Introducing WattPlot™!
WattPlot is the most comprehensive software available for monitoring performance data from OutBack renewable energy systems. If you have an Outback Mate and a serial cable to connect it to your computer, you can now see at a glance precisely what your system is doing and what it has done, every day, down to the second!
The monitor program plots performance data in real-time, as it happens!
It can even monitor a Mate in a remote location, over a network or the internet!
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
See it Running Now Over the Web
Download a free fully functional copy
Look through the User's Guide (as a pdf)
Browse WattPlot section of OutBack User Forum
Ordering, Pricing and Discounts
Update your existing copy to version 4.2
Upgrade your existing copy to WattPlot PRO
Displays a real-time scrolling pen plot of all inverter and charge controller activity, as it happens.
Logs and archives all data coming from the MATE (per second) in a proprietary compressed format.
Allows viewing of all historical activity (second-by-second, if desired).
Supports remote monitoring of a Mate by one or more PCs.
Viewer program is a free download, allowing anyone to view precise performance from logs you can email.
Multi-Document Interface (MDI) can show pen plots for multiple devices.
Can combine output for multiple stacked inverters or multiple charge controllers on to one plot.
Tracks almost every setting on the MATE, with on-line help that exceeds any documentation available from OutBack. (PRO version)
Optionally logs all mode changes, warnings, and errors.
Generates power usage data as Excel files.
Transmits commands to the MATE.
Keeps important battery bank records, such as equalization charges, specific gravity readings, and more. (PRO version)
Supports multiple battery banks of varying nominal voltages, all in one system.
Some Comments from the Experts
"I've seen a couple of other companies attempt to do this, but I really like the simplicity of the interface as Andrew showed me how it tracks and logs every second of performance of his LAKOTA-based hybrid system . . . Andrew's done a very nice job of making a good intuitive interface. He's made the necessarily complex control structures of the Outback easy to manipulate. WattPlot displays the simple performance data of any parameters you want to know about. . . how much power is the system making right now, last night? . . or last month? . . and what configuration is best for my system to get the best performance? . . . Outback has made a beautifully versatile power management and control system with lots of very useful features. All it needs is a little WattPlot to make it more user friendly for the average-techie who wants to see the power of the whole system, second by second or over the last month."
- Dave Cooke - True North Power (Outback Dealer)
Extracted from an article in Free Wind News
"I must say that the system, your company’s response for activation, and accompanying documentation all worked well to make the installation a snap, and this comes from one who was in the high-tech industry for 30 years."
- Ken Schwantje, St. Lawrence College’s Energy House, Ontario, Canada
"WattPlot is pretty much exactly what we were looking for in terms of a product to monitor the Outback equipment.
We've been using WattPlot for quite some time now, and it's continued to correctly interpret data from our long-range serial server system, and provide us all of the useful data that we've needed. It's a superb program, and I can't thank you enough for the help you've given us in implementing it.
Thanks so much for such a wonderful product. It's really made my life a lot easier (having been pressed into the role of expert on the power-generation system here at the company)."
- Brian Adamson, Jeffus & Williams, Juneau, Alaska
"I just [...] downloaded and read your user's guide for WattPlot. Wow - that's just exactly what I wanted! It even has pictures of the hardware connectors! I also want to compliment your tech writer. Very user-friendly user guide. So many 'user guides' are still in 'tech-ese'!
I'm so excited to get data collection all the time!! It makes it so much easier to analyze what's going on.
Finally, I wanted to say that I'm so glad your programming background inspired you to write this program. I don't have a programming background, but I'm a systems analyst, so that's exactly what I was trying to do - gather enough information to analyze the effect of the various settings. The Outback manuals aren't very user-friendly (they need your tech writer, obviously), although they're getting better. Even their explanations of the settings are like reading Greek.
I'm going to get a cable to interface my computer as soon as I can, and download your WattPlot software. THANKS!!!"
- Loretta Liefveld, Three Rivers, CA
"I was really glad your initial response to my suggestions (way back when) was to gather more information, and not the standard "we'll think about that for the next release".
One nice thing about WattPlot is the constant logging to disk. With WinVerter, if a power failure or other event occurs during the night/early morning hours, I have no way of knowing what time we switched to battery power until after midnight (when the logs are saved to disk). Utility power went out Friday at 3:10am, and the batteries died at 6:00am after the coffee pot turned on at 5:30.
This is an excellent piece of software. Now, if only Outback would make the Mate with two-way communication, so I could use this software to program the system as well..."
- James Stringham, http://www.wiseowlnetworks.us
"WOW!!! This is an amazing program! The description and screen shots do not do it justice. I'm not sure I will ever master it, but it should be all that I ever need. As I mentioned in an earlier email, I hope to be adding a wind component shortly. It will be VERY interesting to see those results. I'm excited to see the graph results of the MX - if we EVER see the sun again that is!! I'm still 'playing' around with the program and have managed to turn off the power in the house - I had inadvertently turned off the inverter and then dropped the AC input, all from WattPlot. Amazing!!"
- Ron Bell, Ontario, Canada
"What I have seen in the data logging area is excellent, exactly what I expected. WattPlot is easy to install, easy to configure and produces great output. I am happy with it. The manual is a model of style and easy understanding. I will be purchasing the WattPlot today as I don't want to miss any days of the system's operation."
- Toby Brine - British Columbia, Canada
"WattPlot is a pretty cool tool."
- Scott Payne - Outback Power Systems, Inc.
"During the run thru with the [client] we had to check open circuit voltages for all the PV modules. It was our second day onsite the barge was leaving soon, we were slightly rushed but enjoying ourselves, and as I checked voltages at each breaker at the PV combiner boxes one fellow went ahead and unlocked the other boxes, while another trailed behind and tugged on wires and flipped the breakers back on. At the end of the day while I was showing off the WattPlot software I noticed two of the 6 MX's were not charging. If it wasn't for the clear layout of the software, and the ability to compare devices all on one screen, I would have never of realized that a bunch of breakers hadn't been flipped back on. That's when I was sold."
- Jason Lerner, Waldron Power and Light Co., WA
"Wow, great program -- much, much better than WinVerter -- now I'm glad they didn't respond or I wouldn't have found your program. I'm sure I'll be purchasing soon.... just want to spend a little time with the program and the in-depth manual. Thanks!"
"It's been up and running now since last Monday and so far I'm very impressed and happy with the product. You obviously spent a great deal of time and did a fantastic job. It's pretty much exactly what I was looking for!!! Thanks"
and over a year later...
"I sure hope WattPlot sales make up for the amount of support you provide to us users. So far it’s certainly been a pleasure dealing with you personally and I can’t say enough good about the software. Without WattPlot the Outback systems are just a bunch of expensive, pretty lights!!!!"
- Ric Murphy, Ontario, Canada
See WattPlot in action right now on user web sites:
Boca Solar Home: Web Site with WattPlot or WattPlot WebCam!
Owl People Solar Project: Web Site with WattPlot PRO and Background Information
WattPlot customized Remote, feeding a beautiful Flash display
SOFTWARE Available for DOWNLOAD: (or click here for free updates to existing copies.)
The WattPlot software suite has four major components:
Click your operating system below to go to the DOWNLOAD PAGE:
- Monitor program to capture, display, plot, and log inverter performance data from an Outback MATE. The Monitor download is the same for both WattPlot and WattPlot PRO, and is all you need for a typical installation! (Available as fully functional evaluation copy.)
- Remote program to capture inverter performance data for a remote Monitor program with access to shared files. Free!
- Viewer program to show trace files generated by the Monitor program. Free!
- Test/Data Capture program to confirm MATE connections, show raw data, and capture data for simulations. Free!
Windows XP downloads
Windows NT downloads
Windows 98 downloads
Windows 2000 downloads
Windows ME downloads
Windows Vista downloads
For More InformationIf you would like more information, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact us.
[1] WinVerterTM–Monitor OB is a trademark of RightHand Engineering, LLC
