# Device overview

> The device list on a Voltmasters EMS project: online status, search, and why only the Installer role can add, remove or configure devices.

Source: https://voltmasters.io/en/docs/voltmasters-platform/device-management/device-overview/

> **Warning**
>
> All device management functionality on this page (adding, removing, and configuring devices) is only available to users with the **Installer** role. Users with the **Customer** role can view the device list but cannot make changes.

Select **My devices** to manage devices connected to the project. This page lists each device with its online status and provides options to open settings or remove the device. A search bar helps filter devices by name.

![Voltmasters EMS: My devices](https://voltmasters.io/assets/docs/image-76.webp)

*Voltmasters EMS: My devices*

### The device list

Next to the device list of a single project, an **All devices** overview lists the devices of every project you have access to, so you can look up a device without opening its project first. Both lists behave the same way:

-   They are ordered by **project**, then **device type**, then **name**, so devices of the same kind stay together. The cross-project overview shows the **project column** by default.
-   Which **columns** are visible can be chosen per list.
-   A search bar finds a device by name, and a filter panel narrows the list further.

#### Filtering the list

Open the filters to narrow the list on:

| Filter | Use |
| --- | --- |
| **Status** | Active devices, or deleted ones. See below. |
| **Type** | Battery system, PV inverter, energy meter, EV charger, and so on. |
| **Brand / model** | A specific manufacturer or model. |
| **Controllable** | Whether the EMS can steer the device or only read it. |
| **Nominal power** | A minimum and a maximum, to find the large or the small assets. |

**Clear filters** returns to the full list.

### Deleted devices and restoring one

Deleting a device does not erase its history. Set the **Status** filter to **Deleted** to see the devices that were removed from the project, with the date each was deleted.

![Voltmasters EMS: the device list filtered on deleted devices](https://voltmasters.io/assets/docs/devices-deleted-filter.webp)

*The device list with the filters open on the Deleted status.*

A deleted device can be put back with **Restore device**. The restore brings back the device together with the references that were removed with it, for example the meter that was designated as the grid meter or the parent device a child hung under, so you do not have to reconstruct the configuration by hand.

Restoring is not always possible, and the list says why:

| Situation | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **The parent device no longer exists** | Restore the parent device first, then this one. |
| **Deleted before this feature existed** | The removed references were not recorded at the time, so they cannot be put back. Add the device again through the wizard. |

### Adding a device

Click **Add devices** to open the device wizard. You will be guided through selecting the device type, manufacturer and model, and configuring the communication settings.

> **Note**
>
> To add a device, you must have the **Installer** role on this project.

While you are configuring the communication settings, the wizard helps you in two ways:

-   The **Modbus slave ID** is prefilled with the value most commonly used by comparable devices. Change it when your device uses a different address.
-   When the wizard **probes** the device, the EMS controller reports back what it finds, including the **MAC address** it reads off the network. The controller is asked for the address directly, so it is also filled in for devices that were already in the project, and it is refreshed whenever the connection settings of a device are saved. While the lookup is running the platform shows that it is checking; a device with no address of its own on the controller's network is reported as such rather than left blank.

#### Adding a PV inverter

1.  Click **Add devices** and select **PV Inverter** as the device type.
2.  Select the manufacturer and model.
3.  Configure the communication settings (IP address, port, slave ID) according to the inverter's network configuration.
4.  Complete the wizard and save.

> **Note**
>
> For Growatt inverters: if the inverter communicates via **Modbus TCP**, a ShineMaster data logger is present, so add the device using the ShineMaster adapter. If the inverter uses **RS485**, use an RS485-to-TCP converter such as the EP E300 before adding it.

#### Adding a battery system

Battery systems typically consist of two components:

1.  First, add the **battery inverter (PCS)**, the power conversion system.
2.  Then add the **battery management system (BMS)**, which monitors and protects the battery cells.

Follow the wizard for the specific brand and model. Your installer can provide the exact communication parameters.

#### Adding an energy meter

1.  Click **Add devices** and select **Energy meter**.
2.  Select the manufacturer and model.
3.  Configure the communication settings.
4.  If the meter is a sub-meter, link it to the appropriate parent device.

> **Note**
>
> To add a **virtual meter**, which is a calculated meter with no physical hardware, select **Virtual** as the manufacturer and follow the wizard. The measurement logic is configured based on your installation.

#### Adding an EV charger

1.  Click **Add devices** and select **EV charging station**.
2.  Select the model and configure the communication settings.
3.  After adding, configure the connectors and energy management settings for the station as described in the charger's documentation.

### Supported devices

During the **Add devices** wizard, you can browse all supported manufacturers and models by device type. Supported devices are listed per category (PV inverter, battery, energy meter, EV charger, etc.).

### Important configuration tips

Before finalising your EMS configuration, verify the following:

-   The correct **head meter** is selected under project settings.
-   The **grid connection type** (single-phase or three-phase) matches the actual installation.
-   **Import and export limits** and the corresponding safety margins are set in line with your grid connection contract.
-   The **strategy** (cost optimisation or self-supply) matches your energy contract type.
-   All key meters and devices have the correct **communication settings** and are responding with live data.