diy solar

diy solar

EG4 6000XP/18Kpv Custom RS485 Dongle Connector

J

jsmithtx

New Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2023
Messages
99
Location
Dallas, TX
Problem: Both the EG4 6000XP and 18Kpv wireless dongles are highly insecure, broadcasting an unsecured network and Bluetooth open connections. For connection to Home or Software Assistant, this dongle relies on a special "debug" mechanism on port 8899 to retrieve data, which are not open for the *wired* device. The devices support retrieving data via an RS485 connection to this endpoint and this is the recommended approach.

Solution: My roommate, an electrical engineer, has designed an integrated HDMI to micro-USB connection for RS485. I am currently running an early version of this for my 6000XP.

I don't want to overstep the rules @Will Prowse and 'sell' anything here. The question is: how does one go about asking here about interest/need for such a device? This is a huge hole in the EG4 6000/18K for which there are only hacked together custom solution for connecting to SA/HA.
 

Attachments

  • hdmi-connector.jpg
    hdmi-connector.jpg
    182.2 KB · Views: 25
Last edited:
jsmithtx said:
Problem: Both the EG4 6000XP and 18Kpv wireless dongles are highly insecure, broadcasting an unsecured network and Bluetooth open connections. For connection to Home or Software Assistant, this dongle relies on a special "debug" mechanism on port 8899 to retrieve data, which are not open for the *wired* device. The devices support retrieving data via an RS485 connection to this endpoint and this is the recommended approach.

Solution: My roommate, an electrical engineer, has designed an integrated HDMI to micro-USB connection for RS485. I am currently running an early version of this for my 6000XP.

I don't want to overstep the rules @Will Prowse and 'sell' anything here. The question is: how does one go about asking here about interest/need for such a device? This is a huge hole in the EG4 6000/18K for which there are only hacked together custom solution for connecting to SA/HA.
Click to expand...
No that's fine, I fully support projects like that. Post away
 
jsmithtx said:
Problem: Both the EG4 6000XP and 18Kpv wireless dongles are highly insecure, broadcasting an unsecured network and Bluetooth open connections. For connection to Home or Software Assistant, this dongle relies on a special "debug" mechanism on port 8899 to retrieve data, which are not open for the *wired* device. The devices support retrieving data via an RS485 connection to this endpoint and this is the recommended approach.

Solution: My roommate, an electrical engineer, has designed an integrated HDMI to micro-USB connection for RS485. I am currently running an early version of this for my 6000XP.

I don't want to overstep the rules @Will Prowse and 'sell' anything here. The question is: how does one go about asking here about interest/need for such a device? This is a huge hole in the EG4 6000/18K for which there are only hacked together custom solution for connecting to SA/HA.
Click to expand...
Just a note. The WiFi network from the WiFi dongle can be secured. Pretty straightforward. That’s what I did with my 18kpv setup. I am toying with the idea of adding SA/HA to my system but haven’t found the willpower to mess with it yet….
 
jsmithtx said:
For connection to Home or Software Assistant, this dongle relies on a special "debug" mechanism on port 8899 to retrieve data, which are not open for the *wired* device.
Click to expand...
Oops, wait, the EG4 Ethernet adapter doesn’t work with Solar Assistant? I’ve got two of these on order, as I <ahem> dislike WiFi, did I just waste $400?
 
wpns said:
Oops, wait, the EG4 Ethernet adapter doesn’t work with Solar Assistant? I’ve got two of these on order, as I <ahem> dislike WiFi, did I just waste $400?
Click to expand...
Yes. The ethernet adapter DOES NOT work with SA. Port 8899 is not open and won't be open.

SA is moving to RS485 for connectivity.
 
EZPZ said:
The WiFi network from the WiFi dongle can be secured.
Click to expand...

What steps did you take to do this?

I've been going away from wifi as much as possible, but it would be an interesting thing to keep in my back pocket. Once SA supports RS485, then I'm going with that for max security.
 
jsmithtx said:
Yes. The ethernet adapter DOES NOT work with SA. Port 8899 is not open and won't be open.

SA is moving to RS485 for connectivity.
Click to expand...
Yikes! So I need to move my SA box to the inverters location and connect to RS485? Which RS485 port (I think there are several?)?

I remember some consternation over SA and EG4 and RS485, is there a recommended dongle (or does it come with the 18Kpv?

Thanks for the heads-up, this would have taken a long time to pivot later!
 
wpns said:
I remember some consternation over SA and EG4 and RS485
Click to expand...

It was very insecure, but the above comment suggests that it can be secured. However, SA has an unpublished beta version that works with RS485. That was the originating post of this thread--my roommate has designed the hardware that builds this in for a HDMI to USB connection to SA. The question was price point for us. Looks like it would be about $30-40 price range. Wondering if that is acceptable or if we need to figure out other manufacturing options, if possible :)

In short, you'd unplug the wifi/ethernet dongle and then plug this in and then connect a micro-usb cord to it and then plug into SA.
 
jsmithtx said:
What steps did you take to do this?

I've been going away from wifi as much as possible, but it would be an interesting thing to keep in my back pocket. Once SA supports RS485, then I'm going with that for max security.
Click to expand...
Just connect to the dongle micro gui via the ip address from a browser. So by default it’s 10.10.10.1 - There you can change username, password, ssid name, wifi password, network ip address/range etc. I have been in IT too long and I dislike defaults. A lot :):):)
 
Here is the manual for it
 

Attachments

  • How to recover a dongle if Restore factory setting(2)(1).pdf
    379.7 KB · Views: 19
Now that I think about it, I need to have either the WiFi or Ethernet dongle active in order to allow SS/EG4 to help me with setup, configuration, commissioning, etc, don’t I?
 
wpns said:
Now that I think about it, I need to have either the WiFi or Ethernet dongle active in order to allow SS/EG4 to help me with setup, configuration, commissioning, etc, don’t I?
Click to expand...
Yes. The remote access is rather useful but once you're done with it just unplug the little connector inside on the pcb, you don't even have to unscrew/unplug the dongle.
 
Somewhere along the way I discovered



c. INV 485: debugging port


:
Screenshot 2024-04-11 at 7.00.07 AM.png

Where I thought you could connect and talk Modbus to the inverter, does that work?
 
jsmithtx said:
I can open mine and see if I can get a modbus out of it.
Click to expand...
That would be the best solution, then we can leave the Ethernet dongle in place and still have SA integration...
Doesn't help your room-mate, but maybe he could integrate an Ethernet interface (hub/switch?) and tie everything together in one package. Extra points for PoE power and/or independent SA integration. 8*)
 
wpns said:
That would be the best solution, then we can leave the Ethernet dongle in place and still have SA integration...
Doesn't help your room-mate, but maybe he could integrate an Ethernet interface (hub/switch?) and tie everything together in one package. Extra points for PoE power and/or independent SA integration. 8*)
Click to expand...

Remember that the interface is shared -- the RS485 is shared between them. So you could end up running into yourself if you have both the eternet/wifi dongle and the RS485 interface plugged in, especially since SA is frequently querying (both query at the same time). That's really not the best approach, since you can't control the dongle's communication.

For me, I do not want the wifi dongle attached at all, except for upgrades. And when I'm upgrading, SA shouldn't be chatting, because of the shared interface. The upgrade *uses RS485*. You could potential brick your device doing so.

In short, it is an either/or, not a both/and. Otherwise you open yourself up to query clashing and the upgrade issue.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
EG4 6000XP/18Kpv RS485 Connector
Replies
2
Views
177
sollap
S
J
EG4 6000XP and SolarAssistant
2 3 4
Replies
65
Views
3K
Ambrotos
A
hotnoob
EG4 18kPV To MQTT ( Home Assistant ) - OpenSource - Python Server / Script - [PythonProtocolGateway]
Replies
5
Views
208
wpns
W
B
Eg4 Wi-Fi dongle signal SN numbers not coming up on iPhone s
Replies
2
Views
123
SignatureSolarJess
SignatureSolarJess
Oldtimmer69
Eg4 18kpv wifi dongle not connecting
4 5 6
Replies
105
Views
4K
Emeryj32
E
Back
Top