diy solar

diy solar

Giandel Inverter remote control

Tim R

New Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2020
Messages
37
Has anyone gotten their Giandel Inverter to remotely switch with a logic level, i.e., on/off? The remote control panel that comes with it is a "I'll think about it" button, meaning it uses a microcontroller to take a pulse from the switch and power down. That makes it extremely difficult to use a "toggle" switch to power on and off. I thought about using an SSR but DC load SSR's are limited to around 50amps and I have a 3kw inverter. I fear I am doomed and have to get something else. Unfortunately the Renogy, although it has a on/off toggle remote switch, it is nearly 20" long and extremely hard to place in a camper. Anyone?
 
You might want to look at section 10.1 of this resource:


There is a link to a circuit to do what you are talking about. (I have never built it)
 
You might want to look at section 10.1 of this resource:


There is a link to a circuit to do what you are talking about. (I have never built it)
Thank you sir. I was just sitting here thinking about which micro to use, Arduino Nano Every or a Particle Photon. I really don't want to rip into the inverter, though I have no qualms about tearing that remote apart, again.
 
So the switch on the remote panel is a momentary switch type?
Yes. That is the way the giandel inverter remotes work. This is the schematic of the remote.

1617087197285.png
LED1 is the 'Power LED' and LED 2 is the 'Fault LED'.

This is slightly different than the remote that goes with the circuit in the SBMS0 Beginners manual so some very minor changes to the design might be necessary.
 
Yes. That is the way the giandel inverter remotes work. This is the schematic of the remote.

View attachment 43067
LED1 is the 'Power LED' and LED 2 is the 'Fault LED'.

This is slightly different than the remote that goes with the circuit in the SBMS0 Beginners manual so some very minor changes to the design might be necessary.
So it is active LOW logic (Pulsing LOW).
 
So the switch on the remote panel is a momentary switch type?
yes. Inside the remote switch box is an 8-bit micro that does something, but if I bring one of the pins of the rj plug hi, the inverter powers up. If I hit it again, it powers down. I am using an Arduino Nano Every to use the ETXIO4+ to trigger that rj-pin and monitor the power state using an analog pin sensing the power to the "power indicator" LED. I get power from the remote cable. About as simple as I can make it.
 
Yes. That is the way the giandel inverter remotes work. This is the schematic of the remote.

View attachment 43067
LED1 is the 'Power LED' and LED 2 is the 'Fault LED'.

This is slightly different than the remote that goes with the circuit in the SBMS0 Beginners manual so some very minor changes to the design might be necessary.
Nice, where did you get that? I would have loved to have that when I was poking and hoping last night. Looks like I got it figured out though.
 
Nice, where did you get that? I would have loved to have that when I was poking and hoping last night. Looks like I got it figured out though.
I took apart one of their remotes about a year ago and reverse engineered it.
 
Actually, my schematic is different than the one above. The switch closes two of the pins on the rj plug. If my old memory serves me, bringing the left pin on the switch to 5v, the unit powers on. Repeating that, powers it off.
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2021-03-30 at 9.38.01 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2021-03-30 at 9.38.01 AM.png
    584.7 KB · Views: 51
I have this thing working now. There are several ways to do this but this is the way that I chose.

The pdf has a schematic and a physical drawing. There are three wires to solder on the board and three external, including the binary trigger, which is a 1 for on and a 0 for off. It was built for use with my Electrodacus SBMS0.

The txt file is the code for the Arduino Nano Every but will work with most Arduino boards. You will have to change the .txt to .ino then build a upload to the board.
 

Attachments

  • hardstop .txt
    2.4 KB · Views: 76
  • Gainfel_Push_Button.pdf
    4 MB · Views: 115
I have this thing working now. There are several ways to do this but this is the way that I chose.

The pdf has a schematic and a physical drawing. There are three wires to solder on the board and three external, including the binary trigger, which is a 1 for on and a 0 for off. It was built for use with my Electrodacus SBMS0.

The txt file is the code for the Arduino Nano Every but will work with most Arduino boards. You will have to change the .txt to .ino then build a upload to the board.
In the physical drawing there is a resistor and LED in between D3 output and the the push button. (These are not in the schematic). What is the purpose of them?
 
Oops, I uploaded the wrong pdf.

The LED can also be just a diode, but I used an LED to see it pulse. When you push the manual button, it puts power on that side of the switch. Power I don't want the Arduino to see or feel. When whatever is telling the inverter to power down isn't active and you push the power on button, if there was no diode, the pin will be dragged up to 12v. That pin doesn't like that so an LED keeps that from happening.
 

Attachments

  • Gainfel_Push_Button.pdf
    4 MB · Views: 148
Last edited:
yes. Inside the remote switch box is an 8-bit micro that does something, but if I bring one of the pins of the rj plug hi, the inverter powers up. If I hit it again, it powers down. I am using an Arduino Nano Every to use the ETXIO4+ to trigger that rj-pin and monitor the power state using an analog pin sensing the power to the "power indicator" LED. I get power from the remote cable. About as simple as I can make it.
Your information has helped me quite a bit. I have the same exact remote. I'm looking to cut it at the cat connector and find the positive and negative wire and hook it to a relay. Would this be possible? Or am I totally off the mark here...
 
Hello,
That would be great but it seems like you need to generate a pulse Hi . A relay is open or closed thus the need to generate a pulse each time the relay's state changes.
I'm in the same situation as I'm looking to use a BMV712 relay to cut off and on my inverter.

The easiest option would be an inverter with an analogic remote ( open / close) like the victron .
I have not made my choice yet : Giandel sounds like the best bargain but if anyone knows one with a remote compatible with a relay that would be great ?

thanks


.
 
Your right. But I think I figured it out. I'm making this work by buying a timer relay delay. I'm going to Interface it with the button, so that every time I push it, the relay closes for however long it needs the circuit closed to start. And the same when you push it again to turn off. I'm trying to interface this with a OEM 4runner inverter button. I had to make a couple adjustments for this to work. (At least I hope so, haven't installed it yet)
Because naturally timer relays work on easy push buttons that aren't latched. This button I'm working with is a latched button.

Knowing the trouble I went through I might have bought a inverter with a analogic remote with it. But Giandel is a great price for the quality. Its been installed for the last few weeks and works like a champ other than the remote not being hooked up.

I'll let you know how it goes when it's all said and done
 
Back
Top