GrantPattison Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 (edited) I have been playing around with a 5KW Axpert inverter and recently added 3KWp of Solar panels. The model doesn't have any ports to control with a Pi or Power Watch. Instead I wired in a WiFi Geyser Switch on each of the Inverter Input and Output circuit breakers. I set the inverter to Solar Priority. The WiFi geyser-switches measure KWHrs, so the daily 'OUT', minus the 'IN' is the Solar Yield (minus some battery and inverter losses). I also set the Inverter 'In' switch to turn OFF at 2am and ON at 8am, which drains the batteries enough to create enough space to avoid curtailing. With the pool pump and heat exchanger also on WiFi switchs to maximize daytime-load, I have quite a neat monitoring and control system for under R1000.00. Edited August 19, 2023 by GrantPattison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritishRacingGreen Posted August 20, 2023 Share Posted August 20, 2023 10 hours ago, GrantPattison said: I have been playing around with a 5KW Axpert inverter and recently added 3KWp of Solar panels. The model doesn't have any ports to control with a Pi or Power Watch. Instead I wired in a WiFi Geyser Switch on each of the Inverter Input and Output circuit breakers. I set the inverter to Solar Priority. The WiFi geyser-switches measure KWHrs, so the daily 'OUT', minus the 'IN' is the Solar Yield (minus some battery and inverter losses). I also set the Inverter 'In' switch to turn OFF at 2am and ON at 8am, which drains the batteries enough to create enough space to avoid curtailing. With the pool pump and heat exchanger also on WiFi switchs to maximize daytime-load, I have quite a neat monitoring and control system for under R1000.00. Thats one way of controlling your system, no doubt about that. But it intrigues me that you dont have rs232 or usb connectivity on your Axpert. What model is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantPattison Posted August 23, 2023 Author Share Posted August 23, 2023 (edited) Name plate says MPS 5KVA. Visual inspection shows a RJ45 and RS232. No usb. I have never got power watch to connect. I think they are for battery and parallel operation. Edited August 23, 2023 by GrantPattison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Ester Posted August 23, 2023 Share Posted August 23, 2023 Solar Assistant should be able to help with control. They have the following cables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMAC Posted August 23, 2023 Share Posted August 23, 2023 Hi, nice idea. I'm using the RS232 to access solarpower and solar assistant. Need to buy rs232-USB. See my setup here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsyWulf Posted August 23, 2023 Share Posted August 23, 2023 2 hours ago, GrantPattison said: Name plate says MPS 5KVA. Visual inspection shows a RJ45 and RS232. No usb. I have never got power watch to connect. I think they are for battery and parallel operation. Pics of the bottom and face? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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