Hi Everyone.

New to the group 🙂 

Just installed my RCT Axpert VM2 Premium 2.5 with 2x 12v 100ah batteries ( obviously for 24v 🙂 )

I have an issue with the com port and software. for the ife of me cant get it to work. software installs fine ( watchpower and viewpower) but unable to communicate. on the USB it picks up the prolific usb-to-serial driver (COM) but nothing...

I am sure this issue is a small one but would really like some advise on how to get it working. I tried windows 10, 11 and 7 with no luck.

Cheers

9 hours ago, Jacques1982 said:

Just installed my RCT Axpert VM2 Premium 2.5

Interesting. That doesn't seem to be a Voltronic model, so RCT may be toying with clones at the moment.

9 hours ago, Jacques1982 said:

I have an issue with the com port and software.

Perhaps it's Voltronic software rejecting a clone somehow. Did it come with a CD that had Watchpower on it?

Hi @Coulomb

Yes it came with a CD. Standard watchpower software for windows. version 1.61 I think. They recommend to download the ViewPower from the www.power-software-download.com site so not sure 🙂

I did manage to get it working though...I changed the baud rate to 2400 ( a post I saw on this forum) and it works...for a small amount of time then disconnects. the only way to get it going again is to disconnect the USB and re-connect then it works again...for a little while.

so yeah this is a very strange one.

@Jacques1982 did you perhaps manage to figure this out?

The "Premium" variant isn't on RCT Zone website, but it seems like the only difference between that one and the standard VM2 (which I have) is the dedicated BMS comms port.

I ask because I'm struggling to get any sort of information out of the serial port on mine. It's this model, it comes with a serial cable and I can confirm that it is responding to commands, but doesn't seem to be compatible with whatever protocol the other Voltronic inverters use. WatchPower and ViewPower have yet to discover it.

When sending a newline character at 2400 baud, it responds with:

(NAKss

I've tried this: https://github.com/ned-kelly/docker-voltronic-homeassistant, but it doesn't understand the responses. Running with debug mode on, it shows the buffer contents which clearly shows some of the configuration (float/bulk charge voltages, AC voltage and freq.) so there's some overlap, but it's not compatible.

I really don't want to have to reverse engineer this, there are enough other projects piling up 😅

Howzit.
At this point in time its sort of working... I tried another Mecer brand usb-to-serial which has the chipset of PL2303GT

Other PL2303 chipsets, even the CH version, my comms lasts for not more than a minute then it loses connection. 

I read about the home assistant and with Solar-Assistant and it seems there is a lot going into it to set up, but only with certain models as well.

Yeah the difference between the Premium and other one is that I have a 100amp MPPT charger and not the 80amp charger...go figure LOL

Let me know how it goes if you can get mecer brand USB-to_serial. I used the same cable that came with the inverter from RJ45 to serial.