Wow, when do we realize that fork in the road we chose to go down may have been the wrong one? I know there's a phrase to describe needing to augment an inverter with a Cerbo, Chargeverter, and Solar Assistant, but it escapes me.
Same with the myriad of tinkering, workarounds, and tweaking Manufacture A's inverter to Manufacture B's batteries. There are a lot of smart minds on this list with the technical prowess to make things work, but what happens when someone like me that's let's just say is a "little slower" gets a call to service such a system and the guy or gal that "got it to work" isn't around, or the comet-like manufacture the likes of Growatt or it's equivalent is no more. I know I do more griping on this list than contribute to the knowledge corpus and it's not that I'm a crank, I think. Right now, it's just that I'm sitting on a dozen requests to build off-grid and GTBB systems and I find myself in a paralysis where I can't recommend a single Hybrid inverter, and for my potential off-grid customers, all that I can recommend is a system where I'm stacking two 3-5kw inverters and many settings require a dongle and PC, Victron. So in the first case, this road seems to have lead to an ever increasing techno-cluster fuck, and in the second, it's traced back to where we were several years ago, but not in a good way. Serious question, What is the challenge in building an SW quality inverter and MPPT that plays nice with most all batteries. Conext came close? If it's a feasible proposition, I know people with the means and interest in these things to make it happen. Michael On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 6:15 AM William Bryce via RE-wrenches < [email protected]> wrote: > SA will combine the SOC if the Communication is working properly with the > BMS and the MNS AIO. See attached > > On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 8:28 AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> I will also mention that SA seems to be pulling the SOC information from >> only the first inverter added to the system, or the one designated as "#1" >> in SA. It is not averaging the SOC pulled from all three inverters. >> >> Another note: I tried the Emulated BMS in SA, and it didn't work. The >> battery graphs were all wrong, only showing that absolute value for current >> rather than showing charge and discharge current. The reported SOC stayed >> pegged at 100%. I went back to using the inverter values, and that is when >> I discovered the SOC was not dropping fast enough in SA, which led me to >> the battery aH issue. >> >> >> Jason Szumlanski >> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group >> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP) >> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956 >> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208 >> >> On Sun, May 18, 2025, 8:11 AM Jason Szumlanski < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> That's not a bad idea. But it is one more thing to potentially go wrong >>> and have to maintain. >>> >>> >>> I just discovered something else with a parallel AIO and SA setup. >>> Really it's more of an inverter issue. The inverters have wildly inaccurate >>> SOC values if you are doing open loop. You have to divide the battery aH >>> setting by the number of inverters you have for accurate numbers, at least >>> on the firmware I have. I noticed on this triple setup that when the >>> batteries were depleted about 80% (20% SOC), that the inverters reported a >>> SOC of 73%. Each inverter only sees the aH that they consume individually >>> and deduct that from 100%. >>> >>> If you are using the inverter values for SOC in SA, you need to set the >>> aH in the inverters to the proportional share of the battery capacity. >>> >>> This is something I believe Midnite needs to fix unless it has already >>> been addressed in a firmware upgrade. >>> >>> >>> Jason Szumlanski >>> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group >>> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP) >>> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956 >>> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208 >>> >>> On Fri, May 16, 2025, 9:53 AM Jay via RE-wrenches < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi Jason >>>> >>>> How about you install a 12v battery charged from the inverter to power >>>> the device which would give you back up on backup. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On May 16, 2025, at 12:58 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> But the upside is it doesn't rely on the cloud, so historical data is >>>> stored locally, even in the event of a system shutdown (if you power the Pi >>>> device from the battery DC bus). That doesn't do much good if the battery >>>> BMS turns off, of course, but it's nice to continue logging data even if >>>> there is no Internet connection. >>>> >>>> >>>> Jason Szumlanski >>>> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group >>>> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP) >>>> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956 >>>> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208 >>>> >>>> On Fri, May 16, 2025, 12:48 AM Brett Stigile via RE-wrenches < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Overall I like Solar Assistant as well. Be aware it is not cloud >>>>> based. Sure it stores locally on the Pi, that’s great. But, if the >>>>> internet is down you are blind. Not supper helpful for remote sites if >>>>> you >>>>> can’t look through the data a see if there was a potential issue or if the >>>>> internet is just down. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Brett Stigile >>>>> Owner/Renewable Energy Electrician >>>>> 503-317-7950 >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> >>>>> Oregon Sun Wrangler LLC >>>>> CCB: 240661 >>>>> License No: 66LRT >>>>> NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification >>>>> #PV 100414-008123 >>>>> >>>>> > On May 15, 2025, at 1:05 PM, >>>>> [email protected] wrote: >>>>> > >>>>> > Send RE-wrenches mailing list submissions to >>>>> > [email protected] >>>>> > >>>>> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >>>>> > >>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>>> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >>>>> > [email protected] >>>>> > >>>>> > You can reach the person managing the list at >>>>> > [email protected] >>>>> > >>>>> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >>>>> > than "Re: Contents of RE-wrenches digest..." >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > When responding to posts within the Digest, be sure to restore the >>>>> Subject: line to the exact original, and please edit out any extraneous >>>>> lines from the quoted message. >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > Today's Topics: >>>>> > >>>>> > 1. Re: EG4 Praise (Maverick Brown) >>>>> > 2. Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO (Jason Szumlanski) >>>>> > 3. Re: Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO (William Bryce) >>>>> > 4. Re: Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO (Kirpal Khalsa) >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> > >>>>> > Message: 1 >>>>> > Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 08:14:41 -0500 >>>>> > From: Maverick Brown <[email protected]> >>>>> > To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> >>>>> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] EG4 Praise >>>>> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> >>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >>>>> > >>>>> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>>> > URL: < >>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250515/1d46c98a/attachment-0001.htm >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > ------------------------------ >>>>> > >>>>> > Message: 2 >>>>> > Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 11:37:53 -0400 >>>>> > From: Jason Szumlanski <[email protected]> >>>>> > To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> >>>>> > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO >>>>> > Message-ID: >>>>> > <CAE438R-L9F0ka3QyPans-cYtQc3PDmvLK5uR6K5-Oz= >>>>> [email protected]> >>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" >>>>> > >>>>> > I just got Solar Assistant up and running with my triple AIO site. >>>>> It was >>>>> > surprisingly easy. I think I am in data heaven. This is everything I >>>>> had >>>>> > hoped for from the Midnite Pro app. It consolidates all three >>>>> inverters' >>>>> > instant and historical data while providing real time individual >>>>> inverter >>>>> > data as well. I'm not sure if I can get the historical data per >>>>> inverter, >>>>> > but that is available through the Midnite app anyway, and has little >>>>> > usefulness in a multi-inverter environment. >>>>> > >>>>> > If anyone needs tips on how to get this done, feel free to contact >>>>> me off >>>>> > list. >>>>> > >>>>> > The short answer is I purchased a preloaded Solar Assistant Pi device >>>>> > directly from Solar Assistant, and three USB to RS-485 dongles from >>>>> Amazon. >>>>> > I got the Pi device with the DC power supply and connected it >>>>> directly to >>>>> > my battery bus so it stays on even if the inverters shut down. >>>>> > >>>>> > Jason Szumlanski >>>>> > Florida Solar Design Group >>>>> > -------------- next part -------------- >>>>> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>>> > URL: < >>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250515/b8d7966f/attachment-0001.htm >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > ------------------------------ >>>>> > >>>>> > Message: 3 >>>>> > Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 12:20:45 -0400 >>>>> > From: William Bryce <[email protected]> >>>>> > To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> >>>>> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO >>>>> > Message-ID: >>>>> > < >>>>> caeqmjp4uqh9gcfght4mkevty71fbfofh4o7gcabuqbrj67o...@mail.gmail.com> >>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" >>>>> > >>>>> > I highly recommend using SA with ALL Asian inverters. This will >>>>> remove the >>>>> > chance of a SolArk screen of death bricking and locking you out of >>>>> your >>>>> > inverter, and also remove any chance of data or setting manipulation >>>>> from >>>>> > others. >>>>> > >>>>> > With SA, ALL the data is served and stored on the RPie computer >>>>> locally. >>>>> > >>>>> > On the MNS AIO, you can run the Dongle and the SA at the same time. >>>>> > >>>>> >> On Thu, May 15, 2025 at 11:38?AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches < >>>>> >> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >> >>>>> >> I just got Solar Assistant up and running with my triple AIO site. >>>>> It was >>>>> >> surprisingly easy. I think I am in data heaven. This is everything >>>>> I had >>>>> >> hoped for from the Midnite Pro app. It consolidates all three >>>>> inverters' >>>>> >> instant and historical data while providing real time individual >>>>> inverter >>>>> >> data as well. I'm not sure if I can get the historical data per >>>>> inverter, >>>>> >> but that is available through the Midnite app anyway, and has little >>>>> >> usefulness in a multi-inverter environment. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> If anyone needs tips on how to get this done, feel free to contact >>>>> me off >>>>> >> list. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> The short answer is I purchased a preloaded Solar Assistant Pi >>>>> device >>>>> >> directly from Solar Assistant, and three USB to RS-485 dongles from >>>>> Amazon. >>>>> >> I got the Pi device with the DC power supply and connected it >>>>> directly to >>>>> >> my battery bus so it stays on even if the inverters shut down. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Jason Szumlanski >>>>> >> Florida Solar Design Group >>>>> >> _______________________________________________ >>>>> >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>>>> >> >>>>> >> List Address: [email protected] >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>>> >> >>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>>> >> >>>>> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, >>>>> try the >>>>> >> other: >>>>> >> https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>>> >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>>> >> >>>>> >> List rules & etiquette: >>>>> >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Check out or update participant bios: >>>>> >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> > -------------- next part -------------- >>>>> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>>> > URL: < >>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250515/610bc1b7/attachment-0001.htm >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > ------------------------------ >>>>> > >>>>> > Message: 4 >>>>> > Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 09:50:38 -0700 >>>>> > From: Kirpal Khalsa <[email protected]> >>>>> > To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> >>>>> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO >>>>> > Message-ID: >>>>> > < >>>>> caoe7ivggp1vxyz-82jpd1lzyw7eumdnsw-6ibs-knhjnk4t...@mail.gmail.com> >>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" >>>>> > >>>>> > Does the Solar Assistant work with Outback gear? >>>>> > >>>>> > Kirpal >>>>> > >>>>> > On Thu, May 15, 2025, 9:21?AM William Bryce via RE-wrenches < >>>>> > [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> > >>>>> >> I highly recommend using SA with ALL Asian inverters. This will >>>>> remove the >>>>> >> chance of a SolArk screen of death bricking and locking you out of >>>>> your >>>>> >> inverter, and also remove any chance of data or setting >>>>> manipulation from >>>>> >> others. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> With SA, ALL the data is served and stored on the RPie computer >>>>> locally. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> On the MNS AIO, you can run the Dongle and the SA at the same time. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> On Thu, May 15, 2025 at 11:38?AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches < >>>>> >> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >> >>>>> >>> I just got Solar Assistant up and running with my triple AIO site. >>>>> It was >>>>> >>> surprisingly easy. I think I am in data heaven. This is everything >>>>> I had >>>>> >>> hoped for from the Midnite Pro app. It consolidates all three >>>>> inverters' >>>>> >>> instant and historical data while providing real time individual >>>>> inverter >>>>> >>> data as well. I'm not sure if I can get the historical data per >>>>> inverter, >>>>> >>> but that is available through the Midnite app anyway, and has >>>>> little >>>>> >>> usefulness in a multi-inverter environment. >>>>> >>> >>>>> >>> If anyone needs tips on how to get this done, feel free to contact >>>>> me off >>>>> >>> list. >>>>> >>> >>>>> >>> The short answer is I purchased a preloaded Solar Assistant Pi >>>>> device >>>>> >>> directly from Solar Assistant, and three USB to RS-485 dongles >>>>> from Amazon. >>>>> >>> I got the Pi device with the DC power supply and connected it >>>>> directly to >>>>> >>> my battery bus so it stays on even if the inverters shut down. >>>>> >>> >>>>> >>> Jason Szumlanski >>>>> >>> Florida Solar Design Group >>>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >> >> List Address: [email protected] >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > > -- Michael Morningstar Morningstar Electric Inc PO Box 1494 Mount Shasta, CA 96067 530-921-0560 CSLB 1116835 [email protected]
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: [email protected] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
