Installation and Setup
Can a Solarfox display be used outdoors?
The Solarfox SF-600 series displays are specially designed for outdoor use and meet the IP-56 protection standard.
All SF-600 models feature a rugged metal housing and temperature-controlled ventilation and interior heating. On especially hot or cold days this ensures an optimum temperature for the electronics. The housing designed to provide a robust protection for water, dust and moisture.
The SF-100 / SF-300 series is only intended for indoor use.
Which connections are needed?
Two power connections (230V) as well as an access to the Internet (network cable or a network connection) are required. If there is no network connection at the installation site, but only a power connection, you can use a powerline adapter that sends the network signal via the power line. The devices of the SF-300 series (from BJ 2016) are equipped with an integrated WLAN antenna. For the SF-100 series an optional WLAN stick, available at Solarfox, can be used. Your own Wi-Fi USB adapters are not supported. If there is no internet connection on site, the display can be connected to a mobile radio router.
Further information about the installation can be found in our installation instructions. Category: Service -> Tenders and Planning.
Can I hang up the display in the window?
Depending on the light, this is possible. In bright light or direct sunlight it can cause a reduced readability. We recommend you to use transreflective displays in these cases which have high brightness values of more than 700 cd / m². This is a special version. Please contact our sales departmend by phone in this case.
Where can the Solarfox display be mounted?
You can always attach displays of the SF-100 / SF-300 series to any indoor wall. The prerequisite is that the wall has the necessary load capacity. For cavity walls, appropriate cavity dowels must be used. If there is no wall mounting option, the display can also be equipped with a stand (monostrand / table stand) or a ceiling mount.
What data do I need to set up the system?
The display can be installed and set up within a few minutes. * www.solar-fox.de / inbetriebnahme.html * Then you only have to adapt the online presentation according to your demands. After initial installation, a default setting or presentation is already preset. The display must be registered online to display your system data. Then you will receive the access data (username and password) from us. These data must be entered as part of the display setup and then used to access your online administration to change the display contents.
How long does the commissioning of the Solarfox take?
In about 30 minutes, The system can be set up in about 30 minutes with no prior knowledge since the installation itself is done in a few steps and an onscreen setup wizard will guide you step by step in setting it up.
The following calculation will spare you the hassle of calculating the cost and planing the installation of a Solarfox® display. The following calculation assumes that electricity and network connection (LAN or WLAN) to the installation location already exist.
Operation |
Time |
1) drill four holes and attach the plug |
approx. 10 min |
2) mounting the wall mount plate |
approx. 5 min |
3) Mounting of the display and connection of power cable and LAN cable |
approx. 5 min |
4) Registration of the display under http://setup.solar-fox.de Hotel (If before installation to be made from any computer via a web form) The access data will be immediately from sent to system via email. |
about 5-10 min |
5) implementing the display setup and configuration of the Solarfox® displays using a USB keyboard |
5 min |
Sum |
30-35 minutes |
For a quick and smooth installation and commissioning of the Solarfox® displays we recommend installation in advance to coordinate all necessary information with the IT managers (Administrator). To do this, use our Checklist. This ensures that there is an internet connection on site and all the necessary data are available.
Please use our instructions for installers this will help you to plan the installation beforehand.
What is the average power consumption for the Solarfox?
The Solarfox control computer works with 1-5W power depending on the size, the display requires about 1W in standby mode and for example, up to 35-50 Watt as with a 32" when in operation. You will find a complete overview of the consumption values of all models in our Product Overview and the relevant product details of Solarfox SF-300 series or Solarfox SF-600 series.
Electricity costs less than 1,00 EUR per month
At an average use of 8 hours per day on 225 working days and electricity costs by 0, 25 €/kWh, annual electricity for a Solarfox SF-300 24" (61cm) is estimated to approx. 11,00 EUR
Is the equipment including accessories or cables ?
Yes, the displays are all delivered with a tilt-able wall mount. Each unit comes with a 2m network cable and power cables. The wall distance of the display is approx. 6cm. Sockets can be positioned behind the display so that they are not visible from the front. However, the depth of the power supplies still needs to be considered. For further information, please refer to the Solarfox data sheet.
What speed does the Internet connection require?
Since Solarfox incorporates smart caching a cellular connection (UMTS / GPRS) is also possible . However, the charging process is considerably faster when a powerful Internet connection is used. During the presentation, Solarfox automatically updates in the background at set intervals so that a slow internet connection will not be aproblem
Can one separately obtain the Solarfox software?
Solarfox attaches great importance to stable and reliable systems. We develop our software in close collaboration with a tested hardware configuration,making sure that that operators and installers get a safe and low-maintenance system. Therefore, we support no stand-alone systems or existing hardware. This is the reason why the Solarfox software can't be purchased separately. Solarfox only sells complete systems and guarantees simultaneous high reliability.
Please note:
1) All components of the SOLARFOX® Display System are very closely matched. In doing so, we set great value upon low-maintenance and stable operation,
ease of use, quick and easy installation and safety. At the same time, we would like to offer our customers competent support and service. Without
this close coordination of the individual components, we could not belie your expectations.
2) The market has a very wide range of monitors, displays and TVs. The specifications of these devices differ in some cases significantly, this affects the configuration but also the technical characteristics. There are also firmware and software updates. Small deviations can already be a source of malfunction or error here. In addition, almost all of these manufacturers now come from Asia and usually roll out updates unannounced or do not provide updates or drivers at all. This results in either a security problem or a compatibility problem. This is especially true for Smart TVs, which are designed for the private consumer and not for commercial use.
3) We recommend companies in the photovoltaic industry and in particular installers, whose main focus is the installation of PV systems, a fundamental decision in this case. If your claim is to provide high quality craftsmanship and to offer your customers a high level of service, you should focus on your core competency. You provide a work service to the customer and owe a permanently functional system; at the same time your customer should
experience a positive overall impression. This claim cannot be combined with a craft solution using e.g. upgrading existing or own monitors and/or creating
an isolated solution. The lifespan of such constructs is usually rather short-lived, and malfunctions and service operations are inevitable. It often follows discussions with customers about costs or goodwill. It may be true that the customer saved a few Euros in the purchase, but the installer and end customer are both the ‚victim‘ in the end. Often, the installer is left with the costs, because he owes a functional work performance, while the customer remembers the craft solution as a bad impression. In many cases, the end customer also received no help at all, if the knowledge is lost due to normal employee turnover at the installing company.
I already have a TV, can I use it?
Conventional LCD or LED TVs are usually designed for a daily operating time of 3-5 hours by the manufacturer (Phillips, Samsung, LG, etc.). If the devices are used in continuous operation (> 5 hours), this leads in the medium term to a reduced playback performance on most models. The picture becomes cloudy or gets a white veil. In these cases, a complaint is usually unsuccessful, as manufacturers reject warranty claims.
Solarfox® therefore uses special monitors that are designed for continuous operation and can be operated up to 24 hours a day. A daily timer can turn the unit on and off at a specific time. In addition, the devices have an IPS panel, which allows improved brightness from different viewing angles.
The brand Solarfox® combines a high standard of quality and performance. Therefore, we cannot support existing systems, as this usually only provides insufficient support, so Solarfox® only offers complete systems that work with Plug & Play. For them we offer the best possible operational safety