Atti2de Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Good evening gents (and ladies)! New to the forum and happy to start learning! If I may start of with a question? I recently bought a 5kVA/4kW inverter charger. It has the name 'Schubart' on it, but my gut tells me it is an Axpert unit - can someone confirm if this is correct? I bought the unit from Solarman. They mentioned that it it a RCT unit (not sure what that means?). Secondly, checking the firmware version, it only has one entry - U1 52 30. All posts that I have seen mention two numbers; and this is why I am not sure if it really is an Axpert unit. If I can upgrade the firmware, where would I look and which tools do I need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Hi Atti2de From your description it would seem to be a rebranded Axpert. The firmware you quote is indeed Voltronic firmware. The firmware for the solar charge controller (SCC) is only visible if there is power from a PV array. So if the inverter has no panels or it is night time the U2 firmware version is not visible on the menu. 1 hour ago, Atti2de said: If I can upgrade the firmware, where would I look and which tools do I need? Download appropriate firmware here and read instructions on the firmware upgrade process .http://forums.aeva.asn.au/viewtopic.php?p=67551#p67551 You need the RS232 cable that came with the inverter. You either need a USB to serial adapter or an older PC/laptop with a serial port. https://www.takealot.com/astrum-usb-2-0-to-serial-9pin-rs-232-converter/PLID44322467?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnNvaBRCmARIsAOfZq-19b6yPazmATBymFUoDmbpihuoKH4roA4srVlYqZWYAwnitSrlJPGUaAuxZEALw_wcB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atti2de Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 Hello Chris! Thank you for the reply - appreciate the help. I see there are some serious "power-ninja's" on this forum. Happy to be learning about the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atti2de Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 OK tried updating the software using my USB-Serial interface cable. I am using the Moxa U1150 converter. The update software (reflashtool_xseries) opens up the com1 port, sends a command (can see it using the tx/rx led's) and then the inverter switches off. After a few minutes is state 'connect fail' and that is it. Cycling the battery input to the inverter turns it back on again. Is there a way to validate that I have the correct model to ensure that I am loading the correct firmware? There is a sticker on the side of the inverter but no details as to the model number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Take a photo of the sticker and the inverter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atti2de Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 Hi Chris, Herewith a photo of the nameplate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Hi Attitude I was sure your inverter was a Voltronic product. Having looked at the photo of the nameplate I am not so sure. The second sticker with the Serial No is just sloppy and is not something I have seen Voltronic do. It usually says Axpert or the very least has AX in its Model number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atti2de Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 Looking at other topics it looks exactly like the Axpert units. This one has a 'Schubart' branding on the front. The sales guy at Solarman says that it is a RCT or Mecer product, which would mean that it is an Axpert under the guts. If I had to open it up, where would I look to confirm that it is an Axpert unit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Louw Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Chris I have seen this before . Also claimed to be an Axpert . There is a secodery sticker just below the barcode over another number . There is also no seal over the cover screw with manufacturing date. The S/N is not part of an Axpert number . Normally just a number 9876544 . When you connect to Watch power the number on the inverter does corrospond with the number on the data sheet . Would also like to know what this is . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Some time in the past I mentioned that some sellers sell copies of the Victron controllers and that we are aware of their practices. Now I'm not going to say anything more about that... you can make your own deductions from why I'd choose to bring it up. Also, the 90s called and they want their website back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Louw Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 I want to say something more . IF THE INVERTER IS NOT IN MECER BOX marked MUSTECK walk away . Believe me it is not in the same machine . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 58 minutes ago, Chris Louw said: MUSTECK Run if it says Musteck ... must be MUSTEK. Sorry, OCD, ADD, FNB, PNC ... all kicked in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLEVA Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Agreed, this definately looks like a rebranded Voltronics/Mustek/RCT/PIP-4048MS/PIP-5048MS (MPPSolar)/Axpert MKS 5K/SOL-I-AX-5M/IPS-4000WM/Effekta AX-M 5 kVA/Flinslim MPPT 5kVA/OPTI-Solar SP5000/Brilliant MAXIC5000-48/Pro Power 48V 4000W Integrated Power System/SP5000-48MPPT80/Proline Energy inverter 5kVA 48V w/MPPT SCC/And any number of other names. Voltronics sell to anybody and rebranding is VERY common, but the ultimate supplier is Voltronics. Keep your eyes open on the forums for a guy named Coulomb (he is active on both our board and many others - prolific in Australian boards), he actually is the one who develops most of the 'Software Upgrades' for these machines. Overall they are decent pieces of equipment and do as advertised. Before you discount the kit, try use a serial connection for the update/software change and make sure your file is from legit place. My specific kit refused to properly behave with a USB connection on multiple pc's and even monitoring software misbehaves when using USB - I ended up sticking to a serial interface, and even buying a serial card for my PC. Good Luck. On this forum, @Chris Hobson, Terrible Triplet (above), @plonkster, @Camel, and many others have all helped me over time and with my limited budget on this machine and technical info related. Ask questions (almost no question is deemed to stupid here - unless discussing Trump!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 27 minutes ago, KLEVA said: ... unless discussing Trump!) Did you have to go there!? I voted for him! He is good man. He is doing a good job. A good man. Excellent job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLEVA Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 1 minute ago, The Terrible Triplett said: Did you have to go there!? I voted for him! He is good man. He is doing a good job. A good man. Excellent job. <Rant>Censored</Rant> Do you know what I mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atti2de Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 Thank you for the responses guys. OK I am going to try another serial solution (Ethernet<>Serial) and then see if I can somehow somewhere steal/ borrow/ whatever a laptop with a serial interface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLEVA Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 You are too far away for me to loan you something, but be careful with a usb/serial convertor as it might suffer the same issue if your invertor just happens to be one of 'those' finnicky ones. Try find an old laptop or PC with a Serial port to prove it first (Don't pay for something you don't need if it turns out you still can't talk/interact with the invertor). If you find serial port works, check out the software section here for something called com/com. Have had some amazing results with that tool completely outside solar field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLEVA Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 @Coulomb just posted on another topic in this forum that you can only use the serial interface to update firmware for the 5kVA unit - Trust his knowledge/experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atti2de Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 Ah ok thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 5 hours ago, Atti2de said: This one has a 'Schubart' branding on the front. The sales guy at Solarman says that it is a RCT or Mecer product, which would mean that it is an Axpert under the guts. Ok RCT Model is "RCT-AXPERT 5K" Mecer one is "SOL-I-AX-5M". This neither. The sales guy is either uninformed or a bullshitter. As a sales representative I am not sure which is worse. Addition: Chris Louw's observation that there is a missing warranty seal over the cover screw is also NB pilotfish, Mark and Chris Louw 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 36 minutes ago, Chris Hobson said: As a sales representative I am not sure which is worse. Maybe a sales guy that convinced you to buy a Blue Multigrid, that is also legal to connect to the grid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 7 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said: Maybe a sales guy that convinced you to buy a Blue Multigrid, that is also legal to connect to the grid? Hmm I'd have to pay R380k to get the grid to my farm so that I could legally connect to it. On a more serious note I think that in a totally off-grid situation an Axpert is hard to beat. If I were to live in town I would probably look at Infinisolar 3kW Plus, a small Victron or a small Goodwe all of which are legal . Mark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 21 minutes ago, Chris Hobson said: If I were to live in town I would probably look at Infinisolar 3kW Plus, a small Victron or a small Goodwe all of which are legal . The new Victron Multigrid is a awesome buy for legal grid tied city connection. And with a separate MPPT, a Pi with Venux free version software on it, Poly batts, and you are set for a long long time. Infini, with the latest questions asked around them, I would wonder, why pay the same Company money again, and not get any support? 24 minutes ago, Chris Hobson said: I think that in a totally off-grid situation an Axpert is hard to beat. Just do that in the city, and one is good to go with a Axpert. Now that I think about it, my system can start a gennie, if I had one and wanted to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Louw Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Thanks Chris Hobson . I dit see the inside off this so called Axpert . Even the warrenty seal on the mainbord is missing . The SCC cuts out every time a clouds goes by . If running a load of 50% and the load is switched off the SCC cuts out . Setting no 2 must be on at least 50 amp to supply power ( Very funny ). Would not bulk or absorb charge at all .The supplier gave my a lot of settings to try and nothing helped and then started getting nasty . You can see the quality is different inside the inverter . In the end bought a Mecer , installed and all settings to default . Nou works like a dream . Sorry if I cause blood pressure rising but this is a lot of bullshit and if I can save 1person for these robbers I will be proud of myself . I also have a RCT 3Kva good quality and warranty seal in place running 40 months no problems .I am not going to name anybody but please newbies and Forum members be on the lookout . I have been playing with solar from 2013 and I was still robbed. I can post fotos and data sheets to proof this . Even my 10A PWM controller R395 is still working every day after 5 years . I would really appreciat it if somebody could help me with this to try and recover some of my loss . I have a Axpert Sol x inverter with damadged MOSFETs on the main bord .The firmware on both these inverters is U1 52 30 U2 01 21. Is it possible to use the spare SCC and control card to try and make a spare inverter out of this problem . The Axpert Sol X is 4 years old and the new inverter dit not run a week . Thanks again and sorry if any crammed or spelling mistakes . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 5 hours ago, KLEVA said: Agreed, this definately looks like a rebranded Voltronics/Mustek/RCT/PIP-4048MS/PIP-5048MS (MPPSolar)/Axpert MKS 5K/SOL-I-AX-5M/IPS-4000WM/Effekta AX-M 5 kVA/Flinslim MPPT 5kVA/OPTI-Solar SP5000/Brilliant MAXIC5000-48/Pro Power 48V 4000W Integrated Power System/SP5000-48MPPT80/Proline Energy inverter 5kVA 48V w/MPPT SCC/And any number of other names. Voltronics sell to anybody and rebranding is VERY common, but the ultimate supplier is Voltronics. You missed the Renesola SineOn 5kVA-48-V :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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