layout’ having a green checkmark, 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 set up Internet access for the CCA.

 

Configure Internet Communication

If you have difficulty connecting your smartphone to the CCA via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, 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 the smartphone to CCA via Bluetooth (recommended compared to Wi-Fi):

• Tap the Bluetooth button on the Connect to CCA screen
• 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 the smartphone to CCA via Wi-Fi:

• Tap the Wi-Fi button.
• Using the phone’s wireless connection settings: Connect to the CCA’s Wi-Fi Access Point SSID (name). For example, as shown below SM-04C05B80797F, the numbers and letters are the CCA serial number, which is an Ethernet MAC address.

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 smartphone/table Settings, after which you must switch back to the Tigo App. You do not have to close the App while using the smartphone Settings feature.

• After your Smartphone is connected by Wi-Fi to the CCA, Tap ‘Next’.
  
  

Configure Internet access settings:

Internet access via a local network can be done by Ethernet cable or a Wi-Fi Access Point (router) connection.

For local Network basics, 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 be a Wi-Fi router, a Cellular data service Mobile Hot Spot, or a Smartphone acting as a Wi-Fi Hot Spot.

Ethernet Note: The CCA 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 the Ethernet cable, tap the Ethernet button, then tap the Manual button which will allow you to set network administrator specified values.
  • 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 are 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 the Wi-Fi button, then choose the Wi-Fi Access Point name (SSID) from the list. Note the list may take up to 2 minutes - be patient here.
• Enter the Wi-Fi password required.
  • Incorrect password: After some time, 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, because they require an interactive agreement to a Terms Of Service before connection to the Internet is provided.
• Tap ‘Run Test’, see 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 servers is working.

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 the Ethernet Cable is Unplugged message, is normal.
• Otherwise, the above results shown are good, as indicated by the white checkmark in the green circles.
• To go back and see the configured CCA Network values, tap Done text shown in 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 (optimizer) serial numbers have not been completely downloaded to the CCA, you will be notified that Discovery is waiting for the 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 it reports that:
    • the number of Gateways Found equals the number of Gateways/TAPs installed on the system
    • 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 of if the App is running.
  • If you keep the App running, tap ‘Exit’ after Discovery completes, to view the production data.
• After tapping Exit, the App will show a message 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 starts communication with 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 App can communicate with the Tigo servers.
  • This is not necessary if the phone is using mobile data for Internet access, or the phone is already on a Wi-Fi access point with Internet (which could be the case when the Bluetooth connection to a CCA is used)

After pressing Exit to finish Discovery (Exit is shown in the above screenshot), check that ‘Configure Communication’ now has a green checkmark.  This indicates the CCA still has working Internet as needed to communicate with the Tigo cloud for future production reporting.

1. If a system is not to be monitored, Internet access can be removed now. This includes the case when a phone's 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 affect the 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 the expectation of normal production operations.

Tap on ‘Planned Turn On’, (shown in the above screenshot) 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 checkmark appears next to Planned Turn On on the Systems home page of the App, This is shown in the second screenshot, 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.