Epever question regarding "SolarStation" for PC

[Browneye]

Not sure which indicator lights you're referring to - on the controller itself? Or the program?
Are you going to charge at 48V nominal? Do you have it powered up with a 48V power supply? Is this a 48V compatible charge controller?

If the controller is power up with 12V, and you're connected to it with the RS485 cable, you will need to add a station. If it can't find one on com3 change ports till you can find it, and add station.

If the controller is not connected to solar panels you should still be able to set parameters. However I'm not sure about setting 48V parameters with it powered up with 12V.

On the main window of the program, in the upper right is the 'start monitoring'. If the program can communicate with the controller it will start monitoring - display the PV voltage and amps, battery (power source) amps and volts, in real time. Once your program is communicating, then you can select the menu for Parameters, then Control Parameters for lifepo - then the bottom menu on that window READ will import the set parameters of the controller. It will tell you if it's 12V or 48V, the model, charge capacity, and default charging parameters.

 

[Dacflyer]

Not sure which indicator lights you're referring to - on the controller itself? Or the program?
Are you going to charge at 48V nominal? Do you have it powered up with a 48V power supply? Is this a 48V compatible charge controller?

If the controller is power up with 12V, and you're connected to it with the RS485 cable, you will need to add a station. If it can't find one on com3 change ports till you can find it, and add station.

If the controller is not connected to solar panels you should still be able to set parameters. However I'm not sure about setting 48V parameters with it powered up with 12V.

On the main window of the program, in the upper right is the 'start monitoring'. If the program can communicate with the controller it will start monitoring - display the PV voltage and amps, battery (power source) amps and volts, in real time. Once your program is communicating, then you can select the menu for Parameters, then Control Parameters for lifepo - then the bottom menu on that window READ will import the set parameters of the controller. It will tell you if it's 12V or 48V, the model, charge capacity, and default charging parameters.

Ok,, so many questions.. Overwhelming a little..
Ok,, yes leds on CC, see attachments..
Yes i plan to use for 48v use.. But from what i understand, i only need 12v to program.. I got com data, just can't communicate with the CC..
I know how the program works, when it's communicating.. I just can't figure out why I cannot communicate right now..

 

[Browneye]

There’s a note in the instructions about baud rate or protocol. Allowing, etc.
I’ll look for it.

 

[Browneye]

Found it...attached is the instruction manual for the software - it gets downloaded with the zip file with the app/program.
The second and third page has the driver setup for the USB port - you must activate communication by RS485. It is described and images confirming. I remember having to do this in order for the port to use the cable.

The device settings for USB also lists the uart driver for the com port, indicating which port it installed on. The assumption is that it's com 3, as the other two are likely default reserved for something else. Anyway, it's all diagrammed there, that should fix your connection to your controller.

You did get the proper RS485 cable and plug it into an open usb port on your computer, right?

It also details the parameters settings read and update process as well. And it's important to use the 'for lifepo' parameters as that turns on or off things specific for charging a LFP pack.

 

[Dacflyer]

There's nothing in the manual about setting up communications.
I had to look online, and i am correct about my settings. 115200 baud. I have checked other items, my 1st charge find is set as
ID 001, I have tried to connect to it as well, it won't communicate either..

 

[Dacflyer]

Found it...attached is the instruction manual for the software - it gets downloaded with the zip file with the app/program.
The second and third page has the driver setup for the USB port - you must activate communication by RS485. It is described and images confirming. I remember having to do this in order for the port to use the cable.

The device settings for USB also lists the uart driver for the com port, indicating which port it installed on. The assumption is that it's com 3, as the other two are likely default reserved for something else. Anyway, it's all diagrammed there, that should fix your connection to your controller.

You did get the proper RS485 cable and plug it into an open usb port on your computer, right?

It also details the parameters settings read and update process as well. And it's important to use the 'for lifepo' parameters as that turns on or off things specific for charging a LFP pack.

I'll look it over... I'm bout give up...

 

[Browneye]

Did you check the box for RS485 in the windows device settings for the port your cable is plugged into? This is NOT done in the program, it's done in windows devices for that port.
Likely it's Com 3, so trying to connect on com 4 is not going to work. Open up your device settings for windows as the manual indicates, navigate to your USB ports com 3 for UART, right click to open settings, the second menu is port settings - checkbox RS485.

ADD a device in the EPEVER program for com 3. You might want to delete all the non-working ones you have setup already, just to declutter.

You seem to be just like my employees, and my wife - they reach a frustration point and it doesn't matter what happens they are blind with rage. My standard answer is to RE-BOOT. I'm the 'department of the reboot department' LOL.

Microsoft couldn't design a browser better than Google Chrome so they bought it from them and re-badged it as 'EDGE'. I have people argue about not wanting to use it, they want their old Chrome browser back. LOL

 

[Browneye]

Here's the image out of the manual showing the RS485 check box in windows device manager. And we see that com 1 is reserved, as is com 2 for printers, and why the usb driver generally gets installed for com 3:

 

[Dacflyer]

Did you check the box for RS485 in the windows device settings for the port your cable is plugged into? This is NOT done it the program, it's done in windows devices for that port.
Likely it's Com 3, so trying to connect on com 4 is not going to work. Open up your device settings for windows as the manual indicates, navigate to your USB ports com 3 for UART, right click to open settings, the second menu is port settings - checkbox RS485.

ADD a device in the EPEVER program for com 3. You might want to delete all the non-working ones you have setup already, just to declutter.

You seem to be just like my employees, and my wife - they reach a frustration point and it doesn't matter what happens they are blind with rage. My standard answer is to RE-BOOT. I'm the 'department of the reboot department' LOL.

Microsoft couldn't design a browser better than Google Chrome so they bought it from them and re-badged it as 'EDGE'. I have people argue about not wanting to use it, they want their old Chrome browser back. LOL

I appreciate you trying to help me, but yes, i am on the right com port.
I'm not ready to rage yet, I'm just trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong.. And yes i have rebooted the laptop..
And as for any browser use, i use firefox on this... J hit i dying think any of that matters right now, or?
I went over the instructions you posted earlier.. And it seems i am doing it right,
All data seems to match up. But nothing wants to talk..

 

[Dacflyer]

I'd be willing to talk over the phone if you think that might help me better in real time.

 

[Browneye]

Your third image is the right port setting window for windows OS - but for which port? The device manager list is out of frame.
Your fourth frame shows you setting the program port settings for com 4. Unless your usb driver was installed for com 4, it won't work. Show us your device settings for usb ports.

 

[Dacflyer]

Ok,, a bit more info..
I think i got partial communication
I can view things under the parameter tab like, device parameters, system configuration, device info, i can see all that and i get Operation successful...
But system monitor shows no info.. It's all blank

 

[Dacflyer]

Port settings are correct.. This info is current unit in operation.. I am able to communicate with it, but no monitor info

 

[Browneye]

You got it!
Under Station Information make sure you've selected the right com port. This is covered on page 4 of the instruction sheet.
There may not be anything to monitor if it's not connected to your system.
On the second image, make sure you're telling it to 'monitor' the right station name. I would name it so you can identify it, especially if you have more than one controller. Even just try 'stop monitor' then restart it.

Sometimes I get a com port error if I start the program and then plug in the cable. Connect the cable to controller and computer, then open the program, then tell it to monitor the right controller instance. That's why I would clean it all up to declutter. ADD your station and name it, make sure it's using com4.

 

[Dacflyer]

Dangit, pictures didn't post
Port settings are correct.. I can read info of settings, but it will not show monitor info... Some pictures might be out of order..

 

[Dacflyer]

Ok,, i tried something and success,,, the USB to RS485, of the 2nd unit must be bad, because i just had the idea to use the one from 1st unit on the 2nd unit, just to see what happens.. I successfully programmed the 2nd unit... And i am able to see info in the monitoring.. .but i cant figure out why I couldn't see monitoring in the 1st unit a while ago.. Hmmm

 

[Browneye]

My two controllers are both listed in the drop down box for monitoring. If I select one or the other it resets the logging data. I have them both named as devices on the same device number and com port since they use the same cable. So I can stop monitoring one, move the cable, and start monitoring the other.

If you dig around in there my bet is you'll figure it out. And delete those devices for com 3 as you're not using that port - it just adds confusion.

Click on the unit you want to read on the left, then select the right controller unit form the drop down box, then click Start Monitoring.
I do this first before trying to read a parameters settings. You're connected, I just think you're asking it to monitor the wrong device or on the wrong port.

 

[Dacflyer]

I'm a happy camper now, it seems the adapter was the problem the whole time.. Now to see how i can get the program to work on my home laptop again.

 

[Dacflyer]

My two controllers are both listed in the drop down box for monitoring. If I select one or the other it resets the logging data. I have them both named as devices on the same device number and com port since they use the same cable. So I can stop monitoring one, move the cable, and start monitoring the other.

If you dig around in there my bet is you'll figure it out. And delete those devices for com 3 as you're not using that port - it just adds confusion.

Click on the unit you want to read on the left, then select the right controller unit form the drop down box, then click Start Monitoring.
I do this first before trying to read a parameters settings. You're connected, I just think you're asking it to monitor the wrong device or on the wrong port.

The thing was, i have 2 USB RS485 adapters that came with the units. As it was, one was COM3, the other was COM4. and after all this farting around for hours on end i discover that one of them is bad.. I thought it'd be easy to just leave them connected to the CC, so in case I ever wanted to connect to them, i wouldn't have to remove the covers to connect the adapters. Just plug in the USB and go...
As my luck... NOT!
at least i got things set now, i did copy the parameter file, (exported it) then imported it to the 2nd controller, instantly worked.
Thanks again for your time.. I appreciate it..

 

[WYtreasure]

The thing was, i have 2 USB RS485 adapters that came with the units. As it was, one was COM3, the other was COM4. and after all this farting around for hours on end i discover that one of them is bad.. I thought it'd be easy to just leave them connected to the CC, so in case I ever wanted to connect to them, i wouldn't have to remove the covers to connect the adapters. Just plug in the USB and go...
As my luck... NOT!
at least i got things set now, i did copy the parameter file, (exported it) then imported it to the 2nd controller, instantly worked.
Thanks again for your time.. I appreciate it..

Anything else I can do to help? Soda or beer spilled on the computer? Some popcorn or a hotdog in your hair?

 

[Dacflyer]

Anything else I can do to help? Soda or beer spilled on the computer? Some popcorn or a hotdog in your hair?

Lol... I'll pass on that for now... Now if it'll just stop raining here, i can get the other half of my solar panels connected..
The 1 charge controller seems to be doing OK by itself at keeping the batteries charged. I plan to add more batteries later as I find a deal.
Right now ( if my cyphering is correct) I have a total of 5,3kw of solar. 2x 2655w arrays = 3s3p of 295w panels. So with 5hrs peak production i have 26.5kw available.
Batteries i haven't done a full capacity test yet. But BHU estimated them to be about 72ah. So with 14s6p I'll have about 20.7Kwh available.. So i think i have room for more batteries to add.
Each string of 14s has its own BMS.. SO 6 JK BMS units.

 

[WYtreasure]

Lol... I'll pass on that for now... Now if it'll just stop raining here, i can get the other half of my solar panels connected..
The 1 charge controller seems to be doing OK by itself at keeping the batteries charged. I plan to add more batteries later as I find a deal.
Right now ( if my cyphering is correct) I have a total of 5,3kw of solar. 2x 2655w arrays = 3s3p of 295w panels. So with 5hrs peak production i have 26.5kw available.
Batteries i haven't done a full capacity test yet. But BHU estimated them to be about 72ah. So with 14s6p I'll have about 20.7Kwh available.. So i think i have room for more batteries to add.
Each string of 14s has its own BMS.. SO 6 JK BMS units.

Damn glad you hung in there to get it sorted. I thought I saw you carrying the computer and controller out behind the barn at one point there.

I'll trade you my 5 freaking degrees with snow and ice for your rain.

One of these days ya gotta tell me what a "Dac" is. ?‍

 

[Dacflyer]

Damn glad you hung in there to get it sorted. I thought I saw you carrying the computer and controller out behind the barn at one point there.

I'll trade you my 5 freaking degrees with snow and ice for your rain.

One of these days ya gotta tell me what a "Dac" is. ?‍

DAC is short for Pterodactyl ( a type of ultralight i used to own ) and I am the pilot, So Dacflyer I am..

 

[WYtreasure]

DAC is short for Pterodactyl ( a type of ultralight i used to own ) and I am the pilot, So Dacflyer I am..

Those things make my private parts shrink.
Check this out:

Helicopter rotor blades to build wind turbine? I have 4 rotor blades from a Bell helicopter.

I have 4 timed out blades and want to build a wind turbine. Each are 17 ft long and a foot wide and weigh about 90 lbs. my plan is to use a final drive from a combine I have laying around to mount the rotor head on. I’ll be able to adjust the pitch of the blades with a stepper motor. The output...

diysolarforum.com

 

[Browneye]

That is how I started flying as well. Quit soon after - I’m a crash waiting to happen. ?