Reporting and Monitoring

Waywardmike

My initial email took a few days to get a response, after that they were very rapid.

When I first set it up there were some fundamentals not being reported (PV output being the main one), which was rectified immediately by the developer.  I had to give them access to my 'site', and he did it all.  After that I noticed that it wasn't reporting export, the meter never went into the negative, that was sorted within a day.

There are a few other metrics that aren't reporting, but I think they're not relevant to my inverter as it's an AC coupled inverter.  I have nothing under MPPT, voltage, current or power.  the only other one I'm missing is AC output voltage which I was informed is being worked on.

What software version are you on?  I joined the Beta program so am on this one now:

ggmf

Software version is 2022-05-11 (once I'd flashed and inserted the SD card, SA advised and applied an update) , still no response to my email(s). SA thinks I'm not connected too the grid, I cannot see Grid import or export, Battery Temperature is currently showing between 2.80 and 2.30, 2.80 or 2.30 what's? Celsius/Fahrenheit/Kelvin/outer Mongolian grouts (decimal in the wrong place)?? Other data items missing, I do get the MPPT voltages, current and power, for now I've reverted to the Growatt Data Logger until I get a response or there is a further software update. Other SPH users are reporting the same or similar issues with SA.

adamd100

Hello to ggmf and waywardmike: just installed a SPH5000 myself and was hoping to get solarassistant up and running. You are both a long way ahead of me: did either of you work out a way of keeping wifi and RS232? I have read on other SPA inverters that solar assistant works straight off the USB but I assume that is not the case for the SPH5000 and it is for firmware updates ONLY? Looks like no one is reporting the pinout of the RJ45 connector for the RS485: was hoping to connect this to the USB port of my PI but not clear if that is a goer either. Would be interested to hear if you guys have an update and decided to stick with SA or move back to the growatt logger via the WIFI dongle. Shame you cannot have WIFI and logging via RS232 simultaneously!

Waywardmike

As I don't use either software to configure my battery settings (timed discharge etc...), which I can't do yet with Solar Assistant anyway, solar assistant is far superior to the Shine App for me.  I have no intention of switching back to the Shine app anytime soon.

That being said I would like both, so if I have any problems my installer can check it.  I am toying with the idea of buying a RS485 to USB adapter for the Pi and giving that a go and seeing what happens.

ggmf

From what I've been able to determine, the SPH USB is for firmware updates only (good luck with trying too determine the current released and supported version of firmware, where and how to get hold of it, and how to update the inverter).

The RJ45 pinout appears to be defined here https://solar-assistant.io/help/growatt/configuration - having purchased a RS485 to USB adapter, I've been unable to get it to work. I too would like to be able to run both Solar Assistant and the Growatt Shinelan reporting. But for now having purchased an RS232-USB cable to replace the Growatt dongle I'm sticking with Solar Assistant.. 

The latest version of Solar Assistant seems to suggest that inverter management is in development, but no indication of any potential release date. Solar Assistant is not perfect but hopefully development will continue, it certainly reports more data items and instantaneously unlike the Growatt reporting, being able to download the data to a csv file would be helpful (not found a way to do that yet). 

Mu22

With some help from another forum, I've managed to successfully connect my SPH5000 to Solar Assistant via RS485 whilst still using the RS232 port for the Shine Stick.

We think the SA website might have been accidentally updated as Option 2 and Option 3 were originally different pinouts but they're now both the same.  I've sent the developer an email to confirm, but until I hear back I don't want to share the pinout I'm using in public in case there is a technical reason for the change (maybe relating to the inverter management feature ?), but I'm happy to share it via private message on here if anyone wants to try it.

ggmf

@mu22 yes please.

Waywardmike

@Mu22 Me too please.

I tried the RS485 this weekend but it didn't work.

For reference I used 1. white/orange to 'B' and 5. white/blue to 'A', although there are diagrams online that show maybe white/green is 1 so I stopped till I could gather more info.

ggmf

@mu22 I've tried the wiring diagram on SA, and yours,  and still unable to get this working, yes the rs485 port is set to vpp. What version of firmware are you on?

Mu22

@ggmf any idea where to find it?