Read the instructions for the repo. https://github.com/Louisvdw/dbus-serialbattery/wiki/How-to-install

Once installed, overwrite with the updated files from here from the REVOV branch - https://github.com/csloz/dbus-serialbattery

You'll need ssh access to your PI or CCGX

 

Files to update / add from his release are mostly in these 2 files

https://github.com/csloz/dbus-serialbattery/blob/revov/etc/dbus-serialbattery/revov.py (the partially completed driver)

https://github.com/csloz/dbus-serialbattery/blob/revov/etc/dbus-serialbattery/dbus-serialbattery.py (some mild updates to add a link to load the revov.py code).

 

Bit busy on work atm, if you get stuck shout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do read the caveats above i.e. - some values aren't correct.

I will get around to sorting that out, but right now busy with work stuff, which takes priority.

Feel free to delve in and fix yourself though (especially since I noted the packet format)

Send me a push request if you do, so i can merge.  Cheers.

Thank you, @shanghailoz!

I believe that I have installed it correctly.

I followed the following steps:
1. Execute SSH installer script option via Putty (SSH) on my CCGX as per Wiki (How to Install) - installing Louis latest release of the driver
2. Download zip file of the revov branch containing the updated dbus_serialbattery folder and files
3. Overwrite files on CCGX using FileZilla (SFTP) to transfer the files from my desktop
4. Reboot CCGX and voila! SerialBattery appears on device list

4 minutes ago, Nicholas said:

Thank you, @shanghailoz!

I believe that I have installed it correctly.

I followed the following steps:
1. Execute SSH installer script option via Putty (SSH) on my CCGX as per Wiki (How to Install) - installing Louis latest release of the driver
2. Download zip file of the revov branch containing the updated dbus_serialbattery folder and files
3. Overwrite files on CCGX using FileZilla (SFTP) to transfer the files from my desktop
4. Reboot CCGX and voila! SerialBattery appears on device list

Just be aware that battery voltage will be incorrect if a cell is in error state.  I do need to look at the bit values to work out what bits they use for this still, its ok when not in error state.

(a data sheet from Tianpower of the packet format would be nice, but no, its reverse engineer, bleh).

 

I've had the current version running on mine for a month and a half, seems reliable, and is a good indicator for me of values.  I do need to get the SoC state calc done and added in, as well as the other things i don't know from the data...  

 

When I have time haha.

 

 

Good day, I may be of help to help solve the outstanding “issues” with the State of Charge (SoC) and charging current if you can help me with some sort of guidance or software to query the BMS to find out the correct protocols. I have tried various combinations of the “command_one” and “command_two” with no clear responses to say that it is the correct “Modbus RTU requests”.

As per Louis Van Der Walt’s instructions, I changed the CCCM_ENABLE = False in the utils.py, restarted the system, but when I plugged the USB back in, it appears as if the changes were overwritten since the charging rate was limited as before I made the change in the utils.py (I did not check it so I don’t know if that is true). So, now the USB cable remains unplugged, and I am wating for the new revov.py script.

So, I want to repeat my offer. If there is anything I can help with, let me know.

3 hours ago, Agulhascorp said:

Good day, I may be of help to help solve the outstanding “issues” with the State of Charge (SoC) and charging current if you can help me with some sort of guidance or software to query the BMS to find out the correct protocols. I have tried various combinations of the “command_one” and “command_two” with no clear responses to say that it is the correct “Modbus RTU requests”.

As per Louis Van Der Walt’s instructions, I changed the CCCM_ENABLE = False in the utils.py, restarted the system, but when I plugged the USB back in, it appears as if the changes were overwritten since the charging rate was limited as before I made the change in the utils.py (I did not check it so I don’t know if that is true). So, now the USB cable remains unplugged, and I am wating for the new revov.py script.

So, I want to repeat my offer. If there is anything I can help with, let me know.

To be honest my notes in the thread, and the current code should be enough to continue working on things.  Fork it, and continue.  Unfortunately I just haven't had time to continue, and it works well enough for me for now.

Did Louis finally update his repo with my additions?  If not, you need to pull the current version from my fork here - 

 

Not that complicated

You send the device a command over serial, it sends data back, thats basically it, and you parse the reply into something meaningful.

 

Here are 2 commands I know about -

command_get_version = b"\x7C\x01\x42\x00\x80\x0D"  #Get version number
command_get_model = b"\x7C\x01\x33\x00\xFE\x0D" #Get model number 

 

I sniffed what I could of the protocol from watching the BMS app itself, and some detective work.

 

Current code  - 

https://github.com/csloz/dbus-serialbattery/blob/revov/etc/dbus-serialbattery/revov.py

 

 

Now we sort of know the packet format, the code needs to be reorganized, as we can parse the entire thing in one go.

I put enough logging into the driver so that its useful.

eg

 

 

Ok, I see that he finally updated the repo with my changes, so its "live" if you pull the current version.

 

Fork and modify from the current repo then.

Been a while, but I have revisited this, as the current driver that replaced mine didn't actually work on my Revov BMS

My updated driver is here - https://github.com/csloz/dbus-serialbattery

Will probably be merged back with main at some point, but this will work on the older Tianpower BMS that Revov used.

I also fixed a few of the missing bits like temp sensor etc.  

 

Works fine on v3 of PI Venus.

 

 

Edited June 5, 20233 yr by shanghailoz

I am interested to know how these batteries are performing now after about 4 years?

Any performance issues?

I'm overseas again working, so don't have an on the ground view of things.

Going to assume they're working, as I don't have CoCT or Eskom, and the tenant in place hasn't complained.
I did add another 10KWh, so it's 20KWh of storage now, so should be plenty for the tenant to abuse, even in winter.

The extra 10KW is sitting on a Sunsynk, which does have native support for the BMS.  Also connected to +-9KW of panels.

 

Thanks 

I am an installer based in Cape Town 

Never used these batteries before 

But see them on a lot of jobs that I need to fix the poor original install 

Also have not seen a problem with them 

Now thinking of using them for my own house 

I see they also offer new batteries at just a slightly higher price 

Most installations that I see don't have enough battery storage and to small of an inverter 

We have now basically moved away from a loadshedding solution to trying to save money by providing most of your own power 

I can't believe that there are still guys out there not running pool pumps and geysers off their inverters when there is not loadshedding.

Be aware., I've had them swap out batteries on both units under warranty already.  

That said, fairly painless as they came out and swapped and gave a replacement unit while they confirmed that it was a bad cell in the pack.

I could see it as the per cell values on my monitoring made it obvious, but they still took 2-3 months to check /replace at the time.

 

The price differential at the moment doesn't seem worthwhile to go for 2nd hand cells, it's cheap enough now to go new, and the BMS's are better.  I paid 35k for 10KW for my first set with BMS, which at the time was a great deal, nowadays that's pretty average I think for new.

 

Just checked Segen, I see  the Revovs are around 12k ex vat for the 5KWh units. so 24k ex vat per 10KWh

I'll be finishing off my house end of 2025, and plan to add another 40KWh of battery, so that's nice

Current wholesaler pricing below - I assume you'll get similar pricing that I will. 

 

 

Agree on just going for new batteries 

But their price for new is still one of the cheapest . Hope their BMS is good 

I will go for the 5 kWh batteries 

4 or 5 to start with 

Yes 

Also have an account with Segen.

But I think that you can now buy direct from Revov.

I don't get dealer pricing at Revov though 😀

The Fox aren't badly priced, maybe I just upgrade to 2 stacks for the upstairs house.  Works out at 92k for 40KWh.  HV though, but I can rejig my system to support.

 

Edited December 8, 20241 yr by shanghailoz

On 2019/08/08 at 11:43 AM, shanghailoz said:

I'm completely offgrid

Does it mean that you are "technically" operating a micro-grid? or do you mean "economically" you are off-grid?

On 2022/05/24 at 11:36 AM, shanghailoz said:

CCGX

Is this one also linux based to be able to ssh?

On 2025/01/29 at 4:12 AM, Kaveh said:

Is this one also linux based to be able to ssh?

Yes, as mine is running on a PI, with a small touch screen.

On 2019/08/08 at 2:40 PM, shanghailoz said:

https://goingsolar.co.za/2015/08/23/off-grid/

btw, I read your post in your blog,

very interesting,

does off-grid here mean that you are not connected to the gird at all?

or do you mean you are economically off-grid? (still connected, but your are almost zero importing?)