How to Add Other Components

This article is in the Control zone of the App.  

OpenSolar understands that other components may be used in PV designs, which is why we have given you the capability to create components separate from the modules, inverters and batteries. Although these components will not be a part of the electrical calculations, you can add a Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) price to them, which will be involved in your financial calculations.

When on the Control zone of OpenSolar, access your list of other components by clicking Design and Hardware > Other components. From here, you can search and edit an existing component or create a new one. We will see each of these processes below.

From here, you can look up existing Other Components in our component database. To do this, click on the + Add From Database box and type in the component model you are looking for.

If you cannot find the model you are after, you can create your own custom component by manually entering the fields.

To do this, choose + Add From Database > Create Your Own option when creating the component and then enter the specifications in each field shown.

• Code - this is how the component will appear in the studio list.
• Title - the title of the component.
• Manufacturer - the manufacturer of the component.
• Description - this is where you can put in important information that you wish to be displayed for the customer.
• Show Customer - This will choose whether the component and its description will appear in the proposal for the customer to see when it is selected in a project.
• Enable Additional Costs - This allows for more complex financial modelling when switched on.

• Formula - This is the formula by which the total amount of each transaction is generated. You can choose an option from the dropdown to dynamically generate price amounts.
• Value - This is the figure used to calculate each transaction's amount. It is used by the formula field and can be multiplied by different system details (such as the size of the system) to generate transaction amounts. The field should be positive for costs and negative for revenues.
• Cycle Units - This is the frequency of the transactions.
• Start Cycle - This specifies the point at which the transactions begin. A value of 0 here will specify the first transaction as before the first cycle, and a value of 1 will specify after the first cycle. 2 is after the second cycle, and so on.
• End Cycle - Similar to the start cycle, but when the cycles end.
• Annual Adjustment (%) - This changes the value of the transaction on an annual basis.

You also then have the ability to assign a cost to the component which is used in markup pricing.

• COGS per unit - used for calculating system prices if Markup pricing is selected
• Price Adjustment per Unit (Inc Tax) - This field allows you to add a price adjustment (inclusive of tax) to the Price per Watt and Price Per Watt By Size pricing schemes.
• Product Warranty - the products warranty in years.

Once you have finished entering the details for your new optimiser type, click  .

This will then take you back to your list of Other Components in Control, where you can create more or edit ones you have already created by clicking on  .

 You will then be able to apply the Other Component in Studio for it to appear on the proposal.