A Forum run by Enthusiasts of MidNite Solar

MidNite Solar Monitoring software and hardware => Local App software => Topic started by: Rngr275 on November 28, 2012, 06:34:23 PM

Title: Only see one controller
Post by: Rngr275 on November 28, 2012, 06:34:23 PM
I installed the Local app on my Mac, ran a line from my classic up to my router, watched the videos a couple times. Launched the local app and the controller I am connected  to shows up but there is no drop down arrow from an additional classic (I have 2 200's). I checked the net settings on the controller that doesn't show up and everything on there IP address, etc is 0's. IP 00.00.00.0.00. Do I have to have a cable for each controller coming to my router? I hope not. I checked the manual but didn't see anything that will help. Suggestions? Do I need to do something special in the controller or something else? Controller 2 is set to DHCP.
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: Halfcrazy on November 28, 2012, 07:50:06 PM
If they are all named Classic or any like name for that matter the drop down arrow will only show one name instance. Click the Minimize tab top middle and if they both show than you will need to rename one of them.

Ryan
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: Rngr275 on November 28, 2012, 09:46:40 PM
I clicked the minimize and only one shows. There is no arrow for the drop down menu to choose a different classic. Should the second controller have every setting saying o's? The IP address is all zero's, the next line down all zero's, the next page all lines are zero's. How do I rename the classic? Also, when I click the config tab ... a pop up saying that data has been loaded pops up and then immediately I get kicked out to the start screen and it shows the classic (the only one I can see) unavailable. I can tell from the IP address but it reappears with a refreshed IP address... usually 1 number up. i.e. 192.168.1.26.502 then 192-168.1.27.502
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: boB on November 28, 2012, 09:49:12 PM
At the moment, all Classics will have to have its own connection to your router via its own Ethernet
connection.  Sorry about that Rngr.

There is no way to use just one Ethernet connection and then access the other controllers over the
RS-232 phone cable network between Classics.  At least not yet anyway.

We use a lot of WiFi bridges to connect to multiple Classics and one router when we don't want
to run cables.

I don't know why your second Classic would show all 0.0.0.0's....  Are you seeing those numbers in
the MNGP display in the NET menu ??


boB
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: Rngr275 on November 29, 2012, 06:19:04 AM
That is correct boB.. all zero's on the net menu.

Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: Halfcrazy on November 29, 2012, 11:12:02 AM
I completely missed the part about the second one not being plugged in. Sorry about that. If cabling is a hardship maybe use the one cable you have to go to a switch and then to each classic.

Ryan
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: boB on November 29, 2012, 05:14:36 PM
Quote from: Rngr275 on November 29, 2012, 06:19:04 AM
That is correct boB.. all zero's on the net menu.

Thanks for the info.

Are you in DHCP mode ?  If the Classic is connected to a router, that router should fill in the
blanks.

Also, do the LEDs on the Ethernet jack flash and blink when it is connected ??

boB


Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: toothy on December 08, 2012, 02:31:20 AM
I am having the same issues as Rngr zero's and stuff.

I also thought follow me and local app= all classics over one cable so I only ran one.

boB, are we to assume, "At the moment, all Classics will have to have its own connection...." means one of these days we will see them all with one cable?

I wish I'd known about the cable thing before the the half day of button pushing beer drinking and kicking the cat!!

Wade
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: boB on December 08, 2012, 02:47:44 AM
Quote from: toothy on December 08, 2012, 02:31:20 AM
I am having the same issues as Rngr zero's and stuff.

I also thought follow me and local app= all classics over one cable so I only ran one.

boB, are we to assume, "At the moment, all Classics will have to have its own connection...." means one of these days we will see them all with one cable?

I wish I'd known about the cable thing before the the half day of button pushing beer drinking and kicking the cat!!

Wade

Oh No !  Please don't hurt your kitty !!

No, I don't forsee the local app being able to look at other Classics through the phone cables connected up to
the one Classic connected to the Ethernet router or switch.  It's pretty easy to add an Ethernet switch though
to connect to about as many Classics as you want to.

My original intention many years ago was to be able to do what you are wanting to do with the phone
cables and the follow me.  It is much harder than I thought.  However, there may be some things
you may eventually be able to see about other Classics on the network like kW-Hours or voltage
and power but not all the information from the other Classics.

Sorry I can't be more positive about that.

boB


Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: toothy on December 08, 2012, 03:11:02 AM
The beer is gone, the cat is purring away but the buttons may never recover.

I went and hooked the cable up to the other classic and it's pissed.

So, I'll wade out through the blizzard and switch the ethernet back to the wind Classic and use that one for diversion. I don't know why I wanted to do diversion with the other unit to begin with.

Thanks boB

Wade
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: toothy on December 12, 2012, 01:48:29 AM
I have a cable question. I ran one cat5 for the Classic local app, and one for the diversion ssr, which needs only 2 of the 8 wires.

How many wires does the Classic use of the 8 in the cable? Will she fly on 6? Local app wise.

Thanks
Wade

Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: boB on December 12, 2012, 02:27:55 AM
Quote from: toothy on December 12, 2012, 01:48:29 AM
I have a cable question. I ran one cat5 for the Classic local app, and one for the diversion ssr, which needs only 2 of the 8 wires.

How many wires does the Classic use of the 8 in the cable? Will she fly on 6? Local app wise.

Thanks
Wade


I think it will fly on 4 pins but it looks like all 8 pins are used.  Look at the right side of this schematic of the jack internals.
Looks like they use 4 pins for 75 Ohm resistors, probably for Power Over Ethernet.  J4,5 and J7,8

boB



Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: Halfcrazy on December 12, 2012, 06:29:54 AM
In my experience 4 wires are reserved for POE (power over Ethernet). You in theory should be able to define a pair of those and use them for the ssr.


Ryan
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: boB on December 12, 2012, 04:24:04 PM

From that schematic of the jack, it looks like you won't be able to use any pins as they all look used up.

They could have left 2 of them unused though, but doesn't look like they did on the jack that we use

boB
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: toothy on December 13, 2012, 02:44:37 AM
Half and boB

I take your last 2 posts to mean that the 2 of you don't totally agree on if all pairs are used or not.

If you 2 are having issues like this, I can see my chances of a positive execution of said plan going to smoke and tears for sure.

I can try for another wire when this place thaws out in May. Seeing one controller from the house is great.

Thanks
Wade


Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: boB on December 13, 2012, 02:58:40 AM
Quote from: toothy on December 13, 2012, 02:44:37 AM
Half and boB

I take your last 2 posts to mean that the 2 of you don't totally agree on if all pairs are used or not.

If you 2 are having issues like this, I can see my chances of a positive execution of said plan going to smoke and tears for sure.

I can try for another wire when this place thaws out in May. Seeing one controller from the house is great.

Thanks
Wade


Just go wireless for your Ethernet.  No wires necessary and as many Classics as you want.
boB


Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: TomW on December 13, 2012, 10:46:04 AM
Quote from: boB on December 13, 2012, 02:58:40 AM
Quote from: toothy on December 13, 2012, 02:44:37 AM
Half and boB

I take your last 2 posts to mean that the 2 of you don't totally agree on if all pairs are used or not.

If you 2 are having issues like this, I can see my chances of a positive execution of said plan going to smoke and tears for sure.

I can try for another wire when this place thaws out in May. Seeing one controller from the house is great.

Thanks
Wade


Just go wireless for your Ethernet.  No wires necessary and as many Classics as you want.
boB

I would go wireless but if you already have one cat5 out to the area a simple ethernet hub / switch will do the job. Just connect the hub to your current cable and any Classics to the hub / switch.  Cheap 4 port hubs are less than $10 delivered from Amazon.

More than one way to defur a feline.

Tom
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: toothy on December 13, 2012, 03:01:47 PM
Thanks Tom

I am a bit technically challenged.

I'm ok with wires, hammers, saws and skinning knives but gadgets get the best of me, it takes me years to get to know what they are all called and what they do.

Thanks again
Wade
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: Halfcrazy on December 13, 2012, 05:13:53 PM
Toothy
Here is a link to a switch http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-TE100-S5-Ethernet-100Mbps-Auto-MDIX/dp/B000M2TAN4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1355436683&sr=8-3&keywords=4+port+switch

Basically this one above is just for reference they all pretty much work the same. Simply plug the one cat5 cable from the router into it and then plug each classic into it. The best way to think of the Hub/Switch is a traffic cop to control the flow of data so it does not crash into each other where all the devices merge into one cable.

Ryan
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: toothy on December 20, 2012, 01:53:25 AM
Thanks again guys

I installed the ethernet switch and now can watch wind and solar production from my chair in the house.

Thanks
Wade
Title: Re: Only see one controller
Post by: TomW on December 20, 2012, 02:05:56 PM
Quote from: toothy on December 20, 2012, 01:53:25 AM
Thanks again guys

I installed the ethernet switch and now can watch wind and solar production from my chair in the house.

Thanks
Wade

Wade;

It sure is nice to be able to spy on them.  :o ;D

Glad it worked for you.

Tom