The Vue energy monitor can track solar generation, grid import, and net metering in the Emporia app. This article covers sensor placement for solar setups, how the app displays generation data, and the Bi-Directional 50A CT feature for circuits with two-way energy flow.
Installation Guide
Before configuring your Vue for solar, download the Solar Installation Guide from emporiaenergy.com/product-documentation. It covers correct sensor placement specific to solar setups and is the primary reference for getting your system configured accurately.
CT Sensors Measure AC Only
The CT sensors included with the Vue are designed exclusively for AC (Alternating Current) lines. They cannot measure DC power directly from a solar inverter. To monitor solar generation, the sensor must be placed on the AC output line after the inverter — not on the DC wiring between the solar panels and the inverter.
How the App Displays Solar and Generation
When a circuit is configured as a Solar or generation type, the app uses sign conventions to distinguish between consumption and generation:
Net Production — shown when your solar system is producing more than your home is consuming. Displayed as a negative number (e.g., −2.83 kW). The formula is: Total Solar Production + Total Usage = Net.
Total Usage — the total energy consumption of the home.
Balance — the portion of energy not being measured by any 50A sensor. Calculated as: Mains − Circuits 1–16.
In the app, consumed power is displayed as blue numbers (positive values) and generated power as green numbers (negative values). Graphs show both colors but display absolute values above the x-axis.
Bi-Directional 50A CT Monitoring
Released in June 2024, the Bi-Directional 50A CT update enables 50A sensors to monitor current flowing in both directions on a single circuit. This improves accuracy for any circuit where energy can flow in from the grid or out to the grid depending on conditions — such as solar lines, battery systems, and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) chargers.
No hardware purchase is required. The firmware update is delivered automatically over the air (OTA) to Vue 2 and Vue 3 devices. The Emporia app must be updated to version 3.4.4 or later from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.
Circuits that support Bi-Directional monitoring:
Solar / Generation
Battery
Electric Vehicle / RV
Sub Panel
Garage / Shop / Barn / Shed
Other
All other circuit types continue to use standard unidirectional (consumption-only) monitoring.
How to enable Bi-Directional monitoring:
Ensure your Vue device firmware has updated automatically via OTA.
Update the Emporia Energy app to the latest version (3.4.4 or later).
Open the app and navigate to the circuit Settings page for the circuit you want to enable.
Set the Circuit Type to one of the supported types listed above.
Enable the Bi-Directional toggle. The app will prompt you to confirm whether the circuit is currently consuming or generating energy to establish the correct direction.
If you set the direction incorrectly, toggle the setting back to unidirectional and then back to bi-directional — you will be prompted to confirm the direction again.
Note on Emporia products: The Emporia Home Battery and Emporia EV Chargers (Level 2 and V2X) include their own monitoring and do not require additional CT sensors from your Vue device.
Note on Previously Recorded Solar Data
After enabling Bi-Directional monitoring on a circuit previously set as a Solar circuit type, historical measurements for that circuit may display as positive values in the Home Screen, Graphs, and CSV exports. This is a known side effect of the update.
To correct historical CSV export values for those measurements, multiply the affected values by −1.0. Measurements from 200A sensors and all 50A sensors not flagged as Solar are unaffected.
Feedback and Suggestions
This knowledge base is continuously updated to provide the most helpful guidance for Emporia customers. If you found this article unclear or have suggestions for improvement, please contact our Customer Support team.