Little confused on SA (orange pi 3 lts) to 6500ex cable?

[jfharper]

So after reading some threads, the general consensus is:
1. Don't use the firmware cable (usb to rj45).
2. Don't use USB to micro usb because it could fry the comm port (because one instance this happened 3 times) and some see display being powered, possible 32v going to the inverter.
3. Use a rs232 to usb-a, rs232 isolator?
So usb-a at inverter to rs232, to rs232 isolator, then rs232 to usb-a to pi? or snip a red wire? or don't use? or usb-a to rj45? a bit lost on this.

 

[Zwy]

I purchased the cable from Solar Assistant. You can also source the cable from Watts247. https://solar-assistant.io/shop/products/voltronic_rs232

 

[Crowz]

I used the network looking cable that came with my tp6048 and its plugged into an rs232 to usb converter from amazon which is then plugged into a usb port on the pi.

 

[jfharper]

and you feel comfortable those aren't feeding voltage back to the inverter? I don't mean to dig up old discussions, just look for a solution. What about cutting the red wire on a regular micro usb cable...wouldn't that keep voltage out but allow the data to flow? Was voltage flowing into the inverter from the network port, or just from the micro usb.

There's also the thing about something not being isolated, which I'm still trying to wrap my understanding around.

this is the discussion I was mentioning https://diysolarforum.com/threads/s...-warranty-on-eg4-inverters.68225/#post-861850

this one too https://diysolarforum.com/threads/s...product-and-solar-assistant-discussion.69252/

this cable says for pc communication https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-usb-read-write-cable/ only two wires maybe no power just data

 

[Crowz]

and you feel comfortable those aren't feeding voltage back to the inverter? I don't mean to dig up old discussions, just look for a solution. What about cutting the red wire on a regular micro usb cable...wouldn't that keep voltage out but allow the data to flow? Was voltage flowing into the inverter from the network port, or just from the micro usb.

There's also the thing about something not being isolated, which I'm still trying to wrap my understanding around.

this is the discussion I was mentioning https://diysolarforum.com/threads/s...-warranty-on-eg4-inverters.68225/#post-861850

this one too https://diysolarforum.com/threads/s...product-and-solar-assistant-discussion.69252/

this cable says for pc communication https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-usb-read-write-cable/ only two wires maybe no power just data

You mean this stuff?

Response from SA :


We haven't heard of an EG4 inverter experiencing "burn up" due to a SolarAssistant connection. The PI runs on 5V and has a voltage regulator. If you power a PI with 32V as an example, it will flash an intermittent red light while the voltage on the USB ports stay 0V. If you connect it back to 5V there is a chance it still just flashes the red light and will never work again if the voltage regulator was damaged. Otherwise it boots up as normal.

Note that even if the PI didn't have this protection and it's USB port somehow experiences an over voltage, then it still has to go through the RS232 cable/chip before reaching the inverter. For interest sake I'll test what happens when a RS232 cable/chip experiences an over voltage of say 32V, whether it passes through to the other side or not.

 

[Zwy]

and you feel comfortable those aren't feeding voltage back to the inverter? I don't mean to dig up old discussions, just look for a solution. What about cutting the red wire on a regular micro usb cable...wouldn't that keep voltage out but allow the data to flow? Was voltage flowing into the inverter from the network port, or just from the micro usb.

I use this power supply from SA. https://solar-assistant.io/shop/products/dc_usb_psu_type_c

There's also the thing about something not being isolated, which I'm still trying to wrap my understanding around.

this is the discussion I was mentioning https://diysolarforum.com/threads/s...-warranty-on-eg4-inverters.68225/#post-861850

this one too https://diysolarforum.com/threads/s...product-and-solar-assistant-discussion.69252/

I think many of the problems seen with SA are user supplied pi's and not using the SA power supply. I played it safe, I bought everything from SA. This way only SA would be to blame if there was a problem. Are you supplying your own pi and trying to make it work? If so, then it is your responsibility to make certain it won't cause a problem.

this cable says for pc communication https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-usb-read-write-cable/ only two wires maybe no power just data

That cable is the same cable for updating firmware on the EG4 MPPT's. No power on it but don't know if it would work.

 

[Crowz]

Mine runs on a 12v to 5v adapter I got off amazon. That way my 12v battery system powers the pi. If I only had 48v batteries I would of used a 48v to 5v one.

IF something fails in the power supply the pi is going to be the first thing smoked. Not the inverter. That's not saying it can't keep going but the pi is not going to live thru it.

 

[jfharper]

You mean this stuff?

Response from SA :


We haven't heard of an EG4 inverter experiencing "burn up" due to a SolarAssistant connection. The PI runs on 5V and has a voltage regulator. If you power a PI with 32V as an example, it will flash an intermittent red light while the voltage on the USB ports stay 0V. If you connect it back to 5V there is a chance it still just flashes the red light and will never work again if the voltage regulator was damaged. Otherwise it boots up as normal.

Note that even if the PI didn't have this protection and it's USB port somehow experiences an over voltage, then it still has to go through the RS232 cable/chip before reaching the inverter. For interest sake I'll test what happens when a RS232 cable/chip experiences an over voltage of say 32V, whether it passes through to the other side or not.

yes

 

[jfharper]

I think many of the problems seen with SA are user supplied pi's and not using the SA power supply. I played it safe, I bought everything from SA. This way only SA would be to blame if there was a problem. Are you supplying your own pi and trying to make it work? If so, then it is your responsibility to make certain it won't cause a problem.

Alright, this, along with this:
"The RS232 port provides better isolation between monitoring device and inverter as the inverter micro USB port outputs 5.1V USB power which isn't ideal when it feeds into your monitoring device USB bus."
I'm going to go with the SA stuff.

 

[Adam De Lay]

Now I don’t have the orange pi (those are the only ones I recall hearing of this issue), but I used the micro usb, the inverter firmware cable and the specialized cable from SA. The only issue I had was the micro usb cable powering the display during a shut down of the inverter.

 

[jfharper]

Now I don’t have the orange pi (those are the only ones I recall hearing of this issue), but I used the micro usb, the inverter firmware cable and the specialized cable from SA. The only issue I had was the micro usb cable powering the display during a shut down of the inverter.

I saw you had multiple cables plugged into your Pi, was that so SA could pick up extra stuff from the slave inverter, like MPPT/PV and Temps? Meaning, SA will not pick this up if only plugged into the master inverter?

 

[Zwy]

I have a Smartshunt connected to SA, Adam I remember does also. The inverter reporting on SOC is not very accurate, thus the Smartshunt.

 

[jfharper]

I have a Smartshunt connected to SA, Adam I remember does also. The inverter reporting on SOC is not very accurate, thus the Smartshunt.

The Smartshunt is more for battery support, no? I read SA cannot get the battery info from the master inverter so the Smartshunt is used, or you could dredge out a PC and run BMS tools.

 

[Zwy]

The Smartshunt is more for battery support, no? I read SA cannot get the battery info from the master inverter so the Smartshunt is used, or you could dredge out a PC and run BMS tools.

Smartshunt is for accurate charge/discharge watts and battery SOC.

 

[jfharper]

I use this power supply from SA. https://solar-assistant.io/shop/products/dc_usb_psu_type_c

It prolly doesn't matter, but is there any diff hooking this up to the batt lugs in the inverter as opposed to say the bus bars just before the inverters?

 

[jfharper]

Now I don’t have the orange pi (those are the only ones I recall hearing of this issue), but I used the micro usb, the inverter firmware cable and the specialized cable from SA. The only issue I had was the micro usb cable powering the display during a shut down of the inverter.

Adam, are you running an Orange or Rasberry PI?

 

[Zwy]

It prolly doesn't matter, but is there any diff hooking this up to the batt lugs in the inverter as opposed to say the bus bars just before the inverters?

Should not matter. Anywhere handy. It is fused.

 

[Adam De Lay]

I saw you had multiple cables plugged into your Pi, was that so SA could pick up extra stuff from the slave inverter, like MPPT/PV and Temps? Meaning, SA will not pick this up if only plugged into the master inverter?

Correct. For some reason the inverters don’t share certain data (temp, and pv 2) from the slave inverter via the parallel connection. Voltronics was made aware of this months ago.