Occasionally, homeowners need to reconnect their solar monitoring system to the internet. This could happen to you because:
- You’ve upgraded your router or changed your Wi-Fi network name, password, frequency band, or security settings.
- A previous owner of your home purchased the system. Your Wi-Fi network is different than the previous owner’s.
- Your monitoring was previously hardwired to an internet router (either directly or using a powerline adapter) and that connection is no longer working or available.
- The system was previously communicating using a backup cellular communications feature that has been shut down.
Also, sometimes the instructions that companies like SunPower (now SunStrong) or Enphase have on their own websites or apps are not 100% accurate for installations in Illinois. We’re here to make the process easier for our customers.
(As you probably know, SunPower declared bankruptcy in August 2024. SunStrong now maintains the monitoring system of the former SunPower systems. Throughout this post, we will refer to SunPower when we are talking about the actual monitoring hardware and SunStrong when we’re talking about the overall monitoring system or the app.)
Which Monitoring System Do You Have?
Certasun has installed two types of solar monitoring hardware: SunPower and Enphase. The reconnection steps are different for each system, so it’s important to confirm this first.
The easiest way to tell is by the app you’ve used in the past. If your monitoring was previously working through the Enphase Enlighten app, then you have Enphase monitoring. If your monitoring was previously working through the SunPower or SunStrong Connect app, you likely have SunStrong monitoring.
To know for certain, look at the physical monitoring equipment.
Enphase monitoring
Enphase systems installed by Certasun include a small communications device that is typically installed either outside, near your electric meter or inside, near your main service panel.
(The photos in this post are specific to Certasun installations. If your system was not installed by Certasun, it may not look like this.)
If you’ve confirmed that you have an Enphase system, you can view this step-by-step guide to walk you through reconnecting your Enphase monitoring.
SunPower monitoring
Certasun installed two versions of SunPower’s monitoring hardware, the PVS5 and PVS6 (“PVS” was short for photovoltaic supervisor). The instructions for updating your system depend on which monitoring hardware you have, which you can determine by looking at it.
In most Certasun installations, the monitoring hardware is mounted outside, near your electric meter. In some homes, it may be installed inside, near your main breaker panel (also called the main service panel). It looks like a small plastic shoebox with “SUNPOWER” molded into the cover.
Outside Example
Inside Example
The easiest way to tell whether you have a PVS5 or PVS6 is by looking at the LED indicator on the front of the unit. A PVS5 has multiple small, symbolized LEDs behind a lens in the top center of the case, while a PVS6 has a single LED in the top center:
PVS5 Hardware
PVS6 Hardware
Select your model below to access the step-by-step reconnection guide for your hardware.
If your monitoring device does not match any of the examples above, stop here and contact support@certasun.com with a photo of your unit for further instructions.