Go Silver, nothing like SA creativity.

If Edmund could enhance Victron 350VA inverter, nothing stops you!

"When I grow up I want to be a Multiplus", with the little blue coil picture next to it... :-)

Hi all, 

I am looking for the Axpert 3kva firmware. The problem with the current firmware is it does not display output active power or AC output apparent
power , not on the inverter or as a return string. All other values are workong

Best regards

 

I believe that the second entry on this page has what you are looking for:

http://www.ostrovni-elektrarny.cz/index.php?page=podpora

I have not used or otherwise looked at this.

I believe that the second entry on this page has what you are looking for:

http://www.ostrovni-elektrarny.cz/index.php?page=podpora

I have not used or otherwise looked at this.

Thank you@Coulomb

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

On 7/14/2016 at 1:54 PM, Coulomb said:

So I did the same with the function names window. It turns out that there is exactly one new function, named _sQFTYCommand(). The leading underscore is a C compiler thing; it's so that C function names can't clash with assembler function names (unless you named it that way, and they assume this is unlikely). All the Commands (routines that respond to commands from the PC port) start with the command mnemonic and end with Command. So this is the QFTY command [ Edit: actually QFTY5200, no CRC); this likely stands for Query Firmware ? ? . (Many commands start with Q for query or P for setting Parameters). I don't know what the T or Y stand for. What the function does is to print "VOLTRONIC POWER TECHNOLOGY CORP." and a carriage return. The usual leading open parenthesis ("(") and trailing CRC are omitted...

It turns out that the name of the command isn't QFTY as suggested by the function name; it's QFTY5200. This is an unusual command in that no CRC is needed, but also must not be provided. I hope I'm not revealing what is supposed to be a secret here 

But someone posted something on the internet that was wrong, and it was me! So I had to correct that info.

On 7/14/2016 at 3:00 PM, viper_za said:

Thanks Mike

Do you think it's worth it to just do the SCC firmware update then?
The main one seems kind of pointless then

A colleague has just confirmed that 72.60 doesn't work properly with 04.00, so maybe 04.10 won't work properly with 72.40. So my suggestion is that if you change one, change the other as well.

With 72.60 and 04.00, when the total charge current is > 60 A, then the inverter acts as though the SCC isn't there (except you still see a U2 display screen). There is no solar panel icon, the PV voltage and power report as zero, PV current doesn't even appear, and no solar charging occurs.

For me, in this condition (mismatched firmware and max charge current > 60 A), it also seems to reset every half to one minute or so. My colleague doesn't seem to get that. Maybe it's my temporary connections (longish 8 mm² battery cable, for example). But updating to 04.10 SCC firmware fixes the SCC being ignored when the max charge current setting is over 60 A.

My firmware on a 2 x Axpert 5Kva is 72.40 and 2.40. Is it worth upgrading the firmware. Should one use a computer with RS232 port or will a USB to RS232 converter work reliably. Finding a laptop with an RS 232 port is not quite so easy nowadays.

Thanks for the advice Jaco. I will see if I can drum up the courage to do the upgrade. At least I managed to get the solar generation going again after much fiddling with the Axpert and BMV settings. As soon as I have MQTT working with the RPi it will be time for that challenge or maybe it turms out to be just a piece of pie.

On 10/20/2016 at 10:31 PM, ebrsa said:

My firmware on a 2 x Axpert 5Kva is 72.40 and 2.40.

I've not heard of 2.40 SCC firmware. Usually 72.40 is paired with 04.00. Could you have misread the U2 display screen perhaps?

Quote

Is it worth upgrading the firmware. Should one use a computer with RS232 port or will a USB to RS232 converter work reliably. Finding a laptop with an RS 232 port is not quite so easy nowadays.

I would not upgrade just to go from 72.40 to 72.60, unless you wanted a patched 72.60. However, if you really have 2.40 SCC firmware, that might be worth an upgrade. But if everything seems to be working well enough, then no.

A USB to serial/RS232 converter is fine; as you say, very few of us have computers with real RS232 ports these days. Just be aware of the potential problem with the virtual COM port having a numeric part of 10 or more (COM10 and higher doesn't seem to be seen by the reflash software).

Thanks for your advice Coulomb. I made a mistake. U1 is 72.40 and U2 is 04.00. What is causing a problem is that setting 01 which I set to SbU changes to Uti by itself every now and then. Setting 16 I have set to CSO but only the master Axpert has solar panels connected to it. I have a cluster of 2 inverters just to have a maximum load capacity of 8KW. I have now changed setting 16 to OSO (charging from solar only) to see if setting 1 remains at SbU. I am using AICC-RPi with a BMV700 to control the inverters. Your advice regarding upgrading to your latest modified firmware will be much appreciated.

10 hours ago, ebrsa said:

Thanks for your advice Coulomb. I made a mistake. U1 is 72.40 and U2 is 04.00.

Ok, so then you won't get any benefit from updating to official firmware, unless you need the patched firmware.

> What is causing a problem is that setting 01 which I set to SbU changes to Uti by itself every now and then.

I've noticed that with paralleled machines, the master seems to override settings on the slave, in the sense that if you read a setting on the slave, the master may give its setting. I don't know for sure, but the slave might still retain a different setting, and sometimes what is now a slave may later become a master, so then you'd get the different setting. To make sure this can't happen, you could program the settings independentl to make sure both machines agree. Maybe I've got that wrong, I haven't played with paralleled machines all that much. A friend has a setup where he can power up one or the other machine by pulling a fuse before starting up. It does pre-charge automatically with contactors, so it's quick and no splat.

Thanks a lot. I will leave the present firmware for now. However your enhancements sounds tempting, just have to muster up the courage to do an upgrade. Found that if I set Charger Source Priority (Setting 16) to OSO (Solar Only) and not CSO (Solar First) then Setting 1 remains at SBU. This is very stupid as I would like to trickle charge the batteries at 2A from grid when there is no solar. Maybe I should connect a few panels to the slave inverter which has no solar input at present. Or Voltronic could fix their firmware which would be a first for me.

Thought I had the problem solved but this monrning it was back. Setting 1 changed itself to Uti from SBU. I changed it back to SBU after the sun hit the panels and they started producing power. So it would seem that as soon as the panels produce low or no power due to cloud cover or night time, setting 1 changes to Uti automatically. Perhaps if I connect the panels to the second inverter and make that the master it might retain settin 1 as SBU.Has anyone had similar trials and tribulations?

4 hours ago, ebrsa said:

Has anyone had similar trials and tribulations?

I sat on my hands, I walked around, I watched a movie ... but I still could not resist ... No, we don't, we bought Blue. 

3 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

I sat on my hands, I walked around, I watched a movie ... but I still could not resist ... No, we don't, we bought Blue. 

We have other problems... mostly price :-)

By the way, from the horses mouth again, and something we didn't notice because of how poorly our own currency has been doing: The price of the Multiplus has actually come down by 10% in the last year.

9 minutes ago, plonkster said:

We have other problems... mostly price :-)

Yes we do. No-one is going to argue that one but they do surface 2nd hand, at times with a longer warranty still in place than a Axpert. I you REALLY want to ...  

 

But seriously, since I joined this forum, Me Myself and I, the TTT, will take the price problem anytime over the constant worry and frustration. 

Truth be told I spend a lot more back then on a device that can do 90% less than any Axpert can do today, and power less, but going 6, onto 7 years now, and a few bobs inbetween on controllers (write it off as learning), the fact that it all just works as I set it 6-7 years ago, makes the spend into a no problem ... and my setup is more "complicated" than most here.

Due to this forum I have a bigger chance of falling pregnant due to wind pollination than getting an Axpert. 

In the days of my youth everyone drove a Chev or a Ford. Then the Japs and now the Koreans came along with maybe not the greatest products on earth. Now they are everywhere. I am sure the hiccups with the Axpert gear will be sorted out. Mostly it works fine and judging from this forum, there are a horde of owners out there. With all that collective knowledge and intelligence I feel quite confident about the future. But if the blue gear works for you why bother.

At the risk of yet another V-vs-V (Victron vs Voltronic) debate, a fair comparison would be between the Multi and the Infini (because the Axpert is not a true hybrid). The Infini includes an MPPT though, whereas that's extra with the Multi. So we're talking about 35k for a Multi plus a good MPPT vs 15k-18k for the Infini. I have a vague idea what it costs to make a Multi though, and lets just say that the Infini retails for about the production cost of the Multi+MPPT. Which means either very very cheap labour costs, inferior components, very small profit margains... or possibly all three.

I think it is good for the industry though. Competition is always good.

As long as we're dragging the Japanese take-over of the auto-world into things, one should also point out that as the products became popular, prices went up again. Remember when Hyundai first entered the market? Have you look at the more recent prices? :-)

4 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Due to this forum I have a bigger chance of falling pregnant due to wind pollination than getting an Axpert. 

Jip TTT I'll scratch out some towelling nappies.

 

On a more serious note below 3kW I would probably go Victron but from 4kW up a Voltronic looks very appealing. 8kW pure sine wave capability for roughly R20k is hard to beat. Yes it is not a true hybrid but at 8kW or even 6kW hybrid functionality is not going to be used often.  

Yes Axperts do fail but 60% of systems on PV Output South Africa are Axperts. If you consider that the native software does not export to PV OUtput this is remarkable I would guess Axperts probably have 80% of the market share in South Africa. To manage that there must be some Axperts bucking the perception and delivering reliable service.

My system has now been running continuously for 472 days except for switching off for maintenance. In my initial costing I worked out that the Axpert needs to last 2 years to be still be competitively priced compared to a more expensive European inverter.

I know if my Axpert fails I will hear the chortling emanating from Bellville all the way here in the Karoo. (The "I told you so" will be a bit more difficult to swallow).

2 hours ago, Chris Hobson said:

To manage that there must be some Axperts bucking the perception and delivering reliable service.

Makes me think of the Toyota 1KZTE engine. Well known for having head problems, and generally avoided nowadays because it isn't particularly fuel efficient either, being an indirect injection Diesel engine with a Turbo slapped on.

Actual breakage rate? Single percentages, probably 7 out of a 100 units have needed head work. But still the reputation is tarnished...

Not saying it should be that way. That's just how bad news works :-)

10 hours ago, Chris Hobson said:

Yes Axperts do fail but 60% of systems on PV Output South Africa are Axperts

That is so true. The few I know of that are not on this forum, use them as pure UPS'es. One has a 3kva with 600w solar capability. So there is that also, the even older models.

When Voltronic improves them, not if, when, to get the update will probably necessitate a re-purchased, probably at a higher price which then causes a whole new interesting set of questions for the user.

BUT, be that as it all may be, I will not need them toweling nappies anytime ever soon. 

11 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

When Voltronic improves them, not if, when, to get the update will probably necessitate a re-purchased, probably at a higher price which then causes a whole new interesting set of questions for the user.

Yup, there are some things that can only be said in poet^W^W^W done in hardware. When Big Blue improved the Multi Compact to do sub-second switching... guess what, older models can't do it, even if you put in the latest firmware :-)

On the other hand, I've been quite amazed at what they CAN do with just a firmware change.