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Lex de Lange

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  1. Txs! Ihave my Raspi plugged in to the USB port on the right (USB-A to USB-square, as you say, like for a printer). That works fine, but that port is for monitoring programs only. So I'm left with a comms port (the one on the left) that is RJ45, like a CAT5/6 network cable marked RS232, ie 2-way comms port. I connected that, with a network patch cable, to the same port on my PC and, voila, smoke was in her eyes. So after I fix/replace my inverter's comms board, I need to try again, with correct cable to the correct port on the PC. Following the logic that a USB-D9 male was indicated for a 2 way comms connection between inverter and PC, I'm thinking RJ45-USB. There's plenty of those cables around, bu they are advertised as being of help in stretching USB-USB over greater distances by using CAT6 instead of USB cable. Hence they come in pairs. I'm not sure that will fulfil my requirements, without smoking the comms board again. Anybody with a ready made solution to this? Txs!
  2. Reason for upgrade is that the inverter does not at all play nice with Lithium Ion batteries. Coulomb and others wrote a firmware update which I want to install, it resolves those issues. Installer is not in the least interested, inverter is about 2 years old, firmware patch is not official, and many more of those good excuses ...
  3. Francois: I did, txs, and I have been in touch with them before, very helpful. But that's not really my problem, see above. In order to update the firmware I need to connect to serial. The instructions in the pack say I need a USB to D9 cable, but the D9 will clearly not connect to the Axpert. But first priority now is to fix/replace my inverter's comms board, but smells quite badly when it is smoking!!
  4. OK, the picture came through now (Vumatel sloooow tonite!). Txs. I see your connections picture. My question is what kind of cable/combination of cables should I use to connect the RJ45 coms port on the inverter to my PC in order to update the firmware of the inverter?
  5. Hi Francois: txs for your response. That's one of the screens I can't see anymore, boohoo! Is there a piece missing in your posting?
  6. For clarity I attach an image that shows the connections on the bottom of my inverter. Mecer Axpert connections.png.pdf
  7. Yes, there is a step by step instruction manual for the software upgrade and it's in the upgrade package!! And I found it!! That out of the way, I finally took the plunge and try to do something about the upgrade. I first decide to load PowerWatch on a somewhat older Windows 10 machine, to see if I could connect to the inverter at all. I had ordered a USB-D9 serial cable (of sufficient quality, I hope, I found the link somewhere in one of these forums, supplied by Communica). Seriously surprised that I could not plug this in! There are 2 ports on the inverter marked 'Parallel', obviously not the ones, since they also have a different number of pins, 3 rows, like a VGA connector, 1 in, 1 out?. The only port that looks like it could be serial (marked RS232 communication port) is an RJ45. So I plugged a cable in and connected the other end to the PC. Not for long, because smoke started pouring out of the inverter... I disconnected everything and switched the inverter off (very quickly!). Then, starting with battery, then load, then solar and then AC, I connected everything back and, luckily, the inverter still works. What does not work, though, is the data connection to my Raspberry Pi, running ICC, so I guess I smoked (literally) the comms board. That should not be to much of a hassle to replace? But that does not bring me further in upgrading the firmware! First question: How do I connect (what cable, connectors either end, 1 end likely RJ45?) the PC with the upgrade package on it to the inverter to run the upgrade process? Clearly not via a CAT5 cable! Second question: Is it likely that I did damage the comms board and can I replace that diy?
  8. I don't suppose there's a step-by-step instruction list for the firmware upgrade?
  9. And then, of course, I will need to read up on, and execute, the firmware upgrade. Let's see if I can find out enough to become somewhat confident, else I will come with more questions on that too!
  10. Txs, FrancoisRabe, I see that clearly developing. I have now set my machinery to the recommended settings and will run it to establish a pattern of how it works. Once I can discern that, I may well have a new list of questions (likely!) and come back!
  11. Txs, Coulomb, that's helpful. I'm learning here, but I feel still along way to go!!
  12. Hi Coulomb: I've done some reading on the link that you sent me. Btw I attach the label here that I promised in the previous response and forgot to attach ... Is this one of those where I could update the firmware? The one thing I'm not sure about is the chemistry of the battery. This manufacturer produces an LFP model, but that looks different on their web pictures than this one (is also more expensive). This one does not state anything but Lithium Ion. I read that the voltage reading on the inverter and the battery pack can differ. Voltage seems to be fairly close in my case (i need to cover some distance between the two, so simultaneous readings are not very simultaneous), but SoC is way out and variable: at one point I read 98+% on the pack and around 20% on the inverter ... Mecer inverter label.pdf
  13. Btw, I'm also not entirely sure which Mecer 5kVA I have (it should be about 2yrs old), I attach a picture of the product label. There is a later one, I believe, that's called 'King', I'm not sure whether that's a direct replacement or an additional model. But I'll check the link you provide, txs!
  14. Txs, Coulomb. Seems to me that you pursue the same goal I do, as little as possible utility charging! Although mine still reverts back automatically. I'm still finding out about battery capacity and allowable inverter current, to go totally Eskom-free I may have to go bigger. But at least by that time I hope to understand what I'm doing! Txs for the explanation, that's quite helpful. These may well not be my last questions yet!
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