Classic 150 communications with Schneider products?

[new2PV]

Will the Classic 150 ever be able to communicate with SChneider Xanbus devices? 

[boB]

It certainly could, but this is what I thought the "Black Box Project" was going to be able to do eventually....

That is a kind of do everything and communicate with any products kind of thing.  I really is doable but
would require Schneider's web box because they will not open up their Xanbus (Can bus like) protocol
for general use.

boB

[new2PV]

That would be OK, if we had to buy the web box only...Cool

[dgd]

Don't buy the Schneider web box just yet.
A developers mail list I participate in has several people making some progress with a protocol converter to
extract Xanbus/Canbus data.  This is using a $5 Arduino. I am watching this as I would like to get the inverter data into a black box web server - a bigger Arduino or Cubie.
They already appear to have succeeded with the Outback inverters.. 

dgd

[mike90045]

Don't buy the Schneider web box just yet.
A developers mail list I participate in has several people making some progress with a protocol converter to
extract Xanbus/Canbus data.  This is using a $5 Arduino. I am watching this as I would like to get the inverter data into a black box web server - a bigger Arduino or Cubie.
They already appear to have succeeded with the Outback inverters.. 

dgd

Will it be 2-way, and able to update settings in the inverter ?   The ComBox, while pricey, so far, is the only way for the user to update firmware, without the "dealer Implanter" gizmo.

[new2PV]

Not sure how long I should wait, as I want to get everything on order very soon , and the  conext mpp 60-150  is plug and play.

[dgd]

ok, maybe best you go with the schneider commbox if you need a 'very soon' solution.

dgd

[dgd]

[
Will it be 2-way, and able to update settings in the inverter ?   The ComBox, while pricey, so far, is the only way for the user to update firmware, without the "dealer Implanter" gizmo.

I will post more info on progress as it happens. I thought it was only (initially) reading data for a web display page but if firmware updates are a regular need then this may not be useful.
What is the dealer implanter gizmo? Is it a weird name for a laptop/notepad with xanbus interface and uploader program?
dgd

[mike90045]

The dealer "Implanter" gizmo, is some sort of box, Schneider rents to the dealer who either drives to your place and installs the new firmware, or some may re-rent it to you.  Supposed to be bombproof.....

I've had good luck using the USB flash drive with firmware and the combox .

[ClassicCrazy]

Don't buy the Schneider web box just yet.
A developers mail list I participate in has several people making some progress with a protocol converter to
extract Xanbus/Canbus data.  This is using a $5 Arduino. I am watching this as I would like to get the inverter data into a black box web server - a bigger Arduino or Cubie.
They already appear to have succeeded with the Outback inverters.. 

dgd

dgd
Do you have a link to the info for Outback inverters ? I would like to be able to see what mine is doing or program it without out borrowing my friends Mate when I need to do some changes.

[dgd]

If you look into otherpower forum under controls and the MX60/hub thread there is a contact there who has made an interface board to get serial comms to/from Outback.
He will provide at cost his interface hardware and free info files on how data is configured. Contact him for info.
I am intending to get one of these to connect to an Arduino and create a web interface to retreive Outback running data and eventually configure an inverter.
I don't own an Outback inverter yet but a 3048E is high on my priority shopping list although did acquire an AXS port last year for use with a borrowed inverter.

Now that Schneider have announced their 48volt .. model and if they have an international version (50Hz 230Vac)
available then I may need to re-evaluate what inverter I should get. Then retreiving Xanbus data will become more interesting for me as I certainly don't want to spend $300 or $400 on a combox.

dgd

[Halfcrazy]

Well if it turns out there is any hope and progress I think we could get involved also as we could convert our MNSICOMM adapter to be an Schneider adapter. Please keep me posted we may be able to all join forces and do something

[dgd]

I've had good luck using the USB flash drive with firmware and the combox .

So how often are firmware updates for the inverter being released? As often as Classic updates?
The purpose of the combox USB port is for a memory drive? or is it available as a serial port for rx/tx of data that is then converted to/from the Xanbus protocol.

I located an 'experimental' C++ code routine for (what the author says) is USB serial/RS232 serial to Xanbus RS485 lookalike conversion. It has lots of stuff about packet framing but I can't understand how it works without some additional hardware to handle the physical layer conversion.
It would be nice if the Xanbus transport layer was just rs485 as converting that to ethernet would be very possible.
Then it would be just a matter of dealing with the data and packet framing.

dgd

[dgd]

Well if it turns out there is any hope and progress I think we could get involved also as we could convert our MNSICOMM adapter to be an Schneider adapter. Please keep me posted we may be able to all join forces and do something

So what is the MNSICOMM adapter? Is it a similar design to the Outback AXS port, at least from the hardware viewpoint? does it consist of an embedded processor that does all the conversion and comms?
the AXS port uses a well spec'ed ARM Cortex M4 processor with 512k and lots of i/o inc ethernet, MNSICOMM similar?

dgd

[mike90045]

I've had good luck using the USB flash drive with firmware and the combox .

So how often are firmware updates for the inverter being released? As often as Classic updates? 

Naw, just 1x a year or so.  But if it's a feature you want (the Gen Support + was  good one, don't need a balancing transformer, it uses the one in the inverter) it's the only way to get it.