Remote Configuration
I built a tool that connected our hardware, software, and APIs so Tomato Energy customers could get remote, real-time help whenever an inverter, solar panel, or battery problem occurred. Instead of waiting for a site visit, our team could access the installation securely, diagnose the issue, and apply a safe fix for optimal performance. The results speak for themselves.
Problem
Every day, Facebook groups and Reddit threads filled with questions like “Why is my solar not generating?” or “Why is my battery stuck at 30%?” The frustration was obvious, but the real risk sat in the replies. Well-meaning users were telling people to override settings, push values beyond safe limits, and “force” fixes.
That advice created two problems at once. Customers waited days for official help, and in the meantime some systems were being misconfigured, which led to damage, higher warranty costs, and a growing lack of trust. We needed a safer, faster way to diagnose and resolve issues without sending a technician to site.
Research
I dug deeper with interviews across field technicians and operations. Three themes stood out:
Manual overrides and unsafe settings sometimes exceeded device limits, which led to damage and warranty costs.
Customers faced multi-day waits for a technician when solar or battery equipment failed.
On-site technicians often lacked the tools or data to resolve issues on the first visit, which drove repeat callouts.
Solution: MVP Remote Configuration
Guided by our data model, I worked with backend engineers and field technicians to design an expert tool for secure remote access, diagnosis, and configuration. It included;
Secure access with guardrails. Only authorised operators could view or change device properties, with audit logs and role-based controls.
Standards-based connectivity. Using industry protocols such as Modbus RTU, we could connect to inverters and related devices, read settings, and push approved configurations remotely.
Inline safety controls. Min and max bounds, helper text, inline validation, and clear warnings prevented unsafe changes and reduced the chance of damage.
Business Impact
Key Learnings
Like the Commissioning Tool project, a few principles proved their worth.
Start small, validate early, then scale with confidence.
Co-design with engineering to respect constraints and move fast.
Keep the MVP narrow to validate value quickly, then expand to more roles.
Field testing beats lab testing for uncovering real issues.