Growatt SPH vs Solarassistant vs ME!

[Ivanebc]

Hi Gang.

Sorry my very first post here is troubleshooting but I've been using help from this site to get this up and running and felt like this would have been easy. Tripping on the final hurdle. Some background so you know where I'm at.

Inverter: Growatt SPH-5000TL BL-UP (Australian Model)
Batteries: 5 x Growatt ARK 2.5L-A1 (more coming)
Rpi3 B+
My own lying about 1 metre Ethernet cable
The correct CP2102 chip USB adaptor

I followed this link to construct everything

Construction and Connecting SolarAssistant on a Raspberry Pi to Control and Monitor Your Solar Panel System

Construction and Connecting SolarAssistant on a Raspberry Pi to Control and Monitor Your Solar Panel System: Full detail on my main site here http://www.brettoliver.org.uk/Solar_Power/Solar_Power.htm SolarAssistant is software used to monitor and control your solar system in real time and can be...

www.instructables.com

Which i believe come from here.

I used a forum post from here to learn and successfully set VPP Mode.

I'm pretty much stuck here on the SolarAssistant Configuration Page

Inverter​

Model: Growatt / Growatt SPH
USB ports: USB0 CP2102 USB to UART Bridge Controller
Status: No response. Retrying in 15s... - Settings

Reading from official solarassistant and other posts here. I've tried BOTH ports under my invertor 485-1 and 485-2
I have tried both pin 1 (red/white) and pin 4 (Blue) A+ on the USB adaptor. Current photo shows red/white (Red is hidden)

I'm attaching some pics...

EDIT: You do see the "tx" light flash intermittently through the casing of the USB adaptor.
EDIT 2: Growatt dongle with using Ethernet still attached!

Man, i gotta be close as i think i covered everything.

 

[Ivanebc]

Kept trying and solved it.. will leave this for others.

For some unknown reason, the "BLUE" and "WHITE/BLUE" when reversed made it all work.

 

[Brett V]

Originally you had TX data connecting to TX data on the other side, same with RX to RX. By swapping one end, you have TX from one end talking to RX on the other end. Does that make sense? It’s called a null modem.

 

[Ivanebc]

Originally you had TX data connecting to TX data on the other side, same with RX to RX. By swapping one end, you have TX from one end talking to RX on the other end. Does that make sense?

It makes sense.... i followed the pin connection outlined in the OP thread... but i think the mistake i made was i looked at the RJ45 plug upside down, so the pins were NOT reversed when they were meant to be.

Simple mistake and i had a feeling it was something simple as i seemed so close.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Brett V]

It makes sense.... i followed the pin connection outlined in the OP thread... but i think the mistake i made was i looked at the RJ45 plug upside down, so the pins were NOT reversed when they were meant to be.

Simple mistake and i had a feeling it was something simple as i seemed so close.

Thanks for your reply.

I edited my post to add what you did by making a crossover is called a null modem.

 

[doityourself2021]

Kept trying and solved it.. will leave this for others.

For some unknown reason, the "BLUE" and "WHITE/BLUE" when reversed made it all work.

Hello,
Blue is Pin 4 B and White/Blu is Pin 5 A+ I m confused. not knowing by your picture of the USB to rs485,
and according to SA, Pin 4 is B rs485 and Pin 5 is A+ rs485..
What is really crazy is if one looks in the SPH manual they show Pin 1 which is White/Org rs485 B and Pin 5 White/ Blu rs485 A+
However SA suggest to use the 4,5 if 1, 5 does not work..
Currious, do you have VPP set in the SPH as well and are using rs485-2 Port of the SPH.?
Another question, are you using Load First and if so, have you had any issues
with "Keeps Charging after SOC hits 100% and Over Protection goes off" and disconnects from Battery?
if not would like to know how you have your SPH set up..?? Appreicate your reply, thanks Ric

 

[doityourself2021]

Originally you had TX data connecting to TX data on the other side, same with RX to RX. By swapping one end, you have TX from one end talking to RX on the other end. Does that make sense? It’s called a null modem.

Hi Bret, Mad Scientist -
do you have any experience with the SPH3000-6000TL BL-UP Hybrid,, ?? I have been trying to assist another friend, with his. I have a lot of SPF, but gaining some with the Hybrid SPH.. two issues., one is the rs485 to pace bms we have CAN, but not able to get the SPH to reconize in rs485 using port 485-2 according to SPH manual that is the port suggested.. As well we are comm with CAN between the BMS Batt and SPH, but not by the rs485. I see that Ivanebc has success with SA using rs485 and best I can tell he is using SPH port rs485-1... the other issue is my friend is having is in Load First , it is overcharging, and not Stop SOC setting, but does in Battery First.. seems there must me a setting he has misconfigured or is defaulted unknowing to either of us.. Any ideas would be helpful,, Thanks Ric

 

[Brett V]

Hi Bret, Mad Scientist -
do you have any experience with the SPH3000-6000TL BL-UP Hybrid,, ?? I have been trying to assist another friend, with his. I have a lot of SPF, but gaining some with the Hybrid SPH.. two issues., one is the rs485 to pace bms we have CAN, but not able to get the SPH to reconize in rs485 using port 485-2 according to SPH manual that is the port suggested.. As well we are comm with CAN between the BMS Batt and SPH, but not by the rs485. I see that Ivanebc has success with SA using rs485 and best I can tell he is using SPH port rs485-1... the other issue is my friend is having is in Load First , it is overcharging, and not Stop SOC setting, but does in Battery First.. seems there must me a setting he has misconfigured or is defaulted unknowing to either of us.. Any ideas would be helpful,, Thanks Ric

I haven’t had my hands on that inverter.
My SPF 12000T has the same issue with charging, only from solar. Once it reaches the absorb voltage setting, charge current drops to zero according to the display and Solar Assistant, but a very small amount continues to the batteries and the voltage will go well above where it should. I don’t have any communications between the batteries and inverter using the Overkill branded JBD BMS.

 

[doityourself2021]

I haven’t had my hands on that inverter.
My SPF 12000T has the same issue with charging, only from solar. Once it reaches the absorb voltage setting, charge current drops to zero according to the display and Solar Assistant, but a very small amount continues to the batteries and the voltage will go well above where it should. I don’t have any communications between the batteries and inverter using the Overkill branded JBD BMS.

Now, first , I am not an expert by any call of the means.. but recently been intently learning about the SPH. However in General, this charging issue, as you have mentioned. We both know it should not be.. there is something allowing this.. something that is not obvious but should not be as it is.. More research will and should have a fix. I appreciate the exchange.

 

[Brett V]

Now, first , I am not an expert by any call of the means.. but recently been intently learning about the SPH. However in General, this charging issue, as you have mentioned. We both know it should not be.. there is something allowing this.. something that is not obvious but should not be as it is.. More research will and should have a fix. I appreciate the exchange.

I have not taken the time to look at a schematic of the internal SCC to see how the charge current is limited or turned off. Limiting does occur as intended, it just doesn’t turn off completely. Power mosfets generally provide a hard switch when instructed to turn off. This is my only complaint about the Growatt.

 

[doityourself2021]

I have not taken the time to look at a schematic of the internal SCC to see how the charge current is limited or turned off. Limiting does occur as intended, it just doesn’t turn off completely. Power mosfets generally provide a hard switch when instructed to turn off. This is my only complaint about the Growatt.

And myself as for Growatt, good equipment in General.. however worse support from them directly.. they can't even respond to email request. And then there are the Dealer Distributor's that won't help to even answer a Question, not warranty or parts ,, just a question because you did not purchase from them. Now it may be better in the USofA, and I 'm from there. Moved out and retired, out of country. And that's a whole nother negative.. out of country and try to get support.. if Needed. I am blessed because unless I need a part I don't need to bother the Growatt world. And when I have needed a part such as a control board or power board.. Well here I go again..
I am still giving support to others with Growatt, but as I explained, to Growatt Rep, no longer recommending the product- Why? Poor Support.. Good product, Poor support.. I'm in the direction in the months ahead to replace the Growatt as a emergency backup as I have No Grid here, only Gen.. and the jury is still out.. but the more I look into, SRNE, ASP Hybrid.
I have done a lot of importing of goods supplies from China and have come to understand the peoples there fairly well.. Communications between language can have its drawback, but that's not their fault.. What I have been testing is the fast response to questions, support and how they wil back up their product and how fast..