Just learned, that there is a new member in the Axpert family: Axpert MAX II 8000VA.

It has the new voltronic design with the round display an would fit good for my ev-charger with 10kWh lifepo4 batteries.

Is there any experience with this model?

On 2022/09/02 at 3:01 PM, riogrande75 said:

there is a new member in the Axpert family: Axpert MAX II 8000VA.

It's not all that new, and is a successor to the Axpert Max 7200VA that has been around for a few years.

There are even a few firmwares available already. Worth a little searching on this forum.

Edit November 2022: Oops! I may have overlooked the "II". The "II" models have the colour, non-removable display with the round LED ring around it. Some Axpert Max models still have the removable display; these don't have the "II" in the name. To refer to these older models, I use the "1" (Arabic 1 is easier to read than a Roman I), as in Axpert MAX 1 8kW, even though that's not official. I assume that the 1 and II models have different firmware; certainly for the display.

Edited November 4, 20223 yr by Coulomb

Ok, thx.
Unfortunately I was not lucky finding reasonable feedback on reliability and problems regarding this specific model.
I'm not quite sure if it would be better to take the "old" Axpert MAX 8kW or the new model, as there are no reports of users are available.

Off course, 150A battery charger is better than 120A for my (mostly) off-grid car EV charging station.

On 2022. 09. 02. at 12:04, Coulomb said:

Ez nem teljesen új, és az Axpert Max 7200VA utódja, amely néhány éve létezik.

Még néhány firmware is elérhető már. Érdemes egy kicsit keresgélni ezen a fórumon.

Hi Coulomb.
I have an Axpert MAX 2 inverter. MPPT tracking not working. Stuck at 90V. If I switch between the SBU-SUB modes, the production starts.
Do you know new software for the MAX 2 inverter? Unfortunately, I haven't found it yet.

8 hours ago, Rozsda said:

Do you know new software for the MAX 2 inverter? Unfortunately, I haven't found it yet.

No, sorry. None have found their way into my collection as yet.

14 hours ago, Coulomb said:

Nem sajnálom. Egyik sem talált még be a gyűjteményembe.

Hi Coulomb.
I contacted the Alibaba seller.
I got the usual answer. " Forwarded to the engineer" I am waiting and trusting that I will receive a firmware.
I trusted you to have a solution! Do you think anyone else has similar problems with the Axpert MAX 2 inverter? Or it just affects me.
Where can I get the source code for inverters?
The video clearly shows my problem. It was bad lighting and fog. After switching to SUB-SBU mode, the PV voltage increased. Then it dropped to 90V.

 

8 hours ago, Rozsda said:

Do you think anyone else has similar problems with the Axpert MAX 2 inverter?

Yes. It looks like it's another problem that Voltronic are refusing to acknowledge that they have. When I saw a firmware that had different code to the others, I assumed that they must have fixed it, but now I think that they just rearranged the code a bit. I have no idea if that was in an effort to fix the problem, or because the code didn't look right (it doesn't look right to my eyes).

8 hours ago, Rozsda said:

Where can I get the source code for inverters?

You go to Taiwan to live, get a job as a software engineer there, and sign a Non Disclosure Agreement.

There is no source code available as far as I know. I do all my research by disassembling the binary code. So I work with C2000 assembly language, not C source code.

8 hours ago, Rozsda said:

Then it dropped to 90V.

"Flatlining" at near 90 V from the panels is a well known problem; there are a few threads on it in this forum.

I don't even know if the firmware in Axpert MAX IIs are the same as firmware in Axpert MAX 1s. There is also the hassle that some MAX models seem to come with different processors than others; perhaps this is due to the world wide semiconductor shortage. The C2000 series are supposed to have compatible instruction sets, so this should not be an issue, but it sure seems to be. So it's tricky figuring out exactly what firmware you need. Plus, there is the hassle that at least some EASun models seem to get different firmware to the rest.

As a point of interest, what main (U1) firmware version does your MAX II come with?

6 hours ago, Coulomb said:

There is no source code available as far as I know. I do all my research by disassembling the binary code. So I work with C2000 assembly language, not C source code.

That reminds me some sayings from the Grenoble University professor during a C++ study course:

1. "What you C is not what you get."

2. At that time the post office was introducing computer controlled telephone switchboards. Not surprisingly there were many bugs. He said that every time they fixed a bug, they introduced 2 new ones.

I learned myself Turbo Pascal and programmed with it. Language and semantic are similar with C but I prefer the TP compiler as it checks and refuses to compile bugs.

6 hours ago, Beat said:

I prefer the TP compiler as it checks and refuses to compile bugs.

Any good compiler will refuse to compile syntax errors. But as far as I know, they are all happy to compile garbage in to garbage out. It would be a really valuable compiler that spotted logic errors and refused to compile them.

Edited November 5, 20223 yr by Coulomb

13 hours ago, Coulomb said:

Igen. Úgy tűnik, ez egy másik probléma, amelyet a Voltronic nem hajlandó elismerni. Amikor megláttam egy firmware-t, aminek más kódja volt, mint a többinek, azt hittem, hogy biztosan kijavították, de most úgy gondolom, hogy csak egy kicsit átrendezték a kódot. Fogalmam sincs, hogy ezzel a probléma megoldására törekedtek, vagy azért, mert a kód nem tűnt megfelelőnek (az én szememnek nem tűnik jónak).

Tajvanra mész lakni, ott kapsz munkát szoftvermérnökként, és aláírsz egy titoktartási megállapodást.

Amennyire én tudom, nem áll rendelkezésre forráskód. Minden kutatásomat a bináris kód szétszedésével végzem. Tehát C2000 assembly nyelvvel dolgozom, nem C forráskóddal.

Közel 90 V-nál a panelek "lapítása" jól ismert probléma; van pár téma ezen a fórumon.

Azt sem tudom, hogy az Axpert MAX II firmware-e megegyezik-e az Axpert MAX 1s firmware-ével. Az is gondot okoz, hogy egyes MAX modellek úgy tűnik, hogy más processzorral készülnek, mint mások; talán ennek az oka a világméretű félvezetőhiány. A C2000 sorozatnak állítólag kompatibilis utasításkészletei vannak, így ez nem lehet probléma, de úgy tűnik, hogy az. Így nehéz kitalálni, hogy pontosan milyen firmware-re van szüksége. Ráadásul az a gond, hogy legalább néhány EASun modell más firmware-t kap a többihez.

Érdeklődni szeretnék, hogy a MAX II melyik fő (U1) firmware-verzióval érkezik?

Do I understand correctly? Are you decompressing the translated HEX file?
Do you like challenges!:))
All my respect to you! Your work for the community is priceless!
I am taking the inverter apart because I want to replace the fan in it.
I will photograph everything from the inside! I identify the chip.
If it helps you, I will share the pictures and information.
Main CPU firmware.: 81.02
Secondary CPU firmware.: 22.14 (Watchpower shows 122.14)

14 hours ago, Rozsda said:

Do I understand correctly? Are you decompressing the translated HEX file?

Not decompiling, usually, although IDA Pro can decompile ARM code, which is found in the display firmware. I occasionally use that feature in the display code. But usually I'm just disassembling, so I see assembly language.

14 hours ago, Rozsda said:

I identify the chip.

Thanks. Often the main chips will have a sticker covering the part number, but I'm sure you can overcome that challenge

14 hours ago, Rozsda said:

Main CPU firmware.: 81.02
Secondary CPU firmware.: 22.14 (Watchpower shows 122.14)

As I suspected, those are all firmware version number ranges that I've never seen. Thanks for the info so far.

5 hours ago, Coulomb said:

Általában nem dekompilál, bár az IDA Pro képes visszafejteni az ARM kódot, amely a kijelző firmware-ében található. Időnként használom ezt a funkciót a kijelző kódjában. De általában csak szétszedem, ezért látok assembly nyelvet.

Kösz. A fő chipeken gyakran egy matrica található, amely az alkatrészszámot takarja, de biztos vagyok benne, hogy legyőzi ezt a kihívást

Ahogy gyanítottam, ezek mind olyan firmware-verziószámok, amelyeket soha nem láttam. Köszönöm az eddigi infókat.

I took it apart and took a photo.
If you are interested in more pictures of the interior, let me know.

1 hour ago, Rozsda said:

If you are interested in more pictures of the interior, let me know.

I'm interested in the display chip. Unfortunately, it looks like the important part of the part number is on the top line, which is obscured by glare:

It looks like it's one of the GigaDevice VCT6 series:

https://www.gigadevice.com/?s=vct6

Any chance of another photo at a different angle to get that top line?

It seems rather different from the usual ARM chip, which might explain a recent bricking.

Also: what is the brand of this inverter? Mecer / RCT / EASun / Kodak / ?

Thanks in advance!

1 hour ago, Coulomb said:

Érdekel a kijelző chip. Sajnos úgy tűnik, hogy az alkatrészszám fontos része a felső sorban van, amit eltakar a csillogás:

Úgy tűnik, ez az egyik GigaDevice VCT6 sorozat:

https://www.gigadevice.com/?s=vct6

Van esélye egy másik fényképre más szögből, hogy megkapja a felső vonalat?

Úgy tűnik, meglehetősen különbözik a szokásos ARM chiptől, ami megmagyarázhatja a közelmúltban történt téglázást.

Illetve: mi ennek az inverternek a márkája? Mecer / RCT / EASun / Kodak / ?

Előre is köszönöm!

I didn't even see a number there with a magnifying glass. But it really is.
I just don't want to take it apart again. Although you don't need to remove it from its place. Only the front panel needs to be removed.
I don't know the brand. It has "MPPT Solar Iverter" on the sticker. Model name "MAX II-8000. QR code "Originally manufactures by Voltronic Power"
I am waiting for the seller's response.
Would it be worth writing to Voltronic support as well?

10 hours ago, Rozsda said:

Would it be worth writing to Voltronic support as well?

I don't think so. Voltronic only seem to want to talk to resellers, never end users.

Maybe all the chips in that VCT6 series have similar characteristics anyway. 

On 2022. 11. 07. at 2:21, Coulomb said:

Nem hiszem. Úgy tűnik, hogy a Voltronic csak a viszonteladókkal akar beszélni, nem a végfelhasználókkal.

Talán a VCT6 sorozat összes chipje hasonló tulajdonságokkal rendelkezik. 

Hi.
I received a software update from the seller. He did not provide a description of the process.
The inverter manual does not cover the software update in detail.
Before I make a brick out of the inverter, I ask first.
Do you think it is safe? Should the inverter be switched off? Should I power it from a battery? Or network voltage?
Could you write a few lines how you would do it?
Thank you for your help.

6 minutes ago, Rozsda said:

Do you think it is safe?

First tell us the main DSP (U1) firmware version that you have now, and the version of the update.

7 minutes ago, Rozsda said:

Should the inverter be switched off? Should I power it from a battery?

Power it from battery only; isolate (disconnect) AC-in and PV-in. 

9 minutes ago, Rozsda said:

Could you write a few lines how you would do it?

See Firmware Update Instructions for models with a removable display.

On 2022/11/09 at 5:38 PM, Coulomb said:

First tell us the main DSP (U1) firmware version that you have now, and the version of the update.

Power it from battery only; isolate (disconnect) AC-in and PV-in. 

See Firmware Update Instructions for models with a removable display.

Hi Coulomb.
I uploaded the firmware. It worked without a problem.
Main CPU Firmware version from 81.02 to 81.04
Unfortunately, the problem was not solved!
Production improved a lot in cloudy weather. (it became at least double) Huge progress! But only if the PV voltage is not stuck at 90v. This is very difficult to do in cloudy weather. If I switch from SBU mode to SUB mode and back again, the 90v jam is overcome and production starts.
If I send you the firmware and ask you very nicely, can you fix it?
I really want a solution to the problem because I miss a lot of solar energy.
I wrote to the seller. I look forward to your next solution.

6 hours ago, Rozsda said:

If I send you the firmware and ask you very nicely, can you fix it?

I should be able to patch it the same as Georg has, yes. It might take a while, being totally unseen firmware. Send me a PM with a link or attachment, or post it here.

I finally received my first so called "Axpert MAX II 8000" (ordered 2) from a chineese dealer at alibaba.
Unfortunately the build quality is worse then poor. Attached one pic. that tells most of it. 😒

The device looks like a Axpert MAX 2 and it's even mentioned on the type label, but it says 80A max charge, which should be 150A according to voltronic.
Serial 96342209... looks ok to me, production date sept. 2022 - brand new.

Then I connected Watchpower, next surprise: Real serial# seems to be 929321116.. - so more like Axper MKS from 2021, right?
Installed FW is 46.05 (main) and 122.12.

I'm not yet familiar with with Axpert/PIP firmware: What firmware can I install to this device?
Infinisolar's cannot be destroyed by flashing a wrong fw - it can always flashed again, even if the device does not respond after a wrong fw.
Is this statement true for Axpert's as well?

 

21 hours ago, riogrande75 said:

Attached one pic. that tells most of it.

Talk about no frills!

Obviously clones. 

21 hours ago, riogrande75 said:

Infinisolar's cannot be destroyed by flashing a wrong fw - it can always flashed again, even if the device does not respond after a wrong fw.

I'd say that they are similar, but Axperts seem to be more prone to bricking lately. I'd say you could brick either Axperts or Infinis. It also seems to be possible to get display and main firmwares so incompatible that you need a special cable to bypass the display. I assume that still applies with the non-removable displays.

Yes, clone - like most of the devices we discuss here 😉
So far everything looks good from the functional side. Too bad, I was not yet able to test the mppt-trackers because of onset of winter and tons of snow on my panels.

On 2022/11/15 at 3:51 AM, Rozsda said:

If I send you the firmware and ask you very nicely, can you fix it?

Here is the patched version:

Other readers: Do not use unless you know that your main DSP processor is a TMS320F28066, e.g. your original factory firmware was version 81.xx.

There are so many variants of Axpert inverters these days; do not be tempted to use it because "it seems close enough".

So far i'm quite happy with my new inverter, only problem is that it does not start up automatically in the morning.
Right now it runs without load (missing cable) and grid (standby power reduction) - so as a simple battery charger.

Every morning light is red, no matter of button's state.
E.g. today: Button was not pushed in, red light, display dark.

After I pressed the button no change, except button light gone out (off course). Pushed it once again, device boots up and starts charing my batteries.

Settings attached.
Any idea from the axpert/pip pro's? Maybe a setting that can correct that?

Negotiations with seller ended with a little refund from Alibaba (not the seller!).
So I had a first look inside the inverters and recognized a TMS320F2809 main DSP and a VTC6 slave/display cpu.
Right now I'm running rather old FW 46.06/122.12. Also the 90V issue seems to affect me.

This is what my scripts read out from the inverter:

QMN:   (MKS2-8000
QGMN:  (049
QSID:  (1492932111600xxxxxxx
QVFW:  (VERFW:00046.05
QVFW3: (VERFW:00122.12

@Coulomb Do you have a patched firmware for me as well?