Hi All,

Firstly let me say what an awesome forum this is, and I have been on here so many times and decided to join.

I am however close to pulling my hair out of my head.

I got one of those wifi dongles (I see Solarix etc all have them when you google it), and wanted to connect to the RJ45 port through a RJ45-R232, but the module simply dont power up, so I got a new cable (RJ45 to serial), which didnt work.

I did couple of checks on the module itself, and it is working on my friends inverter (same inverter basically), his is however a R232 to R232, so he doesnt have the same cable issue I seem to experience.

I took a Ethernet Cat 5 clipped one side, exposed the wires and tested voltage to isolate the live feeds. One ground and 3 live wires (Orange/Orangewhite and Brown), blue is ground on pin 4 from the inverter.

Here is where the fun started, I got a DB9 female and I just cant connect the wires correctly to get the module powered up and working.

The three load carrying wires as above carries, 12V to 0.05. My issue however is that if I measure the contingency on the wifi dongle pins, I only get grnd plus two pins that seem to accept power.

I tried everything, pin out diagrams etc, but just cant find one specific to the inverter pin out to module pin in.

I have the Sunmagic, SunPro 8048 (FS-1007) which they indicate is wifi capable. And the module is as per below (similar one)

 

Are there any of you find folks that can help me, please.

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by Eurard

Anyone?

You need to run 4 wires:

Inverter RS232 Tx ->  dongle Rx
Inverter RS232 Rx ->  dongle Tx
Inverter GND         ->  dongle GND
Inverter +Vcc         ->  dongle +Vcc

I don't know if your dongle needs Vcc = +5V  or +12V.  It might have an internal regulator that will accept a supply voltage between +5 and +12V.  I suspect the latter will be true.

 The RS232 standard is very, very old and a bit confusing in the way companies over the years completely deviated from it.  Originally the Tx and Rx where specced to be +12V and -12V.  I remember that the idle condition was -12V but not sure if that represented a logic High or Low.  Later, MAXIM introduced the MAX232 and MAX233 chips that reduced the logic levels to +10 and -10V.  And later still, companies used only +5V and -5V to represent a logic High or Low.

I suspect that you measured the various wires and got hold of the Inverter Tx which would show as anything between -5 and -12V and you assumed that that must be power.  This would be wrong.  The Tx voltage cannot supply enough current to power things.  (This is a simplistic statement, there have been devices that "stole" power from TX and some handshake signals).

Your 0.05V is not power but possibly the Rx, or an unused pin or GND.  It sounds as if you measure 12V on two pins/wires.  That would make sense, except that one should read -12V (at bus idle, ie. no communications running) and the other +12V.  The -12V would be Tx.  The +12V would be +Vcc.

On my own Axpert, I actually measured the TX signal as -12/+12V and was absolutely surprised about it.  I haven't seen that on equipment for a very, very long time.

I hope this helps you somewhat to debug further.

2 hours ago, Modina said:

You need to run 4 wires:

Inverter RS232 Tx ->  dongle Rx
Inverter RS232 Rx ->  dongle Tx
Inverter GND         ->  dongle GND
Inverter +Vcc         ->  dongle +Vcc

I don't know if your dongle needs Vcc = +5V  or +12V.  It might have an internal regulator that will accept a supply voltage between +5 and +12V.  I suspect the latter will be true.

 The RS232 standard is very, very old and a bit confusing in the way companies over the years completely deviated from it.  Originally the Tx and Rx where specced to be +12V and -12V.  I remember that the idle condition was -12V but not sure if that represented a logic High or Low.  Later, MAXIM introduced the MAX232 and MAX233 chips that reduced the logic levels to +10 and -10V.  And later still, companies used only +5V and -5V to represent a logic High or Low.

I suspect that you measured the various wires and got hold of the Inverter Tx which would show as anything between -5 and -12V and you assumed that that must be power.  This would be wrong.  The Tx voltage cannot supply enough current to power things.  (This is a simplistic statement, there have been devices that "stole" power from TX and some handshake signals).

Your 0.05V is not power but possibly the Rx, or an unused pin or GND.  It sounds as if you measure 12V on two pins/wires.  That would make sense, except that one should read -12V (at bus idle, ie. no communications running) and the other +12V.  The -12V would be Tx.  The +12V would be +Vcc.

On my own Axpert, I actually measured the TX signal as -12/+12V and was absolutely surprised about it.  I haven't seen that on equipment for a very, very long time.

I hope this helps you somewhat to debug further.

Hi,

 

Thanks a lot and it definitely helps. I think you nailed something on the head and this is the picking up a reading not meaning it is indeed one.

However I am not sure on what the Dongle pin out is:

 

Inverter RS232 Tx ->  dongle Rx
Inverter RS232 Rx ->  dongle Tx
Inverter GND         ->  dongle GND
Inverter +Vcc         -> dongle +Vcc (What is this on below picture of RJ45 pin out?)

I connected as per below and it didnt work. Which is why I am looking at confirming the module pin out is actually like below R232.

 

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by Eurard

Okay,

I used blue as GRD which might explain why I got nowhere.

I will also try this tonight:

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by Eurard

I would not trust the wire colour code on the RJ45s.  There are cross-over cables, etc. which will not always follow the colour code.

On the DB9, pin 5 is normally GND and 2&3 is Tx and Rx, but Tx and Rx seen from which side?  IT differs, depending on which side you stand.  This has always been a confusing issue and if it doesn't work, one usually swopped pin 2 and 3 around.

However, you need to supply power to you dongle.  Nobody bothers with the hand-shake signals CTS, RTS, DTR & DSR these days.  So one of those pins, or another unused pin must be used for +Vcc.  The WiFi dongle's manual should tell you.

I presume the dongle will have some form of power-on LED.  So perhaps sort out the GND and +Vcc first and when you see the dongle is powered up, then connect the Tx & Rx.  The good thing is that these sort of interfaces are quite tolerant to broken & short circuited cables, etc. so you are not likely to damage anything if you get things wrong.

You said your friend has a similar inverter where the WiFi dongle works.  So I assumed that the RJ45 provides some low level DC voltage to power dongles, opto-isolators, etc.  I am not sure if this assumption is correct.  Or is correct on ALL Axpert inverters.  There seem to be many deviations between clones.  Other members need to commend on this.

Okay managed to get it working!

 

There is a catch though, and it is that pesky blue wire, which does have a duty.

 

Apart from above the blue connects to #9 on the db9 - R232.

 

So connection is from RJ45 to R232:

1 --> 2

2 --> 3

8 --> 5

4 --> 9

1 hour ago, Modina said:

I would not trust the wire colour code on the RJ45s.  There are cross-over cables, etc. which will not always follow the colour code.

On the DB9, pin 5 is normally GND and 2&3 is Tx and Rx, but Tx and Rx seen from which side?  IT differs, depending on which side you stand.  This has always been a confusing issue and if it doesn't work, one usually swopped pin 2 and 3 around.

However, you need to supply power to you dongle.  Nobody bothers with the hand-shake signals CTS, RTS, DTR & DSR these days.  So one of those pins, or another unused pin must be used for +Vcc.  The WiFi dongle's manual should tell you.

I presume the dongle will have some form of power-on LED.  So perhaps sort out the GND and +Vcc first and when you see the dongle is powered up, then connect the Tx & Rx.  The good thing is that these sort of interfaces are quite tolerant to broken & short circuited cables, etc. so you are not likely to damage anything if you get things wrong.

I cut the RJ45 with one open end to expose the wires, and had a R232 which I could connect wires too.

Also double checked the RJ45 wires in continuity mode from RJ45 to wires.

I connected three which I knew had to be correct and then just manually took the blue (+vcc onviously now I know), to all unused and bam, like murphy it was #9.

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by Eurard

OK good.  I presume 4 -> 9 connection is the supply voltage for your WiFi adaptor.

Okay to summarize:

FS-1007, Sunmagic, Sunpro8048

 

With comms port in RJ45 format, connecting wifi via wifi dongle with R232 (DB9) connector.

 

See attached picture indicating which RJ45 wire goes to which R232 connection.

I added the +vcc (Thanks Modina - superstar), to the pic as that was what caused me grey hairs.

End result, datalogger works perfectly!

Last pic, neatly found a home.

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by Eurard

@Eurard I bought the Wi Fi Pro Plug 3 and I have the same problem. My inverter only has the RJ45 port however a regular Serial to RJ45 Cable does not work. The device does not power up so I am in the exact same boat as you! Please reach out to me I would love your assistance so I can get myself a cable like the one you made or make one myself. Please let me know! Thanks!

Good day @Eurard

Thank you for your contribution to this topic, there are many people in the country struggling with this Data Logger for their inverters

I have a FiveStar 3000W Hybrid Inverter with the same problem and thanks to you I had the Wifi data logger switching on but i'm struggling to get the Data port light on the Wi-Fi data logger so that communication can be sent through to the Wifi Logger but i also have noticed that my +Vcc is on a different pin on my inverter port. 

Summery 

I struggling to get the communication trough.

Your Help will be much appreciated. 🙂 

Kindly forward me your Email so that I can send you the photos of the connections.

 

Good day @Eurard

I have attached photos of my progress so you can have an idea your guidance will be wonderful.

And the data logger stipulates that it is offline as well.

 

 

Edited September 1, 20231 yr by Roshe

Hi,

That adapter you have plugging into the Dongle, what is the pin out pin in?

@Roshe maybe obscure your home address on the screenshot...

Greetings Dear,

I straight away connected my Solar Inverter with my Laptop with RJ45 Cable.  As I was looking into to WATCH POWER APP in the laptop, I felt strong smoke of burning components, I quickly remove the cable and making it sure that both the inverter and laptop would be fine. Thanks God nothing happened. 🙂

Regards.

On 2023/03/23 at 7:58 PM, Eurard said:

 

 

 

@Eurard the numbering looks very wrong on this one for the RJ45 connector on the upper part. 1 should be on the right side, 8 on the left side.

See the bottom cable, the pins are facing upwards, the 1 is bottom, 8 is top  and compare it to photo above. No wonder people like @Khuramwill smell smoke.

Cutting a regular Ethernet cable for this task, 1 is usually the white/orange, two is the orange cable, 8 is brown. Blue (pin4 ) is not necessary for laptop connection.