ret60sp
New Member
I use Mikrotik equipment so I can program my firewall to prevent things like this. You should take a look at RouterOS by Mikrotik.
Sol-Ark needs a serious Change!
- Thread starter ret60sp
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ret60sp
New Member
You are probably correct. Someone else told me that they are actually Chinese made, but so is everything else. My SolarEdge is made in China and all of my Victron Energy Equipment is made in China. They might be companies that are headquartered in Europe or wherever, but basically everything is manufactured in China. My beef is the monitoring in China. If Sol-Ark is going to hijack and rebrand an inverter, then sell it as if its made here in the United States, the least thing they could do is make the monitoring local to the United States. Making everything go through China is a terrible idea.
ret60sp
New Member
Great find! A pictograph of precisely the issue.
ret60sp
New Member
Yea, which is why I mailed a letter Certified Mail to the CEO of Sol-Ark - sharing my concern with the corporate decision to have China monitor Sol-Ark systems. Had I known this was the case, I would have waited for Victron Energy to finally come out with their highly anticipated UL approved 5k 240 VAC single phase inverter. I got tired of waiting. With the world going to #ell in a handbasket, I knew I needed something now, so I bit the bullet and bought the much more expensive Sol-Ark. Only to then discover that its monitored by the Chinese.....
My Victron Quattro says Made in India and the Victron SmartSolar charge controller made in Malaysia.
ret60sp
New Member
You are right! In our RV the MK3-USB interface cable was designed in the Netherlands and made in India. The Cerbo GX and the GX Touch 50 were both made in Malaysia. Its probably safe to assume that the Multiplus 3000 was made in Malasia but I know for a fact that the three VE 90Ah batteries were made in China. I just wish VE would step up the pace with getting their UL approvals here in the USA.
ret60sp
New Member
The issue we have here is getting code approval to use these things in residential applications. Our RV is perfectly fine, because code enforcement couldn't care less about the motorhome, but our brick and mortar home - thats a different matter entirely.
ret60sp
New Member
I have to share this: Our smaller (original) seven year old system is a 4.1 kW system on the roof with 17 Mage 245 watt panels. The original setup involved individual microinverters and a Mage monitor that was connected direct to our home network. I could monitor it myself. At the 5 year mark the micro inverters started failing and we lost about 50% of our power production. I contacted the original installer and he sent his crew over to replace the microinverters under warranty. All we had to do was pay the labor.
Two years goes by and I see three of the panels are no longer producing power. Again its a micro inverter failure, so this time I convince the installer to swap everything out to optomizers, because my theory is microinverters can't handle the heat and humidity of NE Georgia. So $4100 later we have 17 optomizers and a new SolarEdge 3.8k inverter. In less than 6 months its not producing any power. Waited for the techs to come tell me what I already knew - its dead. They swapped it out and now its back online. It averages 20kW of power production every sunny day, whereas the Solark is making 65kW per day.
Moral of the story: Monitoring is critical.
Two years goes by and I see three of the panels are no longer producing power. Again its a micro inverter failure, so this time I convince the installer to swap everything out to optomizers, because my theory is microinverters can't handle the heat and humidity of NE Georgia. So $4100 later we have 17 optomizers and a new SolarEdge 3.8k inverter. In less than 6 months its not producing any power. Waited for the techs to come tell me what I already knew - its dead. They swapped it out and now its back online. It averages 20kW of power production every sunny day, whereas the Solark is making 65kW per day.
Moral of the story: Monitoring is critical.
Ok,
Does no one remember when it was leaked that OUR government can turn on wireless parts of electronics without you knowing it and access the system via that back door and uses hidden warrants to do so?
Or that Google just said they are going thru phones now and if they find something that they find illegal (child porn)they will turn it over (they don't need a warrant).....
Does no one remember when it was leaked that OUR government can turn on wireless parts of electronics without you knowing it and access the system via that back door and uses hidden warrants to do so?
Or that Google just said they are going thru phones now and if they find something that they find illegal (child porn)they will turn it over (they don't need a warrant).....
Surferdudemi
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2020
- Messages
- 244
Isn't that Apple? At least get your conspiracy theories straight, LoL.
Surferdudemi
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2020
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I've seen it described both ways on here. Sol-Ark posted saying that they designed the device, and had it manufactured in China. The mfr there has the right to sell it outside the US, and some people are buying those and importing them (off Alibaba / AliExpress). Kind of like the "Designed in Cupertino" approach that Apple uses. Others have claimed that Deye is the originator, and Sol-Ark rebrands them and imports them to the US. Either way, it's certainly a concern that you have to send data to China to use an app to monitor the device. My guess is that Deye developed the app and it works with Sol-Ark because they mfr all the units. It wouldn't be that crazy expensive (relatively speaking) to set up the infrastructure in the US and have an app designed here. But maybe Sol-Ark is contracting with Deye to handle the monitoring service.
I would not assume that every app and piece of firmware developed in China has a back door. I WOULD assume that there's a risk that the apps are insecure and could be hacked. One problem is that when security holes in Linux (sometimes used in these devices) are not applied to firmware in devices because update capability is not built in, or the mfr chooses not to spend the money to maintain support for them. Home surveillance systems have the same issues ...
Surferdudemi
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2020
- Messages
- 244
Apple photo-scanning plan faces global backlash from 90 rights groups
Groups say iPhone-scanning could harm some children and be used for surveillance.
arstechnica.com
The current theory is that Israel wrote the software that was spread around via work / virus. It looked for specific devices (Siemens industrial controllers, I think, for the centrifuges used by Iran for enrichment of uranium). The software then destroyed the machinery via the controller, possibly by running them overspeed. None of the security services has confirmed it, obviously.
SignatureSolarUS
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2020
- Messages
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CS-116 is in the testing
Testing
EMP Shield is tested to all military electromagnetic pulse standards by Keystone Compliance (a 3rd party military certified testing lab). UL1449 Compliant
www.empshield.com
EMP Shield is a family of incredibly robust EMP, solar flare, and lightning defense technologies.
They have been designed to exceed the US Military requirements for protection against a high-altitude nuclear detonation that results in an electromagnetic pulse. This family of products has been tested at Keystone Compliance, a DOD Certified Testing Laboratory, to verify compliance with the following Military Standards:MIL-STD-461-RS105 Transient electromagnetic pulse of up to 50 kV/m, double exponential wave with a rise time in the nanosecond range, that is applied to the equipment under test (EUT) at least 5 times. We tested at 50 kV/m and also 90 kV/m (80% above required testing voltage).
MIL-STD-188-125-1 High Altitude EMP
MIL-STD-461G Control of Electromagnetic Interference
MIL-STD-461-CS-115 The purpose of CS115 is to test an electronic or electrical system to withstand signals coupled onto the test unit’s associated cabling. The test unit will be subjected to rise and fall times, pulse width, and amplitude as specified on Figure CS115-1 at a 30 Hz rate for one minute;
MIL-STD-461-CS116 applies to 10 kHz to 100 MHz for all interconnecting cables, including power cables, and individual high side power leads;
MIL-STD-461 CS117 apples to all safety-critical equipment interconnecting cables and non-safety critical equipment with interconnecting cables/electrical interfaces that are part of or connected to equipment performing safety critical functions. The goal is to test the unit’s ability to withstand lightning transients coupled onto the test unit’s associated cables and power leads;
MIL-STD-464C Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Requirements for Systems.
Good on you for discovering this and taking logical, reasonable steps to affect change.
Sol-Ark’s response, or lack of, will be very telling.
the_colorist
"Move over... let me fix it" Installer/Engineer
It's true. As far as I know, the platform is managed by Solarman under various rebranding. Personally, I prefer using the standard Solarman platform with an actual Deye unit.
Solar Monitoring/Energy Monitoring and Management Solutions Provider - SOLARMAN
SOLARMAN has developed a complete intelligent PV solution including hardware, software and data analysis to offer smart energy for global customers.SOLARMAN smart cloud platform has been a global leading PV monitoring and management platform, focuses on managing distributed PV power plants...
www.solarman.cn
ret60sp: finally, someone with some direct knowledge! (And then, the topic went off course, as is typical) Similar to the OP, I also worked electronic warfare, and also did systems testing at an electronics proving ground. Due to that, when I think of EMP/EMI, my thoughts run to creating a small, dedicated room where you can utilize metal mesh to create your own Faraday cage. But it only protects a portion of the equipment that is vulnerable to any form of "attack". So much more needs to be done to prevent damage, and to be able to continue to run vital equipment.
I take this whole subject/threat very seriously, and am amazed at the lack of planning on the part of our Government to protect us. In WW2, all that really needed to be done to cripple the Germans was to destroy their ability to repair equipment, or build new stuff, by targeting ball bearing factories, etc. Of course, that is a great over-simplification. Now, we allow our rivals (enemies?) to produce these goods for us. In my admittedly limited world view, it seems logical that the next World War will be an economic one. Destroy the capability to produce goods, and you win. I could be wrong, but right now, base model trucks that list for $59k are selling for $80k because there are no parts to build new ones. You cannot get a lot of routine things like chips, etc. But, I digress...
Victron has a great, free on-line application that allows you to monitor your entire system remotely. How many people know that Victron also monitors your system? Watch their video on the topic. One of their reps, Jono, has a great video on this topic. Personally, I don't want anyone "watching" my system for me. Victron inverters are made in India, by the way. I'm looking at my box for my Quattro....
The Netherlands is unlikely to be placed on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, but what about something as simple as they get gobbled up by a giant Chinese, Russian, or what-ever conglomerate? Then what?
I'm rambling now, and it has to stop. This is my last thought: become sufficient for yourself. Don't rely onothers. Don't rely on Bluetooth cameras to monitor what is in your refrigerator. Pay attention to the details like grounding for lightning strikes. Fact check everything. Live long and prosper!
I take this whole subject/threat very seriously, and am amazed at the lack of planning on the part of our Government to protect us. In WW2, all that really needed to be done to cripple the Germans was to destroy their ability to repair equipment, or build new stuff, by targeting ball bearing factories, etc. Of course, that is a great over-simplification. Now, we allow our rivals (enemies?) to produce these goods for us. In my admittedly limited world view, it seems logical that the next World War will be an economic one. Destroy the capability to produce goods, and you win. I could be wrong, but right now, base model trucks that list for $59k are selling for $80k because there are no parts to build new ones. You cannot get a lot of routine things like chips, etc. But, I digress...
Victron has a great, free on-line application that allows you to monitor your entire system remotely. How many people know that Victron also monitors your system? Watch their video on the topic. One of their reps, Jono, has a great video on this topic. Personally, I don't want anyone "watching" my system for me. Victron inverters are made in India, by the way. I'm looking at my box for my Quattro....
The Netherlands is unlikely to be placed on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, but what about something as simple as they get gobbled up by a giant Chinese, Russian, or what-ever conglomerate? Then what?
I'm rambling now, and it has to stop. This is my last thought: become sufficient for yourself. Don't rely onothers. Don't rely on Bluetooth cameras to monitor what is in your refrigerator. Pay attention to the details like grounding for lightning strikes. Fact check everything. Live long and prosper!
shavermcspud
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2020
- Messages
- 573
More tin foil needed for you. firstly microtik are owned by a Latvian company with 60% Russian ownership. That’s your first mistake as that was on your initial not to trust list but you have it as the core of your network and they use Chinese made hardware based on open router board, which isn’t open at all. Only the software is open source, the hardware is already known to have back doors in hardware. Secondly your inverter that you think is made in the good old USA isn’t, as is most of the hardware for pv Is made in China Or has Chinese DSP, processor or an arm licensed mm, I have great respect for my cousins in the USA but you seriously need to take a look closer to home sometimes. You think you have a good understanding of networking and such because you are using a certain brand “based in the us” you honesty don’t have a clue.
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
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