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Charge Controllers and Clippers => The "Classic" charge controller => Topic started by: ktazz on May 21, 2018, 02:24:17 AM

Title: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: ktazz on May 21, 2018, 02:24:17 AM
Hello. would like to remote my 150's MNGP to another location and have seen posts about needing a longer cable. Does anyone have a pin out diagram for that cable that explains the number of conductors needed and if the jacks are crossover or straight wired? Tried a straight wired four conductor without success. Thanks.
Title: Re: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: ClassicCrazy on May 21, 2018, 09:36:03 AM
If you look at the existing connectors on the small MNGP cable  you will see that it has 6 pins.  I used a 6 pin telephone type  cord - about 25 or 30 feet and it works fine. Like this one
https://www.ebay.com/itm/25-ft-Telephone-Line-Cord-Modular-6-Pin-RJ-25-RJ-11-RJ-14-Gold-Plated/292535334114?hash=item441c76f4e2:g:550AAOSw1WJZMv3c
Not sure how far you can run a wire - but guess you could try  getting the RJ-11  plugs and making your own - keep them straight through no cross over. Look closely at the supplied small cord and you can see the color wires in the connector .

There is something of a pinout included in the Modbus specs document - at the end of it. http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/classic_register_map_Rev-C5-December-8-2013.pdf

Larry
Title: Re: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: FNG on May 23, 2018, 02:55:22 PM
Pin 1 on end 1 becomes pin 6 on end 2
Pin 2 on end 1 becomes pin 5 on end 2
Pin 3 on end 1 becomes pin 4 on end 2
Pin 4 on end 1 becomes pin 3 on end 2
Pin 5 on end 1 becomes pin 2 on end 2
Pin 6 on end 1 becomes pin 1 on end 2

the outside 2 conductors 1 and 6 are used for LEDs on the MNGP so 4 conductor can be used but you lose the LEDs

Memory tells me that standard phone cable wil go about 25ft but if you use a cable like cat5 you can go 100-150ft
Title: Re: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: ClassicCrazy on May 23, 2018, 03:16:47 PM
FNG
I just had a look at my Midnite short cable to the MNGP and you are right - they do cross over.
Do you know if all telephone cables cross over ?  Maybe the one I used I just got lucky with it cause I didn't do any changing of wiring on it.
Larry
Title: Re: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: australsolarier on May 24, 2018, 07:55:01 PM
here in australia telephone cables usually do NOT cross over. i had to order  special cross over cables.

naturally this might be entirely different in the USA .
Title: Re: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: FNG on May 25, 2018, 09:10:32 PM
Quote from: ClassicCrazy on May 23, 2018, 03:16:47 PM
FNG
I just had a look at my Midnite short cable to the MNGP and you are right - they do cross over.
Do you know if all telephone cables cross over ?  Maybe the one I used I just got lucky with it cause I didn't do any changing of wiring on it.
Larry

for the most part in the US any newer phone cables are mirror image like this, I hesitate to call it cross over as thats a Ethernet cable term
Title: Re: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: australsolarier on May 25, 2018, 09:33:56 PM
fng,
same principle, however you like to call them or to hesitate to call them.
important thing is we understand the telephone cable cannot be straight, as it interferes with the polarity. according to the midnite classic manual.
Title: Re: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: ClassicCrazy on May 25, 2018, 10:52:13 PM
Very recently  I was trying to get modbus working via 25 foot telephone cable plugged into middle jack on Classic. I couldn't get it working and then finally looked at the cable plugged in the end of the Classic and the new connector end I had put on to replace one that was all corroded out. I thought I had put it on the same way it came off ( I had ) but then figured I had put it on backwards when I looked at the other end !  So I had put it on right !  But of course the pinout was reversed from the Midnight drawing because it " crossed over  " .  Though I had taken meter reading on +9v wire and figured out the right orientation for what I was trying to do via that - but then later second guessed myself because I didn't know they were reversed - geez - spend a lot of time messing around with all that and never did get the modbus working !  Will try again some other day .

Larry
Title: Re: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: FNG on May 26, 2018, 07:20:57 AM
ClassicCrazy, The issue may have been the 25ft phone cable, Try a piece of cat 5 with 6 pin ends on it
Title: Re: MNGP remote Installation cable build info
Post by: ClassicCrazy on May 26, 2018, 09:22:30 AM
Good point - I have some Cat5 and Cat6 cable and some more connectors on order .
Maybe the wrong long cable was the source of my frustration - though the MNGP seemed to work okay with it.

Larry