How to Monitor Classic 200SL

Started by justinbowser, April 16, 2020, 12:32:42 PM

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Graham

#75
it's probable expecting data from the classic and getting nothing
is your serial connection/rs232 adapter connected to the classic's lower serialport as shown in https://github.com/ClassicDIY/ModbusAdapter?

I tried connecting the local app to the esp's ip with the serial cable disconnected from the classic and I get connected but without any values in the gauges as in the attachment
The Android app also connects but keeps retrying to get data...

Graham
Off-Grid Island cottage, Lac Simon QC Canada
370 Ahrs @ 24V (4 8L16 batteries)
4 x 250watt panels on dual axis trackers http://tinyurl.com/hfpkgr5
Classic 150, Whizbang Jr.
Android Monitor: http://tinyurl.com/lomzq3s

justinbowser

#76
Yes, hooked to bottom port and I do not see the page in your image, just the screen where you add the IP and it says the device is not available. I will try switching Tx and Rx on the DB9 and try again.  If both of these devices are DTE then they probably should be hooked together with a crossover - at least that is what I might remember from ancient history!

Looking at the wiring diagram you provided it looks like tx and rx are crossed over.  I have ordered a db9 with screw terminals before I proceed further.  I am by myself with no vise or magnifier and I am not confident in my ability to get the connector soldered back on correctly given my "working conditions!"
Justin B. - KI5GKD
Classic 200SL, 2.9 KW of Mission Solar panels
Samlex PST-1500-24W inverter
Specialized Power Systems 800 AH 24 V LiFePO4 battery bank (4x200)

ClassicCrazy

Quote from: justinbowser on May 26, 2020, 04:45:56 PM
Yes, hooked to bottom port and I do not see the page in your image, just the screen where you add the IP and it says the device is not available. I will try switching Tx and Rx on the DB9 and try again.  If both of these devices are DTE then they probably should be hooked together with a crossover - at least that is what I might remember from ancient history!

Looking at the wiring diagram you provided it looks like tx and rx are crossed over.  I have ordered a db9 with screw terminals before I proceed further.  I am by myself with no vise or magnifier and I am not confident in my ability to get the connector soldered back on correctly given my "working conditions!"
I am afraid you might be in the same boat as I have been - that the inexpensive RS232 to ttl adapters we have won't work right.  I was trying to source the one that Graham mentioned - the one from Canakits - but have not been able to find one. There is another one I am looking at that seems to be better quality and might work. There is still a chance that yours will work fine - I may have ruined mine in a different project a year or two ago.
Yes hacking stuff to do new things sometimes does not come easily and takes some time and diligence.
Keep in mind that I don't even need this new adapter since the other ways for me to get the data work fine for me since I have a regular Classic. But I like to help test out these new programs and connections.

Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

justinbowser

It would be easier if I was at the house where I have a nice soldering station, O-scope, etc!  Once my new cable stuff gets here if it still doesn't work I'll try running the serial board with 5V instead of 3.3V.  Mine is supposed to operate on either but maybe 5V will give better levels.
Justin B. - KI5GKD
Classic 200SL, 2.9 KW of Mission Solar panels
Samlex PST-1500-24W inverter
Specialized Power Systems 800 AH 24 V LiFePO4 battery bank (4x200)

ClassicCrazy

Quote from: Graham on May 26, 2020, 08:16:54 AM
Quote from: ClassicCrazy on May 26, 2020, 01:13:35 AM
Quote from: Graham on May 25, 2020, 08:01:24 AM
Quote from: ClassicCrazy on May 24, 2020, 10:44:05 AM
Graham ,
I ruled out it being my cable because I plugged the MNGP into it  and it worked.
So I have to start debugging my RS232 to TTL converter or the ESP itself.
I have another converter around here somewhere I can try .

Larry

...

let mo know how far you get...
That is how far I got !


Larry


Try using a ftdi adapter directly instead of rs232ttl to rs232 to usb

select the com port of your ftdi in coolterm at 19200 8,1,none with 'View Hex'
connect gnd of the ftdi to gnd of the esp
connect the rx of the ftdi to pin 17 (TX) of the esp
QuoteI tried this today using my usb ftdi adapter  but wasn't seeing anything on cool term. Not sure why not. I may dig around later and see what other boards I have in my stuff which is only so so organized. 

have the local app connected to the esp's ip

I'm suspecting it's an issue with the RS232 voltage levels,
RS232 levels are +12/-12Volts, the RS232 adapter converts RS232TTL (+3.2v, 0V) to standard RS232 (+/- 12v) using a voltage pump to boost the voltage from 3.2V to +/- 12v.
I had problems when I used my cheap rs232 adapter from China, it only worked when I used the adapter from Canakits...
QuoteI just remembered that when I was using these rs232 adapters a year or two ago for the Classic to serial arduino project they were getting real hot.  So I may have ruined the then.

The MNGP is supplied with +9 volts so it doesn't have to boost the voltage as much.

let me know if you see any data being transmitted from the esp
QuoteWhat I want to do is program my Esp32 with just a basic serial program and connect it up using my rs232 adapters just to talk to the other rs232 plugged into other usb adapter - just to see if I can get everything talking so that way I can tell which hardware I have is good or bad.
I looked online for the Canakits RS232 adapter that you have but can't find them available anywhere.
This one looks different than the cheap ones that are available  . https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultra-Compact-RS232-To-TTL-Converter-W-Male-DB9-3-3V-5V-FREE-SHIPPING/233257882314?epid=1575378483&hash=item364f40d2ca:g:DsYAAOSwnhFeoWiO

Larry


Graham.
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

ClassicCrazy

Quote from: justinbowser on May 26, 2020, 11:12:11 PM
It would be easier if I was at the house where I have a nice soldering station, O-scope, etc!  Once my new cable stuff gets here if it still doesn't work I'll try running the serial board with 5V instead of 3.3V.  Mine is supposed to operate on either but maybe 5V will give better levels.

Just be careful where you feed 5v into the esp32 since I think they run off of 3.2 v and 5v in the wrong place might let the smoke out.

Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

justinbowser

It wouldn't be the first time!  I have a pretty good collection of "magic smoke..."
Justin B. - KI5GKD
Classic 200SL, 2.9 KW of Mission Solar panels
Samlex PST-1500-24W inverter
Specialized Power Systems 800 AH 24 V LiFePO4 battery bank (4x200)

Graham

Quote from: ClassicCrazy on May 26, 2020, 11:21:01 PM


What I want to do is program my Esp32 with just a basic serial program and connect it up using my rs232 adapters just to talk to the other rs232 plugged into other usb adapter - just to see if I can get everything talking so that way I can tell which hardware I have is good or bad.
I looked online for the Canakits RS232 adapter that you have but can't find them available anywhere.
This one looks different than the cheap ones that are available  . https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultra-Compact-RS232-To-TTL-Converter-W-Male-DB9-3-3V-5V-FREE-SHIPPING/233257882314?epid=1575378483&hash=item364f40d2ca:g:DsYAAOSwnhFeoWiO

Larry


you could write a simple program to send the following modbus request every 2 seconds from the esp32 on serial port 2 (19200 baud) to see if the classic responds...

0A 03 10 04 00 14 01 BF

this is a read holding register request for register 4100 for 20 bytes with slave ID = 10

Graham
Off-Grid Island cottage, Lac Simon QC Canada
370 Ahrs @ 24V (4 8L16 batteries)
4 x 250watt panels on dual axis trackers http://tinyurl.com/hfpkgr5
Classic 150, Whizbang Jr.
Android Monitor: http://tinyurl.com/lomzq3s

justinbowser

Got in my new cable making stuffs today, made new serial cable and the Local AND Android App seem to be monitoring the Classic SL perfectly!

Thank you, Larry and Graham, for guiding me through this process.  This is a perfect day as it's finally quit raining and my 4th 24V 200 AH LiFePO4 battery was also delivered so I now have an 800 AH 24V  battery bank and I can now monitor everything properly!!!

Youze guyz rock!
Justin B. - KI5GKD
Classic 200SL, 2.9 KW of Mission Solar panels
Samlex PST-1500-24W inverter
Specialized Power Systems 800 AH 24 V LiFePO4 battery bank (4x200)

justinbowser

One minor glitch...  I have to have my cell phone set to being a hot-spot in order for this to work.  Once I turn off the hot-spot both apps no longer monitor.  Apparently my phone is acting as a router so I have ordered a cheapo wifi router to provide a wifi "network" in the cabin.
Justin B. - KI5GKD
Classic 200SL, 2.9 KW of Mission Solar panels
Samlex PST-1500-24W inverter
Specialized Power Systems 800 AH 24 V LiFePO4 battery bank (4x200)

Graham

Quote from: justinbowser on May 29, 2020, 03:08:12 PM
Got in my new cable making stuffs today, made new serial cable and the Local AND Android App seem to be monitoring the Classic SL perfectly!

Thank you, Larry and Graham, for guiding me through this process.  This is a perfect day as it's finally quit raining and my 4th 24V 200 AH LiFePO4 battery was also delivered so I now have an 800 AH 24V  battery bank and I can now monitor everything properly!!!

Youze guyz rock!

that's great, glad to hear that it works for you.

cheers
Graham.
Off-Grid Island cottage, Lac Simon QC Canada
370 Ahrs @ 24V (4 8L16 batteries)
4 x 250watt panels on dual axis trackers http://tinyurl.com/hfpkgr5
Classic 150, Whizbang Jr.
Android Monitor: http://tinyurl.com/lomzq3s

ClassicCrazy

I ordered a different RS232 to TTL adapter .
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OPU2QJ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I still don't understand why the cheap ones I have don't work. I can hook them up to rs232 adapter with ttl  wired to ttl inputs of ftdi adapter and then use terminal programs to make print go both ways. .
I will see how the new adapter does - it uses a different chip on it than the other ones I have.

Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

mike90045

Quote from: ClassicCrazy on May 30, 2020, 10:11:03 PM
I ordered a different RS232 to TTL adapter .
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OPU2QJ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I still don't understand why the cheap ones I have don't work. I can hook them up to rs232 adapter with ttl  wired to ttl inputs of ftdi adapter and then use terminal programs to make print go both ways. .
I will see how the new adapter does - it uses a different chip on it than the other ones I have.

Larry

The cheap ones don't always generate the "high voltage" needed for the RS232 and instead, rely on some other source in the RS232 to generate the 12V   The expensive ones will generate it.
http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar

Classic 200| 2Kw PV, 160Voc | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph )| Listeroid 6/1, st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | midnight ePanel & 4 SPDs | 48V, 800A NiFe battery bank | MS-TS-MPPT60 w/3Kw PV

Graham

Quote from: justinbowser on May 29, 2020, 04:11:56 PM
One minor glitch...  I have to have my cell phone set to being a hot-spot in order for this to work.  Once I turn off the hot-spot both apps no longer monitor.  Apparently my phone is acting as a router so I have ordered a cheapo wifi router to provide a wifi "network" in the cabin.

FYI
If you boot your esp32 with GPIO15 held to ground, it will start in AP mode so you can change the wifi SSID/pw. The led in the esp will flash while it's in AP mode.
+ if GPIO4 is held to ground during boot, all the data stored in the NVRAM will reset cleared.

Graham.
Off-Grid Island cottage, Lac Simon QC Canada
370 Ahrs @ 24V (4 8L16 batteries)
4 x 250watt panels on dual axis trackers http://tinyurl.com/hfpkgr5
Classic 150, Whizbang Jr.
Android Monitor: http://tinyurl.com/lomzq3s

justinbowser

Justin B. - KI5GKD
Classic 200SL, 2.9 KW of Mission Solar panels
Samlex PST-1500-24W inverter
Specialized Power Systems 800 AH 24 V LiFePO4 battery bank (4x200)