Hi Guys

First of all, may I thank all of you for a wonderful forum and all of your valuable input. I am new to this forum or any forum for that matter and I am not sure where to post my question or even how to retrieve any answers. I currently have installed 1 Mecer SOL-I-AX-5NB (I belief also called Axpert MKS II 5K), I have purchased a second unit for parallel installation. 2 x PylonTech US3000 and I have already bought 2 more. 9 x JK 380W 72 cell solar panels connected in series and yet to buy another 9. I am now fed up with my installer whom keeps giving me the run around and now no longer answer any of my calls. When he installed the system, I received the inverter pre-mounted on a wooden board with no instruction manual, no software CD and none of the included cables. This I only realized once I opened the second unit which I purchased and saw what should have been handed to me. In the last week or two I managed to get the communication cable from him for parallel installation but I still don't have the black and red load sharing cable and I can't see him ever producing it. Does anybody know where I could possibly purchase those connectors to make my own cable? Also I would like to inquire about some monitoring software as I just can't seem to get "Watchpower" working for longer than a few hours at a time on my computer and then it looses connection. My installer was also supposed to help me with that but that also seems not existent. On a lighter note, I have a beep going off when the sun goes down (Normal) and then 10 or 15 minutes later an alarm goes off with no caution or warning message and then again the same thing in the morning when the sun comes out, this I don't think is normal. Does anybody have any ideas? Many thanks and I look forward to any replies.

2 hours ago, Tubby said:

In the last week or two I managed to get the communication cable from him for parallel installation but I still don't have the black and red load sharing cable and I can't see him ever producing it. Does anybody know where I could possibly purchase those connectors to make my own cable?

I have never seen individual cables (or connectors) for sale anywhere - but I might be wrong. I have only found the cable part of the full parallel kit, e.g. here (please confirm that this is indeed the right cable for you as I have a different Axpert model to yours)

2 hours ago, Tubby said:

Also I would like to inquire about some monitoring software as I just can't seem to get "Watchpower" working for longer than a few hours at a time on my computer and then it looses connection.

I can highly recommend ICC (https://iccsoftware.co.za/)

1 hour ago, wolfandy said:

I have never seen individual cables (or connectors) for sale anywhere - but I might be wrong

It's a standard screw terminal plug, available in every electronic parts shop. Costs less than 1USD.

1 hour ago, wolfandy said:

I have never seen individual cables (or connectors) for sale anywhere - but I might be wrong. I have only found the cable part of the full parallel kit, e.g. here (please confirm that this is indeed the right cable for you as I have a different Axpert model to yours)

I can highly recommend ICC (https://iccsoftware.co.za/)

Hi Wolfandy/ Youda

Many thanks for your responses. My installer has contacted me since my posting on the forum and arranged to meet with me tomorrow. I like the idea of ICC software, but can I load it on my computer without using  a Raspberry or is that required? I would still need to get hold of the PylonTech cable. Is there any other place where one could buy such licensed software or is it only online via delivery?

1 hour ago, Youda said:

available in every electronic parts shop

My local shop could not help me when I was looking to make another cable. But then again, I also live in South Africa 😉

50 minutes ago, Tubby said:

I like the idea of ICC software, but can I load it on my computer without using  a Raspberry or is that required?

No, ICC runs on a Raspberry Pi, which is then connected via USB cable to the Axpert and runs 24/7. You can access the Pi from any computer/phone via VNC.

If you get the Pylon cable, ICC can then read the data from the Pylon BMS and control the Axpert's switching between PV/Battery and Utility based on actual BMS data rather than the Axpert's 'guesstimate' based on voltage reading. It hence not only provides you with insight into the performance of your system but allows you to operate your system with a higher precision

56 minutes ago, Tubby said:

I would still need to get hold of the PylonTech cable. Is there any other place where one could buy such licensed software or is it only online via delivery?

I have never seen the ICC software or the Pylon cable in any physical shop (the Raspberry Pi itself obviously yes). I bought my own Pi and then ordered ICC and the Pylon cable through their website. The software was delivered electronically within a matter of hours and the cable arrived a couple of days later via courier

Thanks Wolfandy, like I said before, hopefully my installer will meet me tomorrow and produce what is needed. If not, I will have to take the change and make an internet purchase. It's a lot of money to be wasted with the type of delivery services we have in our beautiful country. I will however have to take that chance.

Thanks, Tubby