Czauto Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Sooooooo guys, i was thinking ahead and by not wanting to go out on my "stoep" to change settings in the wintercold, i decided to me one of those remote thingamajigs. I received it this afternoon and decided to install it tonight. So guess what. It seems that the remote control connects via a serial cable to the axpert and then you can connect your pc/pi via serial. I am using@manie 's ICC with USB connection though. And as far as I know the axpert's USB and serial ports cannot be used similtaniously. Anyone with any advice to get it working? The manual is in chinglese and isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Is there any forum members using a remote on their axpert? If yes, how did you connect. If not, would someone like to buy an axpert remote?[emoji85] Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Hi I would like to know why do you want to use the remote? Is it to change some setting like batter volts etc?. I already included the setting , Just need to test it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czauto Posted March 8, 2017 Author Share Posted March 8, 2017 Hi manie, i would actually just like to see on the inverter self whats going on. Eintlik het my gat net gejeuk. Nooit genoeg gadgets. Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk mohammedbera2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 8 minutes ago, Czauto said: Hi manie, i would actually just like to see on the inverter self whats going on. Eintlik het my gat net gejeuk. Nooit genoeg gadgets. Lol , don't we love gadgets. I only saw some images of those units. I suppose it should still work. The best is to try and use it via serial. I know that you can't send commands from two devices . How it works. You send a command to the inverter, the inverter responds back with the result. Now let say you have two devices send both the same time, the you should get half a string or the inverter does not get the commands. . Sometimes you lucky with one or to times that you get the values back. I am not sure , maybe the inverter just send values itself to the unit. Then it should work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 I also have one of those Remote Control Panels. I tried to set it up once, but could not get it to work properly. I have 2 x inverters, so that makes it a bit easier. ICC on the one inverter and the remote on the other. Thought about using it as a door stop, but it is too light. I might try again sometime to get it working properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 I know someone (can't remember who) had both Watchpower and 3rd party software running at the same time - so one should be able to both the USB and serial ports at the same time so long as there are not conflicting commands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czauto Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 I'll have a look at it later. I don't know if it might have somethin to do with the jumper settings on the axperts com board. I'll have to do my homework properly before i change jumper settings thoug. I like smoked chicken, not smoked axpert...Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czauto Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 7 hours ago, Don said: Thought about using it as a door stop, but it is too light. It seems using it as a paper weight will do better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvzyl Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 @Czauto, I also use ICC (USB) on my Infini but can also run SolarPower (WatchPower equivalent for the Infini) at the same time. I installed an SNMP card that connects via LAN cable to my network. I can then remotely adjust settings on the Infini. The Infini is a bit different from the Axpert, there are almost no settings that can be adjusted on the inverter itself, everything is done through the SolarPower software. Not sure if the SNMP cards also fit in the Axpert and if WatchPower is compatible with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdiy Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 8 hours ago, Chris Hobson said: I know someone (can't remember who) had both Watchpower and 3rd party software running at the same time - so one should be able to both the USB and serial ports at the same time so long as there are not conflicting commands. Was that used interactively (one piece of software at a time) or simultaneously. What I understood (I might be wrong) was that the USB post is just an extension of the serial port using a serial to USB converter chip and if that is the case you will not be able to use both ports at the same time. The software polls the inverter constantly, a few times per second; each poll is a request string sent by the software and a response string returned by the inverter and if two or more software applications are trying to communicate with one inverter the messages will be corrupted and corrupt messages will be ignored by the software applications (if they are coded properly). It will be a hit and miss situation and occasionally you might have a successful response from the inverter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 25 minutes ago, superdiy said: Was that used interactively (one piece of software at a time) or simultaneously. Jy vra my vas - I think it was simultaneously. Interactively would be no problem as there would be no conflicts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 About a week ago I plugged the serial port on my master inverter into my laptop running on Windows to check something on WatchPower. I ran it for about an hour. I then realised I never unplugged the the USB port on the Pi running from the slave inverter. I checked the Pi. Both running happily at the same time logging data on WatchPower and ICC at the same time. 1 hour ago, superdiy said: The software polls the inverter constantly, a few times per second; each poll is a request string sent by the software and a response string returned by the inverter and if two or more software applications are trying to communicate with one inverter the messages will be corrupted and corrupt messages will be ignored by the software applications (if they are coded properly). I asked Manie how this was possible and he basically gave me the same explanation as per @superdiy explanation above. I seems it might be possible, but at some stage the inverters "may" become confused receiving requests from 2 different devices. I then disconnected WatchPower running on my laptop. I am not sure how long you can actually run dual monitoring software from different devices before it became unstable and one or both crashing, but for that hour, it ran perfectly on both devices. superdiy and Chris Hobson 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coulomb Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 My slightly educated guess is that running queries on multiple machines should be fine; the Axperts run a multitasking operating system and there are interlocks to prevent problems. However on a single machine, there is a lack of serial ports. There are two, but one is dedicated to talking to the SCC. It's possible that the USB port talks via some other port, but then I'd expect to see an extra cable from the serial port board to the processor board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czauto Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 Sorry i haven't had the time to see if i can get the remote working guys. After work just kicked out my shoes on the lazyboy and almost fell asleep immediately. Too much work for one guy but i'm too tired of employees who's drunk at work and cause comebacks. I'll rather work a few extra hours and know everything was done right.Will hopefully get to the remote (axpert, not dstv) over the weekend and then give somme feedbackSent from my S60 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czauto Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 Sorry i haven't had the time to see if i can get the remote working guys. After work just kicked out my shoes on the lazyboy and almost fell asleep immediately. Too much work for one guy but i'm too tired of employees who's drunk at work and cause comebacks. I'll rather work a few extra hours and know everything was done right.Will hopefully get to the remote (axpert, not dstv) over the weekend and then give somme feedbackSent from my S60 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czauto Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 Ai MTN! Connection is poopoo tonight now things gets posted twiceSent from my S60 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czauto Posted March 12, 2017 Author Share Posted March 12, 2017 Soooooo then. Would anybody like a R1000 paperweight? It seems it's impossible to use both USB and serial connections on the Axpert simultaneously. ICC is connected to my laptop via USB and the remote panel connects via serial. If I plug the remote panel into the inverter while the USB is connected it gives me a fault 20 on the panel. If I disconnect the USB and restart the panel it works fine. If I reconnect the USB while the panel is functional it takes about 10secs before the panel gives me a "overvoltage" fault. It would have been nice to have the panel inside the house next to my laptop with ICC but guess which I choose if both cannot work together.......So anyone want to buy a remote panel? cheap cheap? Or if someone knows how to get both working it would be great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coulomb Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 (edited) You can use both [ Edit: monitoring software and remote display ] I believe. Just use a USB to serial adapter, and connect the computer to the serial input of the remote unit. You might find extra delays that way, so it might not be ideal. I've never tried it, this is all theoretical. Edited April 9, 2017 by Coulomb Riaanh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 On 3/9/2017 at 3:02 PM, Coulomb said: Axperts run a multitasking operating system Serious? Hopefully something realtime. Years ago I did some coding for a Chinese Payment terminal. There was so much stolen Linux stuff in that one... the entire bootloader assembler code was straight from Linux/ARM :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritserasmus Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 How about all the Axpert users, that has the same need to be able to change settings from a panel next to your laptop, or even on the laptop via icc, pool together and offer Manie something that will make it his while worth to add the features that's in watch power so we can make these changes from within icc with one or two nice to have additions? So instead of buying doorstoppers and paperweights why not ask Manie very nicely to add it into icc and pay Manie for a virtual paperweight. (is this the project managers mentality in me coming out?) @Manie - is that something you can do and perhaps willing to do? @Axpert owners - would you make an extra contribution for this feature? Sent from my EVA-L19 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czauto Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 Hey guys. I've got the Remote control panel working. I was running an older version of @Manie's ICC which only had an USB connection option. I did however upgraded to the latest ICC version after I replaced the laptop it was running on and realised that @Manie Inserte the option to run either serial or USB. Problem solved. I removed the USB cable, ran the supplied cable from the Axpert to the remote panel's "COM in" port and from there installed the serial cable with a RS232 to USB converter between the panel's "COM out" port and the laptop. I changed the setting on ICC to Serial and setup the COM ports for the inverter and BMV and Voila!! Panel and ICC working great. Let's not ignore the fact that the panel is an identical extension of the Axperts control panel but It's nice to have it next to my laptop. Thanks for all the advice guys. Barezzi, Chris Hobson and GVC 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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