Good evening all

My Mecer Axpert MKS IV had an issue where after a day or two the screen letters go all jumbled and you cannot read the characters when going though the menu settings - only a reboot would fix it.

I then saw this posted under the downloads section:

I proceeded loading the display firmware executing the file --Remote Panel_ReflashTool.exe-- in the folder and selecting MCU update as the hex file is called mcu.hex - port opened, connected and then proceeded to erase the flash, then UNABLE TO WRITE error.  Obviously, the display is now not functioning. 

I can still connect to the inverter using WatchPower from my phone (EDIT unable to connect via Watchppower App) and SolarAssistant can no longer connect to the inverter via the serial port.

I used the supplied serial cable and a USB to serial adapter.  I noticed that the baud rate defaults to 19200 even if you set it to 9600 in the tool?  Could the problem lie with my USB to Serial adapter perhaps? Gonna buy a serial PCI card for a PC I have extra here at home and try that as I saw on other threads that the USB to serial adapters do someties give problems.

I really hope I haven't bricked the blerrie thing now...  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Douw

 

Edited August 7, 20223 yr by Douw Gerber

BUMP

Quote

BUMP

@Coulomb 🙂

 

Edited August 8, 20223 yr by Douw Gerber

UPDATE

The FTDI usb to serial adapter that came with solarassistant worked to perform the flash.

Returned successfull - I left it for quite a few minutes after this to see if it reboots itself but screen remained off.  Eventually rebooted the system. Screen still dead and now I cannot establish any comms with the unit...

Frustrated as hell...

17 hours ago, Douw Gerber said:

My Mecer Axpert MKS IV had an issue where after a day or two the screen letters go all jumbled and you cannot read the characters when going though the menu settings - only a reboot would fix it.

That sounds like a hardware issue to me, not one that could be fixed by a firmware update.

Also, are you positive that you have an Axpert MKS IV? There are 3 Voltronic models that look extremely similar at first glance: Axpert MKS IV, Axpert VM IV, and Infinisolar V IV. Each of them as completely different firmware, both DSP (main) and MCU (display). Is it possible that you have a VM IV or Infinisolar? The VM IV lacks the triangular part to the lower front cover that the MKS has. I don't know how to distinguish an Infini. The VM model is also somewhat squatter (less tall).

If you have a VM IV, it might "just" be a matter of obtaining the right firmware update file. I have no VM IV firmware files, DSP or MCU. Perhaps your supplier (Mecer) can obtain one for you. Or since it was exhibiting faulty behaviour, you might be able to get it replaced under warranty, bypassing the need for the firmware update file.

Edited August 8, 20223 yr by Coulomb

2 hours ago, Coulomb said:

That sounds like a hardware issue to me, not one that could be fixed by a firmware update.

Also, are you positive that you have an Axpert MKS IV? There are 3 Voltronic models that look extremely similar at first glance: Axpert MKS IV, Axpert VM IV, and Infinisolar V IV. Each of them as completely different firmware, both DSP (main) and MCU (display). Is it possible that you have a VM IV or Infinisolar? The VM IV lacks the triangular part to the lower front cover that the MKS has. I don't know how to distinguish an Infini. The VM model is also somewhat squatter (less tall).

If you have a VM IV, it might "just" be a matter of obtaining the right firmware update file. I have no VM IV firmware files, DSP or MCU. Perhaps your supplier (Mecer) can obtain one for you. Or since it was exhibiting faulty behaviour, you might be able to get it replaced under warranty, bypassing the need for the firmware update file.

Thank you for the feedback @Coulomb

I would say I am 99.9% sure its the MKS IV as even SolarAssistant picked it up as a "MKS III or later" and I recall the triangular part - color also corresponds.  Seems like the Infinisolar is retailed here in SA under RCT and Kodak brands. Mecer only has the MKS IV.

We returned the unit this afternoon to Mustek.

Will provide feedback on the outcome.

Thanks

Douw

Hi all

Inverter back and reinstalled. SCreen working again.

Guess what - now the Dyness BX51100 BMS and inverter are happily chatting 🙂  Pretty sure Mustek did a firmware reload/update which was a newer version anyway.  Out of the box I would get error 61 then comms, then error 61, then comms and so it would loop.  Installed SolarAssistant to get around that.  Well now the inverter and BMS comms is established.

I might go back to using SolarAssistant to monitor the battery - I get much more info there such as temps and cycles etc.

Cheers

Douw

Edited August 15, 20223 yr by Douw Gerber