Hi guys, new to the forum. I know this is probably explained in depth somewhere here, but I've yet to find it. Perhaps someone can help me please.
I've got 2-MidNite Classic 250 charge controllers, a MODBUS/CANBUS communications adaptor, and a SMA Sunny Island SI6048 inverter. So far I've brought the system up in stages, first with the 48V, and Generator/Inverter/Charger side... then I woke up the first Classic 250 with a token 1320w of solar input (planned 3000w per Classic 250)... in SMA mode, the SI is running it just fine, and I see it on both the local ap, and the website. I don't see the 2nd unit, although it says on it's display that it is in SMA mode. Tomorrow I plan on providing the 2nd unit with 1320w of solar input also. How do I make sure they are working together, and/or how do I bring the 2nd unit up on the local ap. There was an address change I was supposed to have made (though I might have set it up that way before the MOD/CAN translator arrived) that I don't see a way to change now. What have I done wrong, if anything?
Thanks guys!
I guess my biggest question is how do I change the MODBUS address - it's eluded to in the documentation for the SMA communications adapter, just not explained as to how to change it.
AND how do I get the 2nd 250 to show up in Local Ap, and MyMidNite?
In the documentation for my MidNite Communications adapter (MODBUS/CANBUS), which tech support told me to refer to, that it had everything I needed to know in it... says:
"When everything is ready to go, energize battery power to the Classics. The Communications Adapter is
powered from Classic #1 (MODBUS address #10) via the communications cable.
Set (verify) that the Classic controllers’ addresses are set to #10, #11, #12, and #13 for Classics 1-4
respectively."
yet it does not tell me, nor anywhere else I've looked how to DO this (Change and or verify the MODBUS address).
Somebody please help me, I've tried tech support and they just told me to look at the documentation that came with my Adapter. You know I spent right around $2000 for all this MidNite Solar equipment, everyone said their tech support was top shelf - yet here I sit almost 90 days later asking you guys. Somebody PLEASE help me.
Well they are both up and running, both say SMA bulk... but when I add the 2nd unit to MyMidNite it says DATA NOT AVAILABLE, that it hasn't been able to communicate with it for over 2 weeks. Odd forum, I seem to be talking myself through this, to myself... don't all chime in at once.
Hi Truk.., Welcome to this Forum,
One guess about few replies from others, that you have "received", is that most of the users of this Forum, are like me -- folks like me know only one thing about your topic. And, that most of us know NOTHING at all whatsoever.
This is a terrific Forum, it provides answers on a broad range of subjects, and MidNite Tech and Principals DO regularly visit and post comments here. But they are quite busy with a number of new products, some of which are close to being close to Beta testing, etc. They have many things to do, all at once, so it may take a bit of time for this to percolate.
Could you please wait a day or two, before passing too much judgment on this Forum?
Try visiting all of the other solar equipment manufacturer's Forums, while you are waiting for meaningful replies, here ... OH, right, there are essentially NO other such Forums hosted by other larger solar manufacturers (to the best of my knowledge, although, we do not get out much).
Good Luck ! Thanks for your patience. Pardon the attitude, am just a member, here. Vic
IIRC you should assign a different IP address to each unit-then you will be able to see both of them. ..I used the MNGP for the simplest setup and the the local App for adjustments... be sure to click on the SAVE buttons when using the local App or nothing gets saved.
cheers
Sorry Vic, I'm just a bit snippy that technical support just told me to read the manual... and I've ended up here. More disappointed in MidNite Solar, than with this forum - I'll attempt to not let that disappointment show through. I bought all of this MidNite Solar equipment because I was told they had fantastic tech support/customer service. Wondering if I shouldn't have just kept the system all SMA...
Thanks Westbranch, I've set the 2nd unit to static, and set the IP to the one listed in the work-around in the help section. It still doesn't show up... leading me to wonder:
a) do both Classics each need their own dedicated Ethernet cables?
b) could I have one of these jumpers between the Classics reversed?
c) could the order of them cause a problem ie which one I'm calling #1?
The main (the one the system sees) Classic has the Whizbang JR, Battery Temp probe, Ethernet cable, and MODBUS cable to the MidNite MODBUS/CANBUS adapter connected to it.
The Classic manual is very detailed. This is what I found at a glance....
Also found this..
The SMA communications adapter documentation states "The Classics communicate with the Communication Adapter without confusion by having unique addresses for each Classic. The addresses need to be set by the installer when commissioning the system.
Trukinbear, that's you..the installer. :)
Ok, I must be under chemo fog today (and for the last 90 days or so) I've read this unitl I'm blue in the face - I still only see that I've got to change them, what they are changed to (#11, #12 etc) but not HOW to change them. What is the procedure to rename these devices #11, #12, #13 etc... like menu commands?
Ok, yes I have done the thing with the arrow keys when I set them up... so I guess addresses aren't my problem
And come on guys, while I appreciate the response... I had said that all the help I'd gotten from Tech support was to tell me to read the manual again... you know I've probably done that, right. Obviously I've missed something, or failed to understand something - telling me to re-read the manual isn't overly helpful.
This isn't a follow me issue, this is a MODBUS/CANBUS SMA network issue. Nothing about this device even mentioned in the manual.
Sorry for coming across as course, while it is no excuse bear in mind that I am very sick, and very tired... and oh so close to this whole thing being over. I've followed the directions in the manual, undone it and did it over, and over. What I need is diagnostic help... though I'll appreciate any help I can get.
I undid, and redid it all just a few minutes ago... installed like the manual says (and the supplement for the com adapter). #10 has the MODBUS cable out to the adapter, and line in from #11... #10 has the battery temp sensor, and the Whizbang Jr. Additionally #10 has the Ethernet cable connected to the router - something not mentioned anywhere, which unit connects to the router. Both are set to SMA mode, but it appears the SI only sees #10, as does the internet, and the local app tries to connect but then says device unavailable. I know I've overlooked something.
That bit about holding down the left arrow key and tapping the up or down button could probably be shown a bit better in the manual.
Maybe using bullet points or putting HOLD and TAP in BOLD. :)
Did the tech on the phone show or tell you approximately where in the manual to look for this address change ?? That might have been a good helpful starting point.
I ~think~ that the Classic's temperature sensor might not mean anything when using the SMA Sunny Island ? The S.I. is the controlling unit in these systems and the Classics are just slaves. It has been quite a while since I have played with the SMA-Classic system.
The Ethernet for each Classic must be installed for each Classic to be seen by the Local App and/or My Midnite to work since the phone cable is only for the SMA CANBUS interface to the Classics.
So sorry for that confusion.
boB
Thank you Bob!
No, they just told me that the documentation that came with my MODBUS/CANBUS adapter was complete, and would tell me everything I needed to know. Not exactly what I consider customer service, nor tech support. Also I was just a hair snippy when I was reading thru posts trying to find my problem, and it appeard that someone from MidNite replied to them, often within minutes.... and this was my 2nd post about my problem and nobody from MidNite appears to care.
Something saying each Classic needs to have it's own Ethernet connection might have been nice... one assumes (I know never assume) that networked devices share their connection to the Internet. UG... I don't know if I can get another cable in the conduit without pulling ALL of them out first. Don't know if it's worth the effort to shut my system down and pull all the wires out of the wall. :-(
The biggest problem with the tech support I received is that the information I needed wasn't in the document they referred me to.... Was in the main manual (which I didn't receive. just a quick start guide) not the supplement for the SMA communications adapter.
I don't know if we print out the entire manual these days or if it still comes on a CD/DVD ?
To be fair, I suppose, this post had only been here for one day. (not to be confused with your phone call)
I have an idea for your Ethernet cable issue...
Get a small Ethernet switch (cheap, maybe $15 ?) and use that to split up the one Ethernet cable you have already run out to two shorter cables that can connect to the two individual Classics.
This switch looks OK... Sorry, long link.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S98YLHM?aaxitk=kT1T8NOFcrrI2mrQhDZ-vg&pd_rd_i=B07S98YLHM&pf_rd_p=44fc3e0f-4b9e-4ed8-b33b-363a7257163d&hsa_cr_id=4389511700601&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F71V96zjkizL.jpg&sb-ci-a=B07S98YLHM
You are correct this post had only been up for a day - it is cut and paste from my other post that somehow ended up in FAQ - that when it didn't get any views (to speak of) I deleted, and reposted it here.
In my boxes were a quickstart guide (just the basics) and a DVD (screens & USB programming cable also). I drove 76 miles to the library in Eureka to find a machine that still had a DVD drive, only to find the manual appears to be several versions out of date, with no mention of any of the newer features. I DID find the manual online to be current - wish I'd started out there. Paper manuals are so nice to have (but understandably difficult to keep current in old stock on the shelves)... so are basic diagnostic and troubleshooting guides - though I guess once you've installed one of these properly, the rest fall in line fairly easily. It would have taken me quite some time to come up with the idea (which I recently had) that perhaps each unit needs a connection, though that still seems quite counter intuitive - I'm glad I don't have 4 of them as the bundle of cables that would be exiting that 1" nipple in the last unit into the e-panel would be quite someting. Perhaps sharing of one cable to the router might be an upcoming update?
I do see the 2nd unit (#11) online, and on the local app now - thank you. As for my other issue, we'll see.
Oh, and I'm quite sure the Sunny Island pays no attention to the Classic #10's BTS, as it went wacko and logged battery temps in the 55C range during an equalization charge, and the Sunny Island (with it's own BTS) didn't reduce either the voltage, or current - the battery wasn't even warm to the touch.
Thank you for your help