This article provides instructions on how to Create and Edit a System, using the Tigo EI Portal (on a desktop/laptop computer), before commissioning a Tigo TS4 system in the field. This method is recommended for larger systems, because it allows you to take full advantage of the larger screen and robust tools offered online.

If installing a small system, refer to this article: Create and Edit a System - Using EI App (mobile).

Attention!  Although you may follow these next steps to enter site data, you must be onsite to perform the last step of commissioning, called Discovery.

The site must have a strong, stable internet connection to begin Discovery. 

Contents:

1. Watch Setup and Monitor (video)
2. Create New System
3. Create Equipment List
4. Create System Layout
5. Tool Bar Overview
6. Add Serial Numbers

1. Watch Setup and Monitor Video

The video demonstrates creating and editing a Tigo system using the Tigo Energy Intelligence (EI) Portal. Although some screens are dated, the current process is similar to the video.

 

 

Note: Tigo has renamed the SMART Site portal to ei.tigoenergy.com.

2. Create New System

• Login to your account at http://ei.tigoenergy.com (or register for a new account)
• Click  + New System.

• Complete the Details and Address section.
• Click the Create button.

• Select Edit > Introduction, and watch the informational videos:

 

• Click Edit > Site Info to correct any basic information.

 

• Click Edit > Access to grant access to a new System Owner or Coworker.

 

3. Create the Equipment List

Add Cloud Connect Advanced (CCA)

• Click Edit > Equipment
• Click the + EQUIPMENT button (top right corner)
• Select Cloud Connect Advanced

Fill out the Cloud Connect Advanced information:

• Name the Cloud Connect Advanced (CCA) 
• Input CCA Serial Number
• Define the number of TAPs (Tigo Access Points) wired to CCA
• Click the Add CCA button

 

Add the Inverters & PV Modules

• Click the + EQUIPMENT button
• Select Inverters & PV Modules

 

Fill out the Inverter information:

• Enter a unique Inverter Name
• Select Manufacturer and Model
• Select Number of Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPTs)
• Click Add PV Modules

Fill out the PV Module information:

• Add PV Module Manufacturer and Model
• Select Number of Strings
• Associate MPPT with correct String Label
• Click Done 

 

Unlisted Inverter or PV Module Manufacturer

Tip: The EI Portal allows you to add manufacturers and models manually. Scroll to the bottom of the Equipment list(s), and the last option will be:

+ Add Inverter (or PV Module) Manufacture or Model

 

Select this option, and you will be led to a quick questionnaire regarding the details of the new entry:

   

This new equipment item will be private to this system (only), until Tigo Staff has verified it.

 

After you have completed the Equipment List, proceed to the Create System Layout section.

 

4. Create System Layout

Easy method: Use Autoplace tool (upper right), to place all of your components in a non-specific layout. Then, you can use the Toolbar (above Grid), to move them at a later time:

• Select Edit > Layout (left)
• Click the  Grid Icon (upper right)
• Click Autoplace to autoplace components on Grid

 

For more in depth placement, you can set your components on the Grid, one at a time:

• Choose CCAs on Place Components list (right)
• Click anywhere on the grid to place your CCA
  
  
• Choose Inverters on the Place Components list (right)
• Click anywhere on the grid to place your Inverter

 

• Choose PV Modules on the Place Components list (right)
• Click anywhere on the grid to place your first PV Module
• Continue clicking on the grid, until all PV Modules have been placed

 

For quicker placement:

• Click, hold, and drag the cursor across the grid
• Click the cursor again to release

5. Tool Bar Overview

The top of the layout page has several tools for improving the appearance and placement of the system components.

Primary Tool Pallet

	Save	Saves new changes to the Cloud and updates the CCA
	Select	Choose Select to click objects and drag objects
	Move (Ctrl-M)	Select to move entire grid and objects at once
	Undo (Ctrl-Z)	Click to undo move
	Snap	Aligns object to the nearest grid point (when moving)
	Grid	Turns background grid off or on
	Fullscreen	Expands page to fill screen (pre Esc to exit Fullscreen)
	Line (Ctrl-L)	Click to draw simple lines on grid
	Text (Ctrl-A)	Select to drop a text field on the grid

 

 

Secondary Tool Pallet

(appears after you have placed an object on the grid)

	Edit Panel Type	Choose a secondary PV Module type (for mixed systems)
	Set Rotation	Rotates objects or groups of objects
	Vertical Alignment	Vertically aligns all selected objects
	Horizontal Alignment	Horizontally aligns all selected objects
	Vertical Spacing	Equally spaces all selected objects vertically
	Horizontal Spacing	Equally spaces all selected objects horizontally
	Unplace Group	Deletes selected objects

 

 

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6. Add Serial Numbers

After you have completed the layout, the Tigo TS4 serial numbers must be added in their correct locations. This is where your paper barcode map comes in handy, as it represents the physical arrangement of the modules in your system.

 

Watch this video to see how one clever installer used the EI App on his device to add serial numbers for a large commercial rooftop installation:

There are a few other ways to add the serials. 

1. Manual Method: Type the serial numbers directly into the layout

At any point in the process, you can enter or update the serial number of individual TS4s by manually selecting them and typing in the new serial number. 

• Go to Edit > Layout (left)
• Click the Serial tab (upper right)
• Click Scan button (right)
• Click the PV Module you would like to edit
• Type the serial number into the dialog box

There is no need to save or hit enter. The Layout Page will select the next available PV Module, and your changes are automatically saved to the Tigo cloud. 

 

2. Quick Method: Type serial numbers in a spreadsheet and upload

First, download the spreadsheet template (in spreadsheet or CSV file).

• Choose Upload Serials (left)
• Click the format selector (xls or CSV)
• Select the Arrow Icon in the pop-up menu to download

 

Once the download is complete, open the file to edit. Then, type the Serial Numbers into the Barcode column (manually), ensuring the serial numbers are correctly in their respective locations (A1, A2, etc).

 

3. Fastest Method: Use a scanner to enter serial numbers (for larger systems)

• Download the spreadsheet (from Quick Method, above)
• Use any aftermarket scanner to scan the serial numbers into the spreadsheet

 

When complete, Save the document and use the Upload function to automatically update all of the serials in your PV array.

• Choose Upload Serials (left)
• Click Choose File
• Find the file on the computer and Open
• Select the Close Button when it has completed uploading

 

After uploading or changing a serial number, the Tigo Website automatically updates the Cloud (there is no extra "save" step). 

 

 

Next Steps

When on-site, continue to configure communication (network and start discovery):

Configure Communication (Network and Start Discovery)