EG4 UPDATE CORRUPTED OUR LCD SCREEN- THE SAMSUNG USB MADE A DIFFERENCE & FIXED IT!

[ksmithaz1]

ksmithaz1, any possibility these sticks were hacked versions that showed greater capacity than they actually had.
There have apparently been a lot of hacked sticks and cards appearing on the amazons.

Not a chance, All this stuff was purchased brand new, I've got a lot of Kingston, San-Disk, Transcend, PNY, etc. My next stop was going to be working my way down to ancient via an old 2G SD Card with an old USB-2.0 card reader. I also have a bunch of compact flash and full size SD's laying around with USB adapters, but the blue generic 'Verbatim' from a zillion years ago finally worked.

This last time, (I've done this three times I think) I actually tried the kingston (above) first , because it was laying there in the box and had the images on it from before. Then I remembered and scrounged thru my boxes until I found the blue POS that worked, which now holds a place of honor inside the cabinet !

And the new LCD firmware is MEH. The prior one, 14 I think, was an upgrade, better contrast on the display, seemed to improve the responsiveness. The current one seems to be missing something, and is combining the two inverters inputs/outputs in parallel. I don't think this is optimal, if I can't have both, I'd rather just see status for the unit I'm looking at. I can touch both and look for discrepancies. Now they both just say the same thing.

 

[rogerheflin]

ksmithaz1, any possibility these sticks were hacked versions that showed greater capacity than they actually had.
There have apparently been a lot of hacked sticks and cards appearing on the amazons.

There is no profit in hacking 16gb and smaller sticks, they are simply too cheap to screw around with like this. The fake greater capacity ones are typically 512gb(maybe not this small anymore) and up to sizes that cannot actually physically fit the chips for that size in a usb stick.

 

[Quattrohead]

the blue generic 'Verbatim' from a zillion years ago finally worked.

That's funny, I had a bunch of those donkeys years ago from my computer business, 512mb.

combining the two inverters inputs/outputs in parallel. I don't think this is optimal, if I can't have both, I'd rather just see status for the unit I'm looking at. I can touch both and look for discrepancies. Now they both just say the same thing.

I have mentioned this to them, at least give us the option to look at inverter or overall system screens.

 

[JWLV]

Highly unlikely the firmware update would scramble the screen, especially when the same firmware has worked for hundreds of other people. And the firmware even loaded correctly.

Perhaps when pushing the USB drive into the inverter, something else got pushed and dislodged. Maybe a loose ribbon cable for the screen or maybe it pinched part of a cable. Whatever the case may be, it sounds to be like it was just a coincidence that it happened at the same time.

 

[miran90]

I have been told that the only way to clear the corrupted LCD screen on our EG4-18k is to run a repair update that was emailed to us, BUT,
THE UPDATE ONLY WORKS IF WE USE A SAMSUNG BRAND USB DRIVE WITH A 16 GB CAPACITY OR LESS. Ok, fine... Except that I can't find one anywhere but on EBay... from a Sketchy Seller located in China... with only an 83% satisfaction rating and shipping times that are mis-worded and and seem to say it could take over a month to maybe receive my item.... the last email from Signature Solar rep was sorry, I don't have any ideas about where to get the USB that you need. I just emailed her and asked if maybe she could find one at the company and loan it to me... I also emailed EG4 and asked them for help. This is so stupid I can't believe it!
Any ideas? right now we can't view data on the screen or use settings menu except from phone ap or online.

UPDATE: 01/25/2025: Still waiting for Samsung USB to try a 3rd time to get the update, but SigSol has very kindly already started the replacement process. We are hoping that the suggested USB will make a difference, and we won't have to uninstall the unit and reinstall again. Otherwise, we are using the Ap and online monitor center to watch what's happening on the days that we have the inverter on. Staying on grid mostly due to PNW cloudiness, but running and charging during daylight hours only on sunny days. No point in using public utilities to recharge batteries since we can just work around the Sunshine available. Only allowing discharge when we know the next day will be good to charge. If I don't forget to power down soon enough, we can often get by on just solar for4- 5 hours or so and not deplete the batteries much.

yesterday i flashed EG4 screen frimware into the EU version and i have recieved the EU version files too

 

[Michele Cameron]

thanks... If the Samsung doesnt do it, and at this point the SigSol tech thinks it won't as nothing has ever gotten worse with 2nd install before. They set us up for a replacement already... just waiting for last try with Samsung because I am stubborn and don't want to tear out & re-install another unit if we don't have too.

GOT THE SAMSUNG... and it worked, in our case cheaper usb's did not.

 

[Michele Cameron]

Per the above, it's not the partition table or the format AFAIK. The one I have that worked was cleared, re-partitioned, and formatted in the identical same manner. Linux treats a USB stick in a "raw" manner, it's not hiding any magic from you. All these things are using LBA under the hood. Some have 'modeswitch' capability, that allows the device to take on different characteristics. For example a Wifi stick or LTE stick may appear to be a CDROM with a driver for the device. Once the driver is loaded it detects the device and switches into LTE or Wifi mode.

There were some USB sticks that did this, that had encryption or backup software on the "CD side", that would flip the stick to standard USB drive. That is NOT the case with the USB sticks I tried that did not work.

Can't see much in the way of a difference logically/physically, literally only differ by manufacturer ids and serials. So I would have also called BS, except I tried it and it flat out didn't work.

[keith@ksdeb11] /gv/2/isoimages<344>diff -burN /tmp/fails.txt /tmp/works.txt
--- /tmp/fails.txt 2025-01-26 07:26:58.357541585 -0700
+++ /tmp/works.txt 2025-01-26 07:26:32.601129784 -0700
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@

-Bus 004 Device 016: ID 0930:6545 Toshiba Corp. Kingston DataTraveler 102/2.0 / HEMA Flash Drive 2 GB / PNY Attache 4GB Stick
+Bus 004 Device 015: ID 18a5:0302 Verbatim, Ltd Flash Drive
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
- idVendor 0x0930 Toshiba Corp.
- idProduct 0x6545 Kingston DataTraveler 102/2.0 / HEMA Flash Drive 2 GB / PNY Attache 4GB Stick
+ idVendor 0x18a5 Verbatim, Ltd
+ idProduct 0x0302 Flash Drive
bcdDevice 1.00
- iManufacturer 1 Kingston
- iProduct 2 DT 100 G2
- iSerial 3 0014780EC5F7EBA116430009
+ iManufacturer 1 Verbatim
+ iProduct 2 STORE N GO
+ iSerial 3 90005AA1D75D3240
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9


Here's one that works:
Bus 004 Device 015: ID 18a5:0302 Verbatim, Ltd Flash Drive
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
idVendor 0x18a5 Verbatim, Ltd
idProduct 0x0302 Flash Drive
bcdDevice 1.00
iManufacturer 1 Verbatim
iProduct 2 STORE N GO
iSerial 3 90005AA1D75D3240
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 0x0020
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0x80
(Bus Powered)
MaxPower 200mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 2
bInterfaceClass 8 Mass Storage
bInterfaceSubClass 6 SCSI
bInterfaceProtocol 80 Bulk-Only
iInterface 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
bLength 10
bDescriptorType 6
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
bNumConfigurations 1
Device Status: 0x0000
(Bus Powered)


And one that doesn't:

Bus 004 Device 016: ID 0930:6545 Toshiba Corp. Kingston DataTraveler 102/2.0 / HEMA Flash Drive 2 GB / PNY Attache 4GB Stick
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
idVendor 0x0930 Toshiba Corp.
idProduct 0x6545 Kingston DataTraveler 102/2.0 / HEMA Flash Drive 2 GB / PNY Attache 4GB Stick
bcdDevice 1.00
iManufacturer 1 Kingston
iProduct 2 DT 100 G2
iSerial 3 0014780EC5F7EBA116430009
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 0x0020
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0x80
(Bus Powered)
MaxPower 200mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 2
bInterfaceClass 8 Mass Storage
bInterfaceSubClass 6 SCSI
bInterfaceProtocol 80 Bulk-Only
iInterface 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
bLength 10
bDescriptorType 6
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
bNumConfigurations 1
Device Status: 0x0000
(Bus Powered)

My installer, former computer repair shop owner reformatted and partitioned the Samsung Fit 64 gb that just arrived. We did the update and our EG4-18 k screen is now perfect. He had to reset the usb to dos, and maybe something else. I was watching him prep it, but it went too fast, and I don't really care. It was a drag having people tell me any old usb would work, but in our case it didn't and I am grateful that I finally found a Samsung and it performed perfectly after the settings change. I suggested to SigSol that they send an update on a usb with the inverter when they sell it, or update the damn thing first.

 

[Michele Cameron]

I think you are overthinking this. Get any flash drive of 16GB or less and try it. I find it hard to believe it has to be a Samsung brand...that makes no sense to me.

the Samsung finally arrived and fixed it! no others that we tried worked. My guy is a computer whiz and he thinks he knows why.

 

[Quattrohead]

I still think it is in the preparation of the drive but at the end of the day it's fixed and that's all that matters

 

[Michele Cameron]

I think you are overthinking this. Get any flash drive of 16GB or less and try it. I find it hard to believe it has to be a Samsung brand...that makes no sense to me.

Nope, reformatted to DOS, partitioned Samsung fixed the problem

 

[Michele Cameron]

I still think it is in the preparation of the drive but at the end of the day it's fixed and that's all that matters

Nope, reformatted to DOS, partitioned Samsung fixed the problem. My installer is a computer techie guy.

 

[Michele Cameron]

I checked last night and I have some random no name 2 GB memory stick that I have devoted to this purpose, it is now stashed inside one of the 18K PV inverters for the next round of updates.

thanks, I was thinking I should store the Samsung just in case.

 

[Michele Cameron]

If you don't get it sorted, DM me and I'll drop one in the mail this week, as I'm back in the US.

thank you, It took 3 weeks form office Max , but arrived and the problem is fixed.

 

[Michele Cameron]

Highly unlikely the firmware update would scramble the screen, especially when the same firmware has worked for hundreds of other people. And the firmware even loaded correctly.

Perhaps when pushing the USB drive into the inverter, something else got pushed and dislodged. Maybe a loose ribbon cable for the screen or maybe it pinched part of a cable. Whatever the case may be, it sounds to be like it was just a coincidence that it happened at the same time.

According to SigSol, other people have had same issue, except it did not get worse after 2nd try. They actually started the replacement documents as our situ seemed unique... I just notified them to cancel . My installer is really happy to not have to do the swap! The re-formatted to DOS, partitioned Samsung fixed the problem

 

[ksmithaz1]

Samsung is pretty generic/robust/reliable. They claimed it needed to be 16G or less. I'm wondering if the update actually fixes the USB driver in the firmware.

Bottom line: You got it working, keep that stick in the cabinet for next use.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Nope, reformatted to DOS, partitioned Samsung fixed the problem. My installer is a computer techie guy.

Ask him if he used FAT, FAT32, or DOS bootable. I'm guessing he formatted to FAT using DOS.

Glad it's fixed.

 

[Michele Cameron]

Ask him if he used FAT, FAT32, or DOS bootable. I'm guessing he formatted to FAT using DOS.

Glad it's fixed.

He said FAT 32 DOS BOOTABLE for Samsung and the other ones previously. He did every thing the same all 3 times, but it only worked when we used the Samsung usb

 

[PreppenWolf]

It also needs to be USB2.0 (Black plastic). You can tell by the color of the plastic supporting the leads.

White: Indicates USB 1.0 or 1.1 devices, which have a maximum speed of 12 Mbps. These are the oldest USB versions and are rarely found in new devices.

Black: Represents USB 2.0 devices, which offer a maximum speed of 480 Mbps. This version is widely used and backward compatible with USB 1.0 and 1.1.

Blue: Denotes USB 3.0 devices, which can transfer data at speeds up to 5 Gbps. The blue color is a clear indicator of a significant speed improvement over USB 2.0.

Teal or Purple: These colors are used for USB 3.1 devices, which can achieve speeds up to 10 Gbps. Some manufacturers use purple or teal to distinguish USB 3.1 from USB 3.0.

 

[HRTKD]

For some perspective, the Sync system on my Ford F-350 also requires a FAT32 formatted USB drive that is 16 GB. I tried it with a fancy mil-spec encrypted Aegis Secure Key 3.0 240 GB drive from Apricorn that uses a 16 digit password. Nope, didn't work. I had to go old school with a simple, plain Jane 16 GB drive.

As I recall, the reasoning is that the simpler operating systems are unable to understand (address?) any USB drive larger than 16 GB.

 

[Michele Cameron]

I still think it is in the preparation of the drive but at the end of the day it's fixed and that's all that matters

Yes, kind of weird, but all 3 drives were prepped exactly the same and only the Samsung worked.the SigSol gal said some drives work, some don't, but they knew that the Samsungs had always worked so far.

 

[rogerheflin]

For some perspective, the Sync system on my Ford F-350 also requires a FAT32 formatted USB drive that is 16 GB. I tried it with a fancy mil-spec encrypted Aegis Secure Key 3.0 240 GB drive from Apricorn that uses a 16 digit password. Nope, didn't work. I had to go old school with a simple, plain Jane 16 GB drive.

As I recall, the reasoning is that the simpler operating systems are unable to understand (address?) any USB drive larger than 16 GB.

It is not simpler, it is simply older (OS, hardware and/or driver).

When I upgraded my LCD I used a 15+ year old 2GB card (and that card was out-of-date when it was bought), so it may be as simple as you need a device with an older (maybe usb2.0 only) controller vs something newer that may have usb3.0 abilities. So it may be as simple as the usb controller in these devices does not play nice with any usb3.0+ devices. And I would suspect that it is hard to buy a usb2.0 only flash drive today as most would simply be using an off the shelf current usb3.0 controller that SHOULD work with anything.

 

[ksmithaz1]

It also needs to be USB2.0 (Black plastic). You can tell by the color of the plastic supporting the leads.

White: Indicates USB 1.0 or 1.1 devices, which have a maximum speed of 12 Mbps. These are the oldest USB versions and are rarely found in new devices.

Black: Represents USB 2.0 devices, which offer a maximum speed of 480 Mbps. This version is widely used and backward compatible with USB 1.0 and 1.1.

Blue: Denotes USB 3.0 devices, which can transfer data at speeds up to 5 Gbps. The blue color is a clear indicator of a significant speed improvement over USB 2.0.

Teal or Purple: These colors are used for USB 3.1 devices, which can achieve speeds up to 10 Gbps. Some manufacturers use purple or teal to distinguish USB 3.1 from USB 3.0.

Definitely maybe on all the above. YMMV.

 

[Michele Cameron]

I think you are overthinking this. Get any flash drive of 16GB or less and try it. I find it hard to believe it has to be a Samsung brand...that makes no sense to me.

well, my techie friend thought it must be a matter of internal protocols matching better or something like that... anyway... it was true. all 3 times we formatted the USB's the same way... 3rd time was the charm... and also happened to the the Samsung