diy solar

diy solar

Solar Assistant Communication cable RS232 (RJ45)

I don't think it will. I actually tried several cables like that (even attempting to mod them to the proper pinout) and each one failed. I ended up just having to bite the bullet and buy the cable from either Watts247 or SolarAssistant.

If you have the programming cable that came with the inverter, you should be able to use that with the proper DB9 to USB cable.
 
Adam De Lay said:
I don't think it will. I actually tried several cables like that (even attempting to mod them to the proper pinout) and each one failed. I ended up just having to bite the bullet and buy the cable from either Watts247 or SolarAssistant.

If you have the programming cable that came with the inverter, you should be able to use that with the proper DB9 to USB cable.
Click to expand...
I do have the rs232 (Rj45) to Serial cable that came with the inverter to be used with the wifi dongle.
You think I could get this and convert the serial end to usb.
 
I’ve been down this road. Just buy the expensive ones that are known to work. Unless someone specifically says that particular cable works with that particular inverter don’t waist your time or potential DAMAGE.
 
That console / serial / Cisco cable will probably not work. I tried ...

You have the RS485 pin out of your inverter ?

If so, the cheapest option is this cable :


You have 3 wires on this cable :
- yellow : RS485B
- black :RS485A
- red : ground

Just cut the RJ45 end of the cable and crimp a new one according to your inverter pin out.

Works perfectly with Solar Assistant. Using 2 of them to monitor inverter & batteries.

Other option is to use a RS485 to USB adapter but wires & terminals are tinny and anytime you move anything wire might get disconnected from the terminal. Same kind of price of the cable above which makes a much more clean & reliable result.
 

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I know what DOESN’T work for sure on Voltronic based inverters. The chips set gets so hot, you will burn your fingers when it’s pulled out to be tossed in the round file on the floor. Don’t go near these:

IMG_0882.png
 
If I want Solar Assistant to monitor more of my battery status do I need to unhook the comm cable from the battery to the inverter? Then get another rs232 (RJ45) to Usb cable and plug the battery comm cable directly to the solar assistant raspberry pi?
I have 3 Lifepower 4 batteries. Currently the comm cables are daisy chained between them. First battery is set to Channel 0 with all dip switches down (off). Then 2nd battery is set to channel 1 and 3rd battery is set to channel 2.
1691730009406.png
 
I can confirm from firsthand experience of buying the cable OP listed in the first post does in fact NOT work with the 3000ehv. I ordered the same Sabrent DB9 to usb cable and used the rj45->db9 cable that came with the inverter and it's working like a charm now.


I'm also using the Eg4 powerpro 14.3kwh battery and have it working with the 3kw inverter.
 
LindonSolar said:
I can confirm from firsthand experience of buying the cable OP listed in the first post does in fact NOT work with the 3000ehv. I ordered the same Sabrent DB9 to usb cable and used the rj45->db9 cable that came with the inverter and it's working like a charm now.


I'm also using the Eg4 powerpro 14.3kwh battery and have it working with the 3kw inverter.
Click to expand...
With this setup; you’re using the factory cord with the serial port that used to connect to the dongle; and hooking this new cable into that to plug into SA, correct?

I’m using the cord that SA recommends, but I seem to be missing a lot of parameter options that others have in the config tab. Can you post a shot of yours inside settings?
 
WarmPepsi said:
With this setup; you’re using the factory cord with the serial port that used to connect to the dongle; and hooking this new cable into that to plug into SA, correct?
Click to expand...
Correct.
WarmPepsi said:
I’m using the cord that SA recommends, but I seem to be missing a lot of parameter options that others have in the config tab. Can you post a shot of yours inside settings?
Click to expand...
1698785824706.png
 
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ChuckHomeLab said:
If I want Solar Assistant to monitor more of my battery status do I need to unhook the comm cable from the battery to the inverter? Then get another rs232 (RJ45) to Usb cable and plug the battery comm cable directly to the solar assistant raspberry pi?
I have 3 Lifepower 4 batteries. Currently the comm cables are daisy chained between them. First battery is set to Channel 0 with all dip switches down (off). Then 2nd battery is set to channel 1 and 3rd battery is set to channel 2.
View attachment 162179
Click to expand...
Home run each device to the RPi. Use a Netgear switch if necessary for additional ports.
 

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WarmPepsi said:
Do you still get all the solar production stuff routed this way?
Click to expand...
Yes, because the inverter/charger is also a device, and is also home run connected to the Pi.
 

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TomC4306 said:
Yes, because the inverter/charger is also a device, and is also home run connected to the Pi.
Click to expand...
So connected via 2 USB's to the inverter, and then the ethernet out is to a hub that then connects to individual batteries?
 
WarmPepsi said:
So connected via 2 USB's to the inverter, and then the ethernet out is to a hub that then connects to individual batteries?
Click to expand...
Why 2 USBS to the inverter?

How many USB ports does your raspberry pi have?
Inverter to raspberry pi.
Battery one to raspberry pi.
Battery two to raspberry pi.
Battery three to raspberry pi.

If your raspberry pi does not have four USB ports, then add a hub.
 
TomC4306 said:
Why 2 USBS to the inverter?

How many USB ports does your raspberry pi have?
Inverter to raspberry pi.
Battery one to raspberry pi.
Battery two to raspberry pi.
Battery three to raspberry pi.

If your raspberry pi does not have four USB ports, then add a hub.
Click to expand...
Ahh, I'm running the replacement cable for the wifi dongle setup, so that comes out of the ethernet port on the 3000, and in as a usb.

I think I have 2 unused USB's, but I figured I'd need to use the port marked RS485 (not the ethernet) on the 3000 and come into the Pi with the ethernet cord. If that is able to transfer the inverter stuff, then I've got 3 open USB's.

I purchased the Orange Pi directly from SA, all setup to go.

So then do you have a preferred cable for USB to ethernet for the 3 connections? Are you saying I need 3 of these cables listed here? https://solar-assistant.io/shop/products/narada_rs485
 
Zivva said:
That console / serial / Cisco cable will probably not work. I tried ...

You have the RS485 pin out of your inverter ?

If so, the cheapest option is this cable :


You have 3 wires on this cable :
- yellow : RS485B
- black :RS485A
- red : ground

Just cut the RJ45 end of the cable and crimp a new one according to your inverter pin out.

Works perfectly with Solar Assistant. Using 2 of them to monitor inverter & batteries.

Other option is to use a RS485 to USB adapter but wires & terminals are tinny and anytime you move anything wire might get disconnected from the terminal. Same kind of price of the cable above which makes a much more clean & reliable result.
Click to expand...
I ordered a pair of these EPEver cables and my RPi with Solar Assistant won't recognize them. I can see them being plugged-in in Kernel log, but they don't show up under SA Inverter USB Ports config.

here's the connection log:
[Tue Jan 30 21:42:04 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: SerialNumber: 545C059812
[Tue Jan 30 21:42:04 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: Product: USB Single Serial
[Tue Jan 30 21:42:04 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[Tue Jan 30 21:42:04 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=1a86, idProduct=55d3, bcdDevice= 4.43
[Tue Jan 30 21:42:04 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: new full-speed USB device number 16 using dwc_otg
Click to expand...

right now I use RS232 cables to connect My Sol-arks to SA RPi and the log looks like this when I connect those cables
[Tue Jan 30 21:44:13 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[Tue Jan 30 21:44:13 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: Detected FT232RL
[Tue Jan 30 21:44:13 2024] ftdi_sio 1-1.1.2:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
[Tue Jan 30 21:44:13 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: SerialNumber: FTCEH3UP
[Tue Jan 30 21:44:13 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: Manufacturer: FTDI
[Tue Jan 30 21:44:13 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: Product: USB Serial Converter
[Tue Jan 30 21:44:13 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[Tue Jan 30 21:44:13 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=0403, idProduct=6001, bcdDevice= 6.00
[Tue Jan 30 21:44:13 2024] usb 1-1.1.2: new full-speed USB device number 17 using dwc_otg
Click to expand...

It doesn't look like it's detecting the converter chip, therefore not mapping it to the USB port.
 
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