Calculator Inputs
Formula Used
- Adjusted hardware = hardware × level multiplier
- Adjusted sensors = sensors × level multiplier
- Adjusted monthly fees = fees × subscription multiplier
- Base upfront = (adj hardware + adj sensors + install) × sites + commissioning
- Contingency = base upfront × contingency%
- Total upfront = (base upfront + contingency) × (1 + tax%)
- Annual recurring = (monthly fees × 12 × sites) + (asset value × maintenance%)
- NPV = upfront + Σ(annual recurring / (1 + r)y)
Multipliers model added sensors, data volume, and analytics effort as monitoring becomes more advanced.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter capacity, site count, and monitoring level for your build.
- Fill upfront line items: hardware, sensors, installation, and commissioning.
- Add recurring items: subscription and data plan per site.
- Set maintenance, contingency, and tax to match local practices.
- Choose analysis years; add discount rate for present-value budgeting.
- Click Calculate Cost, then download CSV or PDF.
Example Data Table
Sample inputs and outputs for quick reference.
| Capacity (kW) | Sites | Level | Upfront (example) | Annual Recurring (example) | 5-Year Simple TCO (example) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 2 | Standard | ₨ 446,800.00 | ₨ 265,200.00 | ₨ 1,772,800.00 |
| 100 | 4 | Advanced | ₨ 1,072,320.00 | ₨ 705,600.00 | ₨ 4,600,320.00 |
| 20 | 1 | Basic | ₨ 156,230.00 | ₨ 86,400.00 | ₨ 588,230.00 |
Example figures illustrate structure; use your own vendor quotes for decisions.
Hardware and sensing scope
In construction rollouts, monitoring hardware is scoped per site or per combiner group. The calculator separates gateway, logger, enclosure, and power items from sensors. Add irradiance and temperature sensors when you need performance ratio verification, and add revenue meters when owner billing matters. Use the level selector to reflect extra channels, spares, and calibration workload without rebuilding every line item.
Connectivity and data handling
Reliable connectivity protects commissioning schedules and reduces costly troubleshooting visits. Enter a realistic monthly data plan for each site, based on signal strength, router type, and reporting interval. Advanced monitoring often increases payload size through higher sampling rates and device counts. When projects use shared networks, set the data plan lower but keep a contingency for cabling, antennas, and temporary links during handover periods.
Software subscription and reporting
Subscription costs should match the stakeholder outputs required during construction and operations. Standard plans commonly cover alarms, availability tracking, and monthly reports. Advanced plans add analytics, rule-based alerts, and granular dashboards for EPC teams and asset managers. Use per-site fees to reflect licensing models, then review annual totals to ensure they align with O&M budgets and contract duration. Export files help procurement compare vendors consistently.
Maintenance and lifecycle planning
Annual maintenance is modeled as a percentage of monitored assets, focusing on hardware and sensors rather than installation labor. Typical items include cleaning sensor domes, replacing fuses, firmware updates, and periodic verification against portable instruments. Set the percentage higher for harsh environments, remote sites, or complex metering. When you apply discounting, the present-value result supports long-term program approvals and avoids underfunding later years.
Tender-ready cost presentation
The outputs are structured for tender notes: upfront, recurring, and multi-year totals. Upfront includes commissioning, contingency, and tax, so finance teams can align cash flow with construction milestones. Recurring totals combine subscriptions, data, and planned maintenance into an annual burden. Review per kW and per site indicators to benchmark across project sizes, and attach exports to bid evaluations formally.
FAQs
1) What does “monitoring level” change?
It applies multipliers to hardware and monthly fees to represent added sensors, higher data volume, and deeper analytics. Use it to compare basic alarms versus advanced performance diagnostics without changing every cost field.
2) Should installation include civil works?
Include only monitoring-related installation such as mounting, conduits, wiring, labeling, and testing. If you have separate civil packages, keep those outside this estimate to avoid double counting in the project budget.
3) How is annual maintenance calculated?
Maintenance is a percentage of the combined hardware and sensor value across all sites. It represents periodic checks, calibration, firmware updates, and minor replacements that keep the monitoring system reliable.
4) What is the difference between Simple TCO and NPV?
Simple TCO adds upfront plus yearly recurring costs over the selected period. NPV discounts future recurring costs using your discount rate, giving a present-value figure for financial comparison.
5) Can I budget one subscription for multiple sites?
If your vendor prices by total capacity, divide the total monthly fee by the number of sites and enter the per-site value. This keeps the calculator’s per-site and per-kW indicators meaningful.
6) When should I increase contingency?
Increase it when site access is uncertain, cable routes are long, communications are weak, or scope may expand after commissioning. Contingency helps absorb changes without delaying procurement approvals.