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Kodak OG-Plus 5.48 (King) Dead Display


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Posted (edited)

Hi foks, anybody come across a Kodak OG-Plus 5.48 inverter with a dead remote display? Segen said it happens, and sometimes a firmware update helps, but as I am the end user would not elobarate any further, so I am not sure if they refer to firmware for the remote display, or for the whole unit. 

The inverter is still on and running, but with the dead control panel you cannot get to any settings, nor use any of the output ports (for Solar Assistant for example.)

 

Edited by CyberJoe
Posted

Awesome thank you very much! I have been trawling the web trying to get info but there are so many opinions and versions it is just about impossible to figure it out.

Posted (edited)

Sorry for all the questions don't want to screw this up. 

I presume I only need to flash the MCU? 

Also I note it says connect only the battery, again I presume I can just disable power to the inverter at the breaker, and same for the PV?

RS232 to USB, so RJ45 (RS232) to USB, and that is connected to the RS232 port on the remote panel?

Edited by CyberJoe
Posted

Update, firmware flash is not working. 

On the remote panel, the only function that works is the power button, nothing else. No comms to the serial or USB port. 

Posted
12 hours ago, CyberJoe said:

RS232 to USB, so RJ45 (RS232) to USB, and that is connected to the RS232 port on the remote panel?

Yes, it is the port furthest to the right. 

Hi CyberJoe, just ensure you make use of the correct COM port. Open Device Manager and plug in the USB port and check which COM port is added to the list. Then select the same COM port in the ReflashTool. Then click on Update MCU. During the update the display module seems dead as it is black during the update. You will only be able to see the progress of the upgrade on the ReflashTool screen. Only once the upgrade was successful, will the display light up again. 

Posted (edited)

Not working. 

On the flash tool:

COM3 opened.
COM3 closed.
Connect failed.

Connecting the Raspberry PI with Solar Assistant which uses the same port, on the SA screen as soon as I click connect it briefly shows connected, then immediately after No Response. 

Edited by CyberJoe
Posted

It is definitely the right port, I tried two USB's on the laptop, and both not talking to the inverter (Com3 and 5). 

The update tools hangs for long, then shows failure.

Posted

Comm port 3 sounds very low. Usually, this is a "standard" serial over Bluetooth port.

Can you paste a screengrab of Device Manager with the Ports section expanded? Like this:

 

image.png.ca3bd687f0d596aed82553daa6639876.png

In my case, I would need to use COM5, the first option (it might not be first for you). I am running Windows 11, so things might look slightly different. Usually find the Device Manager fastest with Windows+X (use the Windows key as a shift key, and press x).

Posted (edited)

Same drivers as you, one USB shows it as COM3, other as COM5, I know the cable works as it is in daily use on a Raspberry on a different inverter. (Oh and also Win11). I do have a netbook here somewhere, going to load Win7 Tiny on that and try again tomorrow. 

Edited by CyberJoe
Posted (edited)

The other slightly tricky thing is you can't have ANY software running that uses the COM port that you need (presumably COM3 from what you say). WatchPower in particular doesn't shut down by merely closing the window; you have to use File Exit. Maybe your monitoring software is similar. Perhaps use Task Manager to be totally sure.

Edit: The other thing is that the Voltronic firmware update software is picky about USB to Serial devices; just because it works all day every day with a Raspberry Pi doesn't mean it will work with the ancient Voltronic reflash tool.

Edited by Coulomb
  • CyberJoe changed the title to Kodak OG-Plus 5.48 (King) Dead Display
Posted (edited)

I pulled the old Netbook out of the cupboard, installed Windows 7 and the Prolific drivers, sadly the same results. No comms with the inverter. 

COM opened

Then after a while COM closed, Connect failed. 

spacer.png

Next step is to replace the board, I see they are sold separately for about R350. (If it is the right board I saw) 

Edited by CyberJoe
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...
Posted
On 2022/04/28 at 8:36 PM, Danza said:

Yes - I had it when my remote firmware update went South because I chose the wrong option in the update utility.

Reflashed it and all was good.

I'm attaching the latest official firmware from Segen

CPU(71.97).rar 1.6 MB · 11 downloads MCU(02.70).rar 856.25 kB · 19 downloads Application Note – Upgrading firmware on the Kodak off-grid inverter2.pdf 204.67 kB · 22 downloads

Where can I get the RS232 to USB converter cable?

For some reason the attached doc with instructions does not clearly show where on the inverter this cable is plugged in.

Is one end of the cable a RJ45 terminal? So does it go into the right side RJ45 port on the Kodak OG-Plus?

 

Posted
8 hours ago, HermoT said:

Where can I get the RS232 to USB converter cable?

Your local PC shop should have one, otherwise just search for a USB to Serial converter online.

8 hours ago, HermoT said:

Is one end of the cable a RJ45 terminal?

Yes, you should have been supplied a cable with the inverter that has a DB9 connector on it.

8 hours ago, HermoT said:

So does it go into the right side RJ45 port on the Kodak OG-Plus?

Yes, far right, no. 16 in the manual

 

Posted

Thanks @jumper,

The problem is that I never personally inspected the kit as it was installed by someone else.

For example, I never received a double RJ45 comms-to-inverter cable with the Dyness battery for BMS.

I also didn’t get the usb to RS232/serial cable, so not being able to identify the missing cables, it is a daunting task to figure out what to get.

😂

Posted

@jumper,

Sorry, yes I did get the cable with the db9 connector.

Never knew what this cable’s purpose is or how and where to use it.

It’s been a while that I have seen a DB9 port, especially none on the laptops I have 😂

So I thought that if this was indeed the RS232 to use for updating firmware, I would then have to find a really old pc with said port.

Also there are only 3 wires mapped in the RJ45 terminal, so wasn’t sure if RS232 uses more wires and if it indeed is a RS232 cable.

Posted
55 minutes ago, HermoT said:

@jumper,

Sorry, yes I did get the cable with the db9 connector.

Never knew what this cable’s purpose is or how and where to use it.

It’s been a while that I have seen a DB9 port, especially none on the laptops I have 😂

So I thought that if this was indeed the RS232 to use for updating firmware, I would then have to find a really old pc with said port.

Also there are only 3 wires mapped in the RJ45 terminal, so wasn’t sure if RS232 uses more wires and if it indeed is a RS232 cable.

You can buy the correct RS232 cable from SolarAssistant

https://solar-assistant.io/shop/products/voltronic_rs232

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, HermoT said:

Also there are only 3 wires mapped in the RJ45 terminal, so wasn’t sure if RS232 uses more wires and if it indeed is a RS232 cable.

Great, that sounds like the correct cable that would have come with the inverter, all you need is a USB converter like this (https://matrixwarehouse.co.za/product/usb-to-rs232-db9-coverter-cable/) to connect it to a PC. This will do the same as the cable from SA as linked above by @Douw Gerber

I think the Kodak comes with the ability to update the firmware via the USB port using a USB OTG cable and USB stick, although the manual has no info on it. My unit is under warranty so I have not done any firmware updates until I have to.

1 hour ago, HermoT said:

For example, I never received a double RJ45 comms-to-inverter cable with the Dyness battery for BMS.

This cable came with my inverter too, but it may be that older models didn't have it supplied. Search around on the forum for the pinouts to have one made or you can also buy it from solar assistant.

Edit: If you did get a cable with the battery it would just be a standard internet cable and would not work for bms comms to the inverter, it is used for comms between batteries.

 

Edited by jumper
Posted
58 minutes ago, jumper said:

Great, that sounds like the correct cable that would have come with the inverter, all you need is a USB converter like this (https://matrixwarehouse.co.za/product/usb-to-rs232-db9-coverter-cable/) to connect it to a PC. This will do the same as the cable from SA as linked above by @Douw Gerber

I think the Kodak comes with the ability to update the firmware via the USB port using a USB OTG cable and USB stick, although the manual has no info on it. My unit is under warranty so I have not done any firmware updates until I have to.

This cable came with my inverter too, but it may be that older models didn't have it supplied. Search around on the forum for the pinouts to have one made or you can also buy it from solar assistant.

Edit: If you did get a cable with the battery it would just be a standard internet cable and would not work for bms comms to the inverter, it is used for comms between batteries.

 

I used that USB to Serial adapter from Matrix - doesn't work - it needs to use the FTDI chip to be 100% sure it works.

This one also works https://www.takealot.com/ce-link-usb-2-0-to-rs232-db9-serial-male-a-2m-cable/PLID51855970

Cheers

D

Posted

Thanks @Douw Gerber and @jumper!

The firmware update would only be necessary as a last resort if I cannot get BMS between battery and inverter to work.

Family helped me with a BMS cable that I will try out tomorrow.

I just wanted to get the answers should I need to go down this route and know immediately what and where to buy from.

But I would be glad if not necessary 😊

 

Posted
12 hours ago, HermoT said:

@jumper,

Sorry, yes I did get the cable with the db9 connector.

Never knew what this cable’s purpose is or how and where to use it.

It’s been a while that I have seen a DB9 port, especially none on the laptops I have 😂

So I thought that if this was indeed the RS232 to use for updating firmware, I would then have to find a really old pc with said port.

Also there are only 3 wires mapped in the RJ45 terminal, so wasn’t sure if RS232 uses more wires and if it indeed is a RS232 cable.

Also available at:

https://www.hdcabling.co.za/product/1-8-meter-usb-to-rs232-serial-port-db9-pin-or-db25-pin-male-converter-cable/

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, HermoT said:

Wish I listened to you and went for a db9 (male) to USB adapter....but instead I went for this that doesn't work:

https://alcell.co.za/product/zatech-usb-to-rj45-control-cable-1-5cm/

I get an error from the flash tool saying it cannot open the port.

Not the end of the world if you have no other use for the cable, you could cut it and reorder the wires so they are in the correct pinout that you need. You would need to know what they are currently and just keep the 2 that you need and reorder them, just tape over the unused ones to make sure they don't short and leave them disconnected. Just a thought if you feel like hacking.

Edit: On second thought, could it be a driver problem? Does windows see the usb device and assign a com port and does the flash tool see the com port? Otherwise it could be baud settings.

Edited by jumper

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