March 2, 20179 yr 2 hours ago, SilverNodashi said: I do believe though that the protocol documentation should be open to anyone's usage. It doesn't belong to anyone Surely Manie is not the only one on the forum that has the protocol. We have a "Download" section on the Forum. Can we create a Inverter Protocol Download Section there and all you guys sitting on protocols can upload them there. That way it is open and available to any forum member to download.
March 2, 20179 yr While are at it, we should add a Source Code Download section as well. Anyone that is a member of the forum and busy with developing monitoring software will be required to upload their source there as well. Open to all forum members. If I want to add anything, I can do it myself and don't have to lick someone's arse to add it or change it, I do it myself.
March 2, 20179 yr 13 minutes ago, Don said: While are at it, we should add a Source Code Download section as well. Anyone that is a member of the forum and busy with developing monitoring software will be required to upload their source there as well. Open to all forum members. If I want to add anything, I can do it myself and don't have to lick someone's arse to add it or change it, I do it myself. I wanted to do that a year ago ... a reader for PF users that can send data to anywhere the user wants. Code for PF members. Did not take. So I went away and PAID to have it done. Am open to suggestions if anyone can give me very compelling reasons why I would give away code for free here on PF, where there are over 1300 readers with the majority silent, code that costed 10's of thousands in hard cash and even more in private time? When Victron gives out free parts, I know they paid for that work to be done for them. I stand to be corrected. Pray tell where I am missing the boat?
March 2, 20179 yr 16 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said: if anyone can give me very compelling reasons why I would give away code for free here on PF, where there are over 1300 readers with the majority silent, code that costed 10's of thousands in hard cash and even more in private time? Exactly, so why should Manie or anyone else for that matter?
March 2, 20179 yr 1 minute ago, Don said: Exactly, so why should Manie or anyone else for that matter? Can anyone point me to who asked Manie to give out his hard work for free please? I see it is mentioned all over yet for the life of me I cannot find that request.
March 2, 20179 yr 3 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said: Can anyone point me to who asked Manie to give out his hard work for free please? I see it is mentioned all over yet for the life of me I cannot find that request. I don't think anyone in particular asked Manie to give his work away for free. But many people have suggested that a collaborative solution be written, as open source. It's quite a bit different! Quit soon everyone will benefit from plonkster's hours & hours' work the Victron Beaglebone stuff, and it will be open so if you want to add / modify something, you can do it.
March 2, 20179 yr 4 minutes ago, SilverNodashi said: I don't think anyone in particular asked Manie to give his work away for free. That is what I thought. You are right re. Victron, all will benefit. Developer got paid by Victron. Victron gives the code out for free to all their customers. And the customers. Cleverly Victron has costed that "free" software into the price of their equipment. Use it or not, customers choice. And that is totally open and fair on all sides say I, and respect for Victron who does it like that.
March 2, 20179 yr While are at it, we should add a Source Code Download section as well. Anyone that is a member of the forum and busy with developing monitoring software will be required to upload their source there as well. Open to all forum members. If I want to add anything, I can do it myself and don't have to lick someone's arse to add it or change it, I do it myself. Aaaaah, I see. Sarcasm.[emoji16] Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk
March 3, 20179 yr 23 hours ago, flltech said: Praveen, I do not think there is an easy document that gives commands for USB. All protocol documents I have seen for Voltronic inverters are for communication over serial cable. The serial and USB protocols are the same.
March 3, 20179 yr 23 hours ago, SilverNodashi said: plonkster's hours & hours' work the Victron Beaglebone stuff, Matthijs did the BBB port. I did the Rpi port. The port is done, btw. We're in the process of getting the changes into the mainline code base. It's a slow process :-) 23 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said: Developer got paid by Victron. Well yes, I don't generally harp too much upon this, but we did work out a mutually beneficial agreement. I do other work for them too, not just this :-)
March 3, 20179 yr 23 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said: Cleverly Victron has costed that "free" software into the price of their equipment. If it wasn't for all the "free" stuff they ad to the price of the equipment, they would be the same price as the Axperts. Nothing comes for free.
March 3, 20179 yr 22 minutes ago, plonkster said: Well yes, I don't generally harp too much upon this ... True ... but you are a pro-open source advocate ... and I keep on maintaining that someone is paying for it, horsetrading / hard cash (mostly). 24 minutes ago, Don said: If it wasn't for that, ... Small portion maybe.
March 3, 20179 yr 1 minute ago, The Terrible Triplett said: Small portion maybe. I know, only pulling your leg.
March 3, 20179 yr 2 minutes ago, Don said: I know, only pulling your leg. Is it sarcasm? Also seem to miss it ... but I am good at giving it out when I need to.
March 3, 20179 yr 14 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said: someone is paying for it Free as in freedom. Not Free as in beer. If I had a buck for every time I had to explain that... [edit: Come to think of it, if I had a BEER for every time I had to explain that!] :-) Of course someone is paying for it. It's only free to yourself if your time is worth nothing. All these things are true... but not the point. 53 minutes ago, Don said: they would be the same price as the Axperts. With no support it might cost about half, which is still more than the Axpert. It really does cost more to build... it's not just pure profit as some seem to think :-)
March 3, 20179 yr 2 hours ago, plonkster said: With no support it might cost about half, which is still more than the Axpert. It really does cost more to build... it's not just pure profit as some seem to think :-) I know and I do understand that. I like to buy the best (excluding cars and inverters, they are just to damn expensive) and I don't mind paying a premium for better quality, but only up to a point, then it becomes ridiculous. 18 months ago when I bought all my solar stuff, I had no idea the difference between all the inverters. Had a vague idea what on-grid, off-grid, grid-tie and hybrid meant. I got confused a lot with those term. In my mind I required something that could do between 8-10 kW. I spent a few days on Goggle reading up on all the inverters, "Without" looking at price. I ended up with a short list of 3 inverters: 1. Studer 2. Victron Quattro 3. 2 x Voltronic 5kVa Then I got pricing for the inverters. I fell of my chair twice and settled for the Axperts. Today, knowing a lot more about inverters, I would buy the Infini. That would suit my needs 100%.
March 4, 20179 yr @Don bought a 3Kw Axpert during the Eskom blackouts which then almost immediately came to an end. Replaced that with 2 x Axpert 5 Kw units, same as you as I did not feel like installing additional plugs for some essential equipment during blackouts. I installed conduits for such purposes when I built the house. Even though I have every copy of Homepower magazine, nothing teaches like practical experience. So I too would buy the Infini if I had to do it again today. Question is which one. I guess a 10Kw would do but am interested to hear your views in this regard.
March 4, 20179 yr @Don @ebrsa a thought. Most of us have equipment that we bought but never used or we bought with good intentions and then we learned new things. Why not start a 2nd hand thread. One good way to "pass it on" is reducing the price for the newbie who wants to start whilst allowing the seller the next step. I am pretty sure with patience there are buyers for 2nd hand Axperts as well as still good battery banks that are completely wrong for what they are used. Just leaving the idea out there.
March 4, 20179 yr 57 minutes ago, ebrsa said: I guess a 10Kw would do but am interested to hear your views in this regard. The 10Kw unit is a 3 phase unit. I like the 4Kw units. 2 of those in parallel will work just fine. The problem once again is the cost (about R32 500 if I remember correctly). 2 of those unit would be about R65 000. I am looking at the V series at the moment. The V series is about half the price gong for about R16 000 a unit. I just cannot figure out why they are half the price, with the same functionality? The specs seem to be very much the same, except for the PV voltages that are higher on the standard models. The V series PV voltages are lower and in line with the Axperts, which would actually suit me better with my current PV setup. I remove the Axperts from the wall, replace them with 2 x 4 kW V series Infini's and switch them on. No other changes required. It seems the price difference comes in on the MPPT's, not sure. I can't really find a comparison where the standard and V series are compared toe to toe and the difference between the 2 models are highlighted. I am definitely not going to pay twice the price for a better quality MPPT. Perhaps someone on the forum can tell us more about the difference between the two models.
March 6, 20179 yr Author I was trying to connect the inverter to SolarPower software and the software is not able to read data from the inverter. However, WatchPower software was able to read the information from the inverter. It doesn't look like a driver problem. Anyone experienced this before? Screenshot of SolarPower software attached here. I used the software from here, http://www.giantpower.com.au/downloads/ as I thought this is the latest one.
March 6, 20179 yr Hi @Praveen There are quite a few of the " watch power " software out there. I also had a go at one or two of them that did not work.The one that I got to work came from @Don that he got from somewhere on the net . Just check with him where he got it or maybe he still have a copy
March 6, 20179 yr 3 hours ago, Praveen said: I was trying to connect the inverter to SolarPower software and the software is not able to read data from the inverter. However, WatchPower software was able to read the information from the inverter. It doesn't look like a driver problem. Anyone experienced this before? Hi Praveen. You need WatchPower for Axperts inverters. I think SolarPower is for the Infini and does not work with Axperts.
March 6, 20179 yr Author 14 minutes ago, Don said: Hi Praveen. You need WatchPower for Axperts inverters. I think SolarPower is for the Infini and does not work with Axperts. Mine is not a off grid inverter. Its a hybrid inverter with battery backup. My understanding is, WatchPower is for off-grid inverter.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.