Have MPP's DON'T buy EG4's

D71 · Thursday at 10:16 AM

OleMan2765 said:
Thanks.
Trying to get there.
Pics I posted were from the Laptop.
Tried three cables, and phone just would not connect. Even tried an old laptop too.
That is another story.
Funny thing. I took pics with my phone, even viewed them. Went back to email them, and they were not there.
I can't make this stuff up.
I do appreciate everyone on here that has tried to help.
Guess my name is Murphy..

Watch this it is 1 year old. Make sure you download latest bms tools program from eg4.
You can hear the anger and frustration in his voice.

Another video - he is still po’ed. It is understandable.

Now those videos are 1 year old. Firmware and bms tools may have changed. Down load their newest program per video if you have not done that already..

There are various videos on youtube. Amazing they all seem get there a different way.

“ no standards.” Sad.

What is that cable in the top master battery comm port. Red pointing at in picture…… Is that going to inverters or Solar Assistant?
Let’s disconnect it for now. 1 problem at a time. If get it working will hook that cable back up and see if it faults out. Disconnect for now though.

Power down everything on system.
Turn all the batteries off push button off -breakers off . Put the top battery dip switches to the “on” - right position. Hook your battery to laptop cable into the rs485 port top battery above the positive cable. Turn the top battery back on after dip switches are set to the Right per the EG4 manual.

You have the 6 dip switch version …..

Make sure windows has the com not red x or grayed out in your laptop. Windows Software is problematic sometimes.

Set this rs485 in battery for eg4 after you power up.

That eg4 manual - 4 pin dipswitch OR 6 pin dipswitch is interesting. The type connector eg4 uses to adapt the USB A are known for wires breaking or not so good connections. We used them on locomotives -upload software. Sometimes not enough wire is making connection. They have to be taped to strain relieve them. You could inspect that as last resort.

Make sure select your com port. Try 16 for the cell number instead of 64 then click the program start. Then try 9600 usually can go down get something vs going up but not always. Click 16 as cell pack in program … if you can get into comm with battery bms then eg4 or we can help you better - faster. Several ppl on here use those batteries too. Several ppl on here are darn good if you show and tell them what you got. EG4 will probably want pictures or video too.

Write down steps and check them off for road map of where you were at and each step done. Probably combination things.

Btw when ppl built computers they had dip switches on most things - motherboards and pins with shorting or remove. Old stuff… real pain.

Most normal ppl eat a ft long sandwich just 1 one bite at a time or they choke…. Get the comm up. 1 bite. See what is going on in the batteries.
You’ll get through this just don’t give up.

D71 · Thursday at 1:13 PM

this is the cable you need to talk to batteries with laptop.

EG4 USB Read/Write Cable

EG4 USB Read/Write Cable provides a reliable solution for data transfer, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient operation.

signaturesolar.com

sometimes the wires don't get stripped back properly for usb A plug where the screws get tightened. used these connectors on various equipment over the years.

the other cable like came with your inverters are probably rs232 so don't try to use those. This should be the cable you need for your batteries should have came with them Why asked to see it in picture. thanks for picture confirmations

OleMan2765 · Thursday at 9:32 PM

D71 said:
View attachment 228073

this is the cable you need to talk to batteries with laptop.

EG4 USB Read/Write Cable

EG4 USB Read/Write Cable provides a reliable solution for data transfer, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient operation.

signaturesolar.com

sometimes the wires don't get stripped back properly for usb A plug where the screws get tightened. used these connectors on various equipment over the years.

the other cable like came with your inverters are probably rs232 so don't try to use those. This should be the cable you need for your batteries should have came with them Why asked to see it in picture. thanks for picture confirmations

I finally got connected to the batteries with BMS Tool.
Thanks for the research.
Good people and info on this site.
Thanks

D71 · Friday at 4:14 PM

So you have comm with your batteries? Rs232 is bit different then rs485. They don’t particular like one another so if not marked use some thing and mark the cables. . I hate the way comm is laid out with rj45 … wrong cables can cause lot of problems. Boat loads of troubles Why we did away with scew in residential fuse….ppl could put a 30a in 15a by simply screwing it in. Burn home down..so breakers cured that took primitive pete out of the equation. No insurance and banks to force the change with comm cables. With locomotive literally had carry a big tool bag full of endless cables and adapters to get comm. ….. ppl used wrong cables all the time. Comm .Cables are still problematic. It should not be that difficult.

Make sure solar assistant is all hooked back up before you started messing with stuff. Your raspberry pi solar assistant is or was showing online in that previous picture so the comm cable from sa to the inverter is not applied right or you did something else.
I am referencing the SA screen shot from earlier….. Hook whatever you had back up same as when it worked. Back track it. Reverse whatever you did to ……. Shhhssss break it.

This is what you would get if SA pi was down….not connection to your laptop. What I get with plug pulled on mine from website.

You are reporting this for your SA PI. So you have either messed with cable to inverter or you have messed with configuration for inverter selection which you will have to reenter. You raspberry pi SA is waiting on you to setup comm with cabling or put in the correct inverter type under configuration then hit connect..
I THINK IT IS CABLING from “inverter to SA PI” not right…if you been messing with it. You need to put everything back to way it was when SA working before it got messed up.

If you get that reversed…SA back up then can move forward some more…… another bite of the sandwich.

Now if it were me and you got into batteries…. looked around did not see anything bad like cell voltages way off?

What you can do now is run that single cable that was used “battery -computer” into your solar assistant to monitor the battery Just disconnect from computer and hook that usb to SA raspberry pi.
In SA……
You will need go to Config tab and then to bottom to select and setup batteries comm type. Read screen. Under configure you can also select your inverter. It should still be there if cables are correct like when you had it working before. You may just need to tell it to reconnect. There will be a tab beside them again you have to be under the config tab of SA. Below the inverter icon in SA you will see battery in SA you can select your batteries think you need tell it you have 30k of batteries if it doesn’t add it when comm is established …. You might be able to run it just 1 battery or you will have do the hubs like shown. Again cable end that was computer into SA raspberry pi.

Or you can get the rj45 hubs and make up or buy bunch of rs485 cables. ….. make darn sure they are rs 485 if you do the rg45 comm splitter hubs. Look like picture except usb a going into laptop will be going into SA raspberry pi.

You could do this cabling mess too. But if you get all your batteries charged online putting out just 1 comm can suffice if set to 30k. It will give you an soc

Then we need figure out why you are only getting the described power output of just 1 battery 5.1k vs 30k in your trouble report.

If you are still with me Is SA back up Is the battery showing up?

What you need to do ….this part sucks. From what could see you had various levels of battery SOC……which is not an absolute for SOC - it is estimation… that same with victron shunt for SOC. ESTIMATION.

I want you to turn on 1 battery and check that inverter turns on then turn back off.
Do that 6 time with each battery on and rest off.
We are going to definitely make sure we have output from each battery basic logic if it runs the inverter with it has an output.
Then we need to charge the batteries. 1 battery at a time other batteries off.
Then cut in all batteries.

Clear as mud? You did good figuring it out for connection to batteries.

OleMan2765 · Friday at 5:57 PM

D71 said:
So you have comm with your batteries? Rs232 is bit different then rs485. They don’t particular like one another so if not marked use some thing and mark the cables. . I hate the way comm is laid out with rj45 … wrong cables can cause lot of problems. Boat loads of troubles Why we did away with scew in residential fuse….ppl could put a 30a in 15a by simply screwing it in. Burn home down..so breakers cured that took primitive pete out of the equation. No insurance and banks to force the change with comm cables. With locomotive literally had carry a big tool bag full of endless cables and adapters to get comm. ….. ppl used wrong cables all the time. Comm .Cables are still problematic. It should not be that difficult.

Make sure solar assistant is all hooked back up before you started messing with stuff. Your raspberry pi solar assistant is or was showing online in that previous picture so the comm cable from sa to the inverter is not applied right or you did something else.
I am referencing the SA screen shot from earlier….. Hook whatever you had back up same as when it worked. Back track it. Reverse whatever you did to ……. Shhhssss break it.

This is what you would get if SA pi was down….not connection to your laptop. What I get with plug pulled on mine from website.

View attachment 228344

View attachment 228348

You are reporting this for your SA PI. So you have either messed with cable to inverter or you have messed with configuration for inverter selection which you will have to reenter. You raspberry pi SA is waiting on you to setup comm with cabling or put in the correct inverter type under configuration then hit connect..
I THINK IT IS CABLING from “inverter to SA PI” not right…if you been messing with it. You need to put everything back to way it was when SA working before it got messed up.

If you get that reversed…SA back up then can move forward some more…… another bite of the sandwich.

Now if it were me and you got into batteries…. looked around did not see anything bad like cell voltages way off?

What you can do now is run that single cable that was used “battery -computer” into your solar assistant to monitor the battery Just disconnect from computer and hook that usb to SA raspberry pi.
In SA……
You will need go to Config tab and then to bottom to select and setup batteries comm type. Read screen. Under configure you can also select your inverter. It should still be there if cables are correct like when you had it working before. You may just need to tell it to reconnect. There will be a tab beside them again you have to be under the config tab of SA. Below the inverter icon in SA you will see battery in SA you can select your batteries think you need tell it you have 30k of batteries if it doesn’t add it when comm is established …. You might be able to run it just 1 battery or you will have do the hubs like shown. Again cable end that was computer into SA raspberry pi.

Or you can get the rj45 hubs and make up or buy bunch of rs485 cables. ….. make darn sure they are rs 485 if you do the rg45 comm splitter hubs. Look like picture except usb a going into laptop will be going into SA raspberry pi.

You could do this cabling mess too. But if you get all your batteries charged online putting out just 1 comm can suffice if set to 30k. It will give you an soc

View attachment 228354

Then we need figure out why you are only getting the described power output of just 1 battery 5.1k vs 30k in your trouble report.

If you are still with me Is SA back up Is the battery showing up?

What you need to do ….this part sucks. From what could see you had various levels of battery SOC……which is not an absolute for SOC - it is estimation… that same with victron shunt for SOC. ESTIMATION.

I want you to turn on 1 battery and check that inverter turns on then turn back off.
Do that 6 time with each battery on and rest off.
We are going to definitely make sure we have output from each battery basic logic if it runs the inverter with it has an output.
Then we need to charge the batteries. 1 battery at a time other batteries off.
Then cut in all batteries.

Clear as mud? You did good figuring it out for connection to batteries.

Still no luck wits SA.
Put in a ticket last week, they responded, wanting to gain admin access. I granted it to them last week. But SA still down.
It quit June 30th and am frustrated they don't seem to want to help.
This battery problem caused the system to shut down, and SA never came back up.
Have error 52.

Kernel log (UTC time)

[Fri Jul 12 21:55:51 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 21:55:50 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 21:54:37 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_cfg80211_scan: scan error (-52)
[Fri Jul 12 21:54:37 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_vif_set_mgmt_ie: vndr ie set error : -52
[Fri Jul 12 21:48:28 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 21:48:27 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 21:12:33 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 21:12:29 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 21:11:17 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_cfg80211_scan: scan error (-52)
[Fri Jul 12 21:11:17 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_vif_set_mgmt_ie: vndr ie set error : -52
[Fri Jul 12 21:10:07 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 21:10:06 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 21:10:05 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_cfg80211_scan: Connecting: status (3)
[Fri Jul 12 20:31:11 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 20:31:09 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 20:29:57 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_cfg80211_scan: scan error (-52)
[Fri Jul 12 20:29:57 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_vif_set_mgmt_ie: vndr ie set error : -52

I will try a cable they sent me that never worked.
Just flat line.
Cable works fine with the junk software for MPP's.

No luck with cable to MPP Battery port.
Just my luck.

D71 · Friday at 6:30 PM

OleMan2765 said:
Still no luck wits SA.
Put in a ticket last week, they responded, wanting to gain admin access. I granted it to them last week. But SA still down.
It quit June 30th and am frustrated they don't seem to want to help.
This battery problem caused the system to shut down, and SA never came back up.
Have error 52.

Kernel log (UTC time)

[Fri Jul 12 21:55:51 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 21:55:50 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 21:54:37 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_cfg80211_scan: scan error (-52)
[Fri Jul 12 21:54:37 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_vif_set_mgmt_ie: vndr ie set error : -52
[Fri Jul 12 21:48:28 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 21:48:27 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 21:12:33 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 21:12:29 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 21:11:17 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_cfg80211_scan: scan error (-52)
[Fri Jul 12 21:11:17 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_vif_set_mgmt_ie: vndr ie set error : -52
[Fri Jul 12 21:10:07 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 21:10:06 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 21:10:05 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_cfg80211_scan: Connecting: status (3)
[Fri Jul 12 20:31:11 2024] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[Fri Jul 12 20:31:09 2024] brcmfmac: brcmf_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt: power save enabled
[Fri Jul 12 20:29:57 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_cfg80211_scan: scan error (-52)
[Fri Jul 12 20:29:57 2024] ieee80211 phy0: brcmf_vif_set_mgmt_ie: vndr ie set error : -52

I will try a cable they sent me that never worked.
Just flat line.
Cable works fine with the junk software for MPP's.

No luck with cable to MPP Battery port.
Just my luck.

So under the config tab there is nothing either? No inverter no reconnect or anything??

Was the SA plugged into those batteries -bms when they went? Might have taken out port if it was....and back fed. I take it you unplugged SA POWER and let it sit for a few minutes then plugged it back in? I figure that message was at SA boot?

All of those appear to be network - wifi type errors. Would assume you are connecting with blue tooth. for picture?

Did you try the SA website sign in on web then click on the SITES tab and your hyperlink there?

You can try those other things for the batteries but was trying get all comm back up maybe battery to SA

D71 · Saturday at 10:07 AM

Can you take a picture of your..... raspberry pi sa for the way you have it hooked up ? I want to see picture of it for cabling referencing.

Thanks

OleMan2765 · Saturday at 11:02 AM

D71 said:
Can you take a picture of your..... raspberry pi sa for the way you have it hooked up ? I want to see picture of it for cabling referencing.

Thanks

Will do. Have to go get meds for MIL

OleMan2765 · Saturday at 1:54 PM

D71 said:
Can you take a picture of your..... raspberry pi sa for the way you have it hooked up ? I want to see picture of it for cabling referencing.

Thanks

First is SA, second is power pack, third is Fuse, fourth is where the two attach to the MPP.
One to MPP will not communicate with SA as it is not in the list to select from.

Crowz · Saturday at 2:22 PM

OleMan2765 said:
First is SA, second is power pack, third is Fuse, fourth is where the two attach to the MPP.
One to MPP will not communicate with SA as it is not in the list to select from.

On my tp6048 it won't work with the usb port consistently if at all. The rj45 to serial is the only thing I could get to work.

D71 · Saturday at 8:04 PM

Sorry been busy with batteries of my own..

If you have a bad cable it can cause all sorts of bad problems. Wrong cable too. …. You said a cable was damaged in fire?

First block of questions:

What are these 1 and 2 plugs in the Raspberry going to? Both Inverters? Why are they different - was 1 of them replaced.?

Make sure only thing connected for comms at inverter is raspberry pi. No other comms. Nothing should just be the parallel cables and the raspberry pi cable or cables.. no other comm cables.

This looks like right inverter lets disconnect these if there is a cable from other inverter into SA.. I am assuming the left inverter is hooked to SA too? If so make sure SA is only thing going in.

They have to be “rs232 cables”
This is best solution for cable as shown. According to SA your parallel inverters can work with just 1 cable… going to raspberry - don’t need both to raspberry so if you have an unknown or maybe suspect damaged cable going from sa to inverter then lets disconnect it. According to SA only time you need 2 cables going to raspberry pi is if both inverters show same serial number. After you disconnect suspect cable than unplug power at your pi for about 1 minute…..and plug - let it reboot. Takes few minutes. Is the system still down.? If so plug cable back in that you disconnected and unplug the other one. Try everything again.

Crowz
The usb c ports are prone to failures weak link. Have to make sure to baby them. My ipad has had 1 replaced. The old lighting port could take abuse better.

D71 · Saturday at 10:28 PM

This is why am trying to help you restore Solar Assistant. Ive been hammering on a new 280ah 48v nom battery all day stating around 1600 hours been charging with grid had current up to 50amps….ramped up from 20 to 30 to 40 to50 then back down finished with 20 amps. I did not thermal any hot spots on new battery. Solar assistant can be a valuable tool.

SA when setup properly can help see what is going on with your system and batteries.

I’m not trying aggravate you but want to see if can get SA up to see what it shows for you batteries and system.

Example 14.3k of batteries.

Number 14 cell is going to need some extra attention it is a slacker - all are suppose to be new cells. They did well so far just going to hit them with top balance now that their capacity is closer to the top.

.

It has been charging hard since 13 Jul 1600 hours until now 14 jul 0100(am) hours. It takes a long time charge big banks. My little mpp solar 3048 inverter was screaming while doing the charging. It was 154F ~68C free air ~80f Had to back it down You have to baby sit these systems or get into trouble in hot weather. This inverter is rated for 60 amps charging which is bs. It would have thermal overload. These inverter and such must be learned. That comes with time experience if you stick with it. There are ppl on here with battery banks 3x-4x the size of yours to charge. It takes a long time and must be checked on.

I only need these systems because the grid is old not maintained power goes off more then ever. Emergency power for me.

Are you trying to do basic off grid ……emergency….? This will be your new hobby. How big is your solar array?. You have 30k of eg4 batteries which is double cap of what I just showed you for a charge time. So 2x the amount of time recharge….I’m glad the cells had some charge in them.
Bottom left can see the grid watts pulled with 50 amp charge for battery. No way was I going to top balance cells with charge that low been out there forever. It is hobby. It is not set and forget. You have to learn the quirks like old junk car.

Anyway that is why wanted to see the SA data…..needed to get it working.

Have MPP's DON'T buy EG4's

D71

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