How to use Fronius HTTP Post push service to send data to thingspeak

Dear all,

is there a way to use the Fronius push service to send data directly to thingspeak? I want to collect the solar PV production data. Below you can see a screenshot of the push service.

Most important is "server:port:" and "upload filename". I can choose between "FTP upload" or "HTTP Post".

Does thinspeak have a "server:port:"?

Thank you!

Answer 1

[Christopher Stapels]

A quick web search does not show great documentation for Fronius push service, but I did find some things. I would use http. Use api.thingspeak.com as the server and use the url for address from the write data API. something like '/update.json.

But from the doc and from what you have shown, I cant quite see how to specify the post body. From the above, it looks like the device generates an xml, but you will need to make sure its parameters match the ThingSpeak api endpoint. Or you might be able to specify the data as part of the address if it accepts variable input similar to the upload field shown above.

My advice would be to buy a cheap microcontroller (like esp32 or Arduinio) and use that as a proxy between the two.

[Jonas Meier]

Thank you so much!

https://pvoutput.org/help/push_services.html shows how to push data to pvoutput.org to visualize everything there. They use as Upload file name /service/r2/froniuspost.jsp?sid=your_sid&key=your_key

I am also logging data from the smart meter via a tasmota hichi sensor, that is why I am using thingspeak.

[Christopher Stapels]

That doc is much better than what I found, thanks.

Not positive, but I think writing to ThingSpeak directly will not work since you cannot edit the data file format (as far as I can tell in the instructions).

For example, you have to write

field1=nnn etc.

you might be able to use /update.json?api_key=xxxx&field1={variable} but I suspect variables dont work in the upload file name.

I think you can use their service to write to and then set up ThngSpeak with a TimeControl to read from the Fronius built in service. I didnt spend too much time with it, but some parts looked like you could retrive histrical data for example using the call described here.

https://pvoutput.org/help/api_specification.html#get-status-service

In MATLB analysis, you can use webread and webwrite to read from an external API

[Jonas Meier]

thanks for your help!

This is the Fronius Push Service documentation: http://www.fronius.com/QR-link/4204102152

On page 11 for example you can find the json file which is sent. But I assume one cannot specify the value which should be sent, right? So, the whole json file is sent and thingspeak does not know which value to use.

(I am not soo familiar with API stuff)

[Christopher Stapels]

cant open your link sorry.

[Jonas Meier]

here is the pdf

[Christopher Stapels]

This file is better, thanks. I dont see a section on reformatting the data format output. I feel the best method might be writing to their data service and retrieving the data in ThingSpeak as described above.

I am presently working on a DIY solar installation - maybe this will help me...