Up and running! Also got the Big Baby Box and breakers. Installation went flawlessly. Used 6AWG battery cables. Tomorrow with hook it up for firmware check and ethernet!
Chris
What size are those wires to the inverter ? They look huge but guess you need them for the big inverter running at 12v .
What was the reason you switched from Kid to Classic ? More power or monitoring features ?
Whatever - it was a good choice. Nice neat looking installation with all the wires tucked away like that.
Larry
Thanks Larry...appreciate it. I am running 0-gauge battery cables to the inverter and between the batteries. I went with the Classic 150 for growth and monitoring.
Need some advice:
Can I use a wireless extender plugged into the Classic's ethernet port to go wireless? I am running wi fi in my home with a Linksys N900 dual band router.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/34761184?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227023274106&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42972317912&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=81464755832&veh=sem
Saw this at Wal Mart.
The Midnite Solar video shows a bridge...confused on what would work. I also want to be able to see the software statuses on my Android phone.
Thanks...
Only 0 wire ? I had to use 4/0 wire for my inverter about that size and that was at 24v so . But your wire looks larger than mine so are you sure it is just 0 ?
I never tried hooking up wireless but there are discussions about doing that somewhere on the group - maybe in the Local Status App discussions.
I really like Grahams midnite monitoring app for Android. My Classic is plugged into linksys router with wifi. His app finds it automatically. The graphic dial displays are excellent.
http://midnitesolar.com/Forum/index.php?topic=2136.0
There is also the Midnite Android version of the Local Status app. I haven't tried that one in awhile but I think it is like Grahams in that it will find the Classic via wifi on the network.
Quote from: Jacotenente on February 20, 2015, 11:01:36 PM
Can I use a wireless extender plugged into the Classic's ethernet port to go wireless? I am running wi fi in my home with a Linksys N900 dual band router.
No. You need an ethernet bridge NOT an wireless range extender
Look for a Linksys wet54g.
Dgd
I use old Linksys like this one - often find them free or cheap and then I flash DDWRT on them. That lets you configure them as Access Point, or Client, or Bridge, etc.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Linksys-WRT54G-v6-Wireless-Router-Repeater-Bridge-With-Heatsink-DD-WRT-/291381523318?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43d7b13376
You can check out which routers will work with DDWRT on their wiki page.
Great forum/discussion. You guys ROCK! Lemme attempt to remember all the questions (and my attempt to sound smart).
- Battery cables - I made them myself...they are 0-gauge, short runs between the batteries and inverter. I know, I know, I know...it is a "12-volt" system. That is going to change once I get some $$$ together and get a 24-volt inverter (thinking Go Power, 3KW pure sine wave would work for my system)
- Old school Linksys Wireless-G router - I had one of those...and gave it away. However, would something like that work with my Wireless-N dual band network at home here?
- How about a Wireless-N router connected to the Classic's ethernet port? Would it be possible to just plug in another Wireless-N router like mine? Not sure if it will act like a bridge...need to research that.
- Android APP - Once the dust settles...I will attempt to get that to work. My neighbor next door is interested and can see my network...and would like to be able to view what my Classic is doing on his phone or computer.
Today I am going to take my laptop into the garage and plug in to check firmware and see if I can view the Midnite Solar software and Classic 150 status screens.
You guys seriously rock...really appreciate your excellent advice and helping me.
Chris
Moore, Oklahoma
Chris
Just keep in mind that only one connection at a time to Classic - so if you are on in your house with local status app on your computer , you can not also connect to it with Android App at same time. This does not apply to using MyMidnite because that sends out data so can be accessed via the web even if you are using Local Status App or Android apps.
I am not a networking expert so can not answer your wireless questions but sounds like you need something other than an access point to plug into the Classic - it has to be a bridge. As I mentioned the DDWRT router lets you set it up in that mode though I have never tried it since I just used a long Cat 5 wire that goes all the way to my router/access point.
This page will let you look up different models of wireless routers to see if they can be reflashed with DDWRT firmware. It is easier to do on some models than others, and if you try it follow the instructions exactly.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/support/router-database
Thanks...I will take a look at it. I just got the Midnite Classic connected to my laptop via ethernet cable...had to set up a static IP address. Utilized the You Tube videos from Midnite Solar. Two quick questions:
1. The Midnite Solar display pop up (as seen in the attachment) will not expand to full screen. Is there a way to do that?
2. For the life of me...want F temps instead of Celsius.
The firmware update took Classic Rev 1923 and Network Rev 1839. No issues.
I think the answers to your questions are No and No
Local Status App won't go larger
And true the temperatures are only in C
Why not? Is there a fix in order? The You Tube video with Ryan explaining the APP features is obviously old...but, the display APP was larger back then and you could change Celsius to Fahrenheit.
I can't explain exactly "why" but there is a technical reason the temps are only in C and it is unlikely to change.
The Local App screen is what it is and I "think" it is an Adobe Air thing.
So, sadly, both are what they are and are unlikely to change.
Tom.
TWO thumbs down, then. Disappointing and unfortunate...would hope these issues would be elevated/explained in greater detail. Both should be fixed...esp, if one wants to display the APP via HDTV monitor.
There are limitations on any product and lots of technical design, security, and programming issues you wouldn't even imagine.
This is a great product with engineers and designers who are very open in even having this forum.
You have to trust that if it was something simple to do that it would be done already.
Plus I believe the Midnite team is devoting their talents towards new product development right now.
So don't be too hard on Midnite - there is already a long list of " improvements" that have already been suggested ahead of yours.
Perhaps you should pursue putting the Android app on HDTV - I think you could full screen that. My phone has HDMI output on it - but there are probably other ways to get it onto a big screen if that is what you want to do .
*not bashing Midnite Solar. Pretty impressed with the Classic 150 thusfar. Just ran into these "limitations" during the install of the APP via ethernet cable to my laptop. Relatively minor disappointments with the temp and non-expandable APP display...however, would be great to have this at least addressed since I am a customer and spent the $$$. I would think customer feedback (even in this forum) would be an invaluable (even immediate) tool for MS folks to improve/modify products. Again. Not bashing Midnite Solar.
Spend some time reading the archives on these forums and you will learn a lot of what has already been discussed in the past.
Enjoy the capabilities of your new Classic Controller !
One side note is if you are researching new sine wave inverters check out Samlex brand for good quality lower cost products.
The Local App only displays in C as that is all boB deemed necessary in the actual Classic. At one time we had the App showing F or C but then we got tons of complaints because the logs where still in C so it was decided that the App can really only show what the Classic gives it. I do suppose the App could do all the math even on the logs but then we also run into resources. As Tom pointed out we have a limited number of Engineers and they balance new product development with feature requests.
As far as the Local App not being able to scale, Andrew would be better suited to answer that than I would. I believe the issue is Adobe Air, I believe the App is a specific size and it Adobe doesn't lend itself to making it larger or smaller?
Ryan
The Local App used to be able to select F or C except for the Classic daily logs download. Even that ~could~ have been
modified but it took too much time to do I guess. I would have been fine to just leave the F/C choice in there
and have a LARGE notice that the logs download information was in C and could not be easily changed to F.
You actually CAN enlarge the Local App but that would involve adjusting your screen resolution to a lower value.
Not exactly the best thing for overall computer happiness !
As Ryan mentioned, the Local App was written in what was at the time, high tech and a cross-format compatible
method of doing things but it quickly became almost obsolete because the computer industry does not
wait for little old MidNite Solar. There does not appear to be enough to go around.
Sorry about that. We can't predict the future and have to use technology that is already out there to our
best ability but yet still not take 20 years to design the product. Almost 10 years now and things
are still not as far ahead as I would like.
Try to keep kids and young adults interested in electronics and software ! We need more techno-geeks
and designers/inventors.
boB