Locus Energy Launches the LGate 350 - Industrial-Grade Data Acquisition Hardware for Monitoring of Commercial Solar PV Systems

NEW YORK, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Locus Energy has launched the LGate 350 -- a plug-and-play data acquisition system specially designed to collect performance data from commercial and utility-scale solar PV installations. The standard configuration combines a revenue-grade power meter and Modbus-enabled datalogger pre-wired in an outdoor-rated enclosure. The LGate 350 can also be specified to collect data from a variety of peripheral devices and meteorological sensors.

Together with the web-based SolarOS™ monitoring platform, the LGate 350 enables owners and operators of PV plants to efficiently gather data for troubleshooting, asset optimization and performance guarantee/billing functions. The LGate 350 has the following features:

• UL/CSA rating as an industrial control panel
• Industrial-grade datalogger with built-in support for communication with best in class peripheral devices and sensors
• Three phase revenue-grade power meter
• Integrated three pole disconnect breaker and power supply - all connected devices are line powered eliminating the need for external 120v power
• 24 VDC terminal provides power for multiple peripheral devices
• Options for load metering and 3G cellular connectivity

It is often the case that data acquisition hardware for commercial solar PV monitoring requires extensive on-site configuration and the availability of external power supplies for peripheral sensors which delay system commissioning and increase man-hours spent in the field.  With the launch of the LGate 350, Locus Energy addresses these issues with an innovative hardware design and layout. Each unit features a hinged back plate which hides pre-configured internal components and provides installers with a simple set of terminal blocks on the face plate for connecting CT leads, voltage references and Modbus devices.

"As our industry continues to reduce system costs by focusing on minimizing soft costs around installation, we feel it is critical to make data acquisition hardware much easier to setup and maintain," said Adrian De Luca, VP of Marketing and Commercial Sales at Locus Energy. "We work with hundreds of installation companies and many have requested reduced complexity when installing monitoring systems. With extensive feedback from our integrator partners, the LGate 350 was designed specifically to address this issue."

The LGate 350 is available immediately. Please visit www.locusenergy.com or visit us at booth #8500 at Intersolar North America '12 for a demonstration.

About Locus Energy

Locus Energy develops web-based asset management software for renewable energy systems.  We provide monitoring, analytics and data services for deployments of solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technology. By leveraging Locus' products, renewable finance companies and integrators can drive down the cost and complexity of energy monitoring while making it much easier to maintain and service an installed client base. Founded in 2007, Locus has offices in New York and San Francisco, and monitors several thousand PV arrays worldwide.

SOURCE Locus Energy