IoT connectivity for solar PV: frequently asked questions
Real questions we get from installers, integrators and operators of PV plants about cellular connectivity, multi-carrier and private APN for inverters, dataloggers and weather stations.
Which SIM do I need for a solar inverter?+
A 4G inverter datalogger only needs a multi-carrier IoT M2M SIM with a shared pool of a few MB per month. If the inverter is 2G/3G only, replace the modem with LTE-M or Cat-1 before the network sunsets.
How much data does a PV plant use per month?+
Residential: 30-150 MB. Commercial with several inverters and sensors: 500 MB-2 GB. We size it with you based on polling frequency.
Do I need a static IP for my PV plant?+
Only if you want inbound access to the inverter without VPN. For outbound dashboards in the manufacturer's cloud you do not.
Can I manage several plants from one portal?+
Yes. Our portal groups SIMs by project, customer or site and supports alerts on usage, disconnection or carrier change.
What if the plant is in an area with no signal from carrier A?+
Multi-carrier SIMs latch to whichever operator has the best signal at any moment, no manual intervention.
How do I secure the link to the inverter?+
Private APN keeps SIMs talking only to your cloud or VPN, isolated from the public internet and other carrier SIMs.
Can I use the same SIM in Spain and Portugal?+
Yes. Our IoT SIMs are European with regulated permanent roaming in the EU; the inverter does not notice the change.
Is billing per SIM or aggregated?+
Both. Shared pools across all project SIMs (most efficient) or per-SIM tariff if you prefer.
What do I do when 2G is shut down in Spain?+
Swap the 2G modem for LTE-M, Cat-1 or Cat-1bis. The IoT SIM stays; only the hardware changes.
Does it work with my own SCADA?+
Yes, with private APN plus an IPSec or WireGuard tunnel to your SCADA. We provide the technical parameters.
How long until a new SIM is active?+
SIMs arrive pre-provisioned. They activate within minutes from the portal on first network attach.
Is there a charge if a plant is offline for a month?+
Only the minimum SIM fee. No usage, no extras.
Can I get an alert if an inverter has been offline for 1 hour?+
Yes, from the portal or via webhook to your systems. Alert rules per SIM or per group.
Do you support eSIM in PV hardware?+
Yes, SGP.32 profiles for IoT devices and SGP.22 when required. Useful to avoid physical SIM swaps in maintenance.
What about personal data if I monitor homes?+
Generation data is not personal by itself, but combined with household consumption GDPR applies. Our DPO can guide you.
Question not here? Tell us about your PV project and we will reply with concrete sizing, no strings attached.
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