Ethernet switch for EG4 comms?

[Dralkyr]

12 Lifepower4 v1 batteries
2 6000xp inverters
Chargeverter
BMS Test software on laptop

I can use the comm cable between the batteries and any 1 of the other nodes, but not multiple at once. It would obviously be great if I could do multiple. I wonder if something like a an Ethernet hub would be able to bridge this?

https://a.co/d/5mWlQnc

 

[SunDave]

12 Lifepower4 v1 batteries
2 6000xp inverters
Chargeverter
BMS Test software on laptop

I can use the comm cable between the batteries and any 1 of the other nodes, but not multiple at once. It would obviously be great if I could do multiple. I wonder if something like a an Ethernet hub would be able to bridge this?

Hi. EG4 has a communications hub specifically for V1 batteries that says it does what you are looking for. Are you familiar with this?

EG4 LiFePOWER4 Communications Hub

The EG4 LiFePOWER4 Communications Hub streamlines data integration for reliable energy monitoring, control, and communication in off-grid solar power systems.

signaturesolar.com

 

[Dralkyr]

Yes, I'm familiar. But that's $150-$200 and doesn't do all three at once.

 

[TM48]

EG4 has stated multiple times that the Chargeverter cannot co-exist with batteries. So while you could electrically connect them though a hub the protocol doesn't support both simultaneously. It would be nice.

 

[wpns]

Not sure about the Lifepower4 v1 batteries, but you can talk CAN and RS485 to the PowerProOutDoorWallMount batteries simultaneously.

Don't bother with the CV comms, they are pretty useless. Use the Generator Dry Contacts on the inverter to enable the AC input to the CV when you want charging, and power it off when you don't.

 

[wpns]

EG4 has stated multiple times that the Chargeverter cannot co-exist with batteries. So while you could electrically connect them though a hub the protocol doesn't support both simultaneously. It would be nice.

I think you meant cannot coexist with INVERTERS.

 

[TM48]

I think you meant cannot coexist with INVERTERS.

Yeah you're right. You can't have both the chargeverter and batteries communicating with the inverter simultaneously.

 

[SolarUKWM]

something like a an Ethernet hub

Something _like_ an Ethernet hub/switch but _not_ an Ethernet hub/switch.

Just because the cables used are CAT5/CAT6 and the connector is RJ45 it does NOT mean they are Ethernet/wired 10/100/1000 links. Mixture of DC voltage (5V for driving Wifi Dongles), RS485 differential-serial and CAN bus, often all on one connector.

Do not connect it to anything that has a genuine "network" port, at best it won't work, at worst the 5V will end up stuffed somewhere unpleasant on an input that's not expecting to see DC.

 

[marionw]

An ethernet device of any kind will not work as the communications are RS485.

The EG4 LifePower4 batteries employ two separate RS485 busses in the two RJ45 jacks. Pins 1&2 are wired in parallel between both RJ45 jacks and pins 7&8 are also wired in parallel. Each pin pair is a separate RS485 bus.

Pins 1&2 are one RS485 bus running at 9600 baud for use in closed loop to an Inverter or communications to the ChargeVerter or communications to the BMS_Test software or communications to Solar Assistant. Only one "Master" at a time can be connected to the pins 1&2 RS485 bus. You cannot have for example the Chargeverter and Solar Assistant trying to pull data from the batteries at the same time. In your system, if you are operating in closed loop with the 6000xp inverters then no other device can be connected to the pins 1&2 RS485 bus

Pins 7&8 are a second RS485 bus usually running at 19200 baud (latest firmware) and is used by the "Master" BMS to pull data from all the other "Slave" batteries.

 

[wpns]

You want something like https://a.co/d/h98mhja if you just want a purely mechanical switch. Search engines are hard to convince you don’t want Ethernet

 

[Dralkyr]

So it sounds like what I was hoping for – simultaneous communications between multiple nodes – is a "no." I know that EG4 says not to have multiple at the same time, I was hoping that someone had figured it out. Thanks

 

[marionw]

So it sounds like what I was hoping for – simultaneous communications between multiple nodes – is a "no." I know that EG4 says not to have multiple at the same time, I was hoping that someone had figured it out. Thanks

You can't (shouldn't) have more than one "Master" device communicating on an RS485 bus that has multiple slave devices however you can have a another device that only "Listens" and captures all communications and processes the data