A Forum run by Enthusiasts of MidNite Solar

Charge Controllers and Clippers => The "KID" charge controller => Topic started by: Mario on August 12, 2015, 06:22:52 PM

Title: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Mario on August 12, 2015, 06:22:52 PM
Well for all the Beta testers and kid users and abusers
What's new:
-Improved Mppt Solar Fast tracking and optimized continuous max power search.

There are not any settings to be set and the mode is the same Solar. Under certain conditions the unit will output more watts than previous Firmware revisions

Please let me know if there are any issues found.

Mario
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: ClassicCrazy on August 12, 2015, 11:09:05 PM
Okay got 1811 loaded up no problem .
So far so good !
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Westbranch on August 13, 2015, 12:12:33 AM
Which OS?

Looking for a  new PC and not comfortable with W10 or 8.1 from what have read here so far... especially as that is virtually all that is available now... and all those FREE UPGRADE offers,  to W10.... sounds like the usual MS way of getting a lot of (un)willing (duped) BETA testers quickly...
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: SM-Viper on August 13, 2015, 07:42:05 AM
Perhaps try Linux.  Suse version is nice, but there is some learning involved. I will be moving more to that very soon, as Windows is, well, Windows. I'm sure you know what I mean.

-Sean
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Westbranch on August 13, 2015, 12:05:40 PM
I was headed that way, with Suse loaded on my old nice lite, power sipping Eee notebook to use for full time monitoring my classics and then AIR dropped Linux from their supported OS's and I just dropped the idea...

Mario is thee Kid FW up-datable with Linux?
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Mario on August 13, 2015, 01:19:35 PM
The Kid Firmware is updatable with W8,W7,XP, Linux and also with W8.1 and W10 by installing the W8.1 updater on the computer, that file can be found in the midnite website under firmware for the kid.

Mario
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: SM-Viper on August 14, 2015, 02:13:11 PM
Have you tried VirtualBox?
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: caribou on August 15, 2015, 11:11:07 AM
Hello Mario,

In this version, is there an update of register to get access of SOC and other variable?

Thanks for the update!

Jean-Francois
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Westbranch on August 15, 2015, 12:23:51 PM
Quote from: SM-Viper on August 14, 2015, 02:13:11 PM
Have you tried VirtualBox?

No, first I have heard of it...  what do you have it running on?
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Westbranch on August 16, 2015, 02:47:11 PM
Had a chat with a buddy that is a techie and he dug up this as a possible solution to stay with Linux.  Not conversant enough to say it looks possible...

http://jcward.com/Installing+AIR+Apps+On+Linux
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: inedible on August 19, 2015, 03:00:25 PM
Hi there,

So, first of all, I'd like to say Windows10 works fine for this update, and all other The Kid updates. Just apply the Windows 8.1 registry patch and it works perfectly.
I just spent twenty minutes trying to research why The Kid software might need Adobe AIR, only to eventually realize you're probably talking about the Classic. Maybe you ought to start a new thread about that.

ANYWAY, I've updated to the 1811 firmware, and everything seems to be okay except one strange thing.
The 1wk LED is blinking rapidly, and the 2wk blinks occasionally. I've tried changing the LED mode to Normal, BCM, or Off, and the LEDs continue to blink. In Rick mode, those two LEDs are solid. Test and play modes function normally, as you might expect.
Are these LEDs being used for diagnostic status of some sort? It looks like it's tied to idk, cpu usage? It's blinking rapidly and somewhat randomly when I press buttons, but when it's idling it only blinks once in a while. Looks like it could be some debug mode was left on? Not sure if I should be worried or not.

Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Mario on August 19, 2015, 03:40:11 PM
Hello inedible,
You are correct the 1WK and 2WK leds were being used for debugging, good thing you mentioned that, I will disable it for the production release.
You dont have to worry for now as it means no harm, it indicates that the code is getting to a specific part of the code which is good, it will happen randomly and change under different conditions.

May I ask what are your battery voltage and Input voltage to the kid? some more info on the system would be great.

Thanks all for the feedback.

Mario
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: inedible on August 19, 2015, 04:53:43 PM
Hi Mario, I've got a bit of a unique setup. I'm charging a single 12v 100AH AGM using either a single 100W flexible monocrystaline panel or 1x 100W in serial with 4x 50W flexible mono panels in sets of two in parallel. So, (100W) - (50+50W) - (50W+50W).

The panels have a VOC of 21.2v, a VMP of 17.7v. In use I'm seeing between 14 and 16v off the 100W, and 55v off the 3 in series. I think the 100W is a bit damaged after a hail storm.

The panels are in and on a bike trailer. I'm planning on driving cross-country on an electric bike. So, 100W is on top of the trailer and will be charging at all times, then when I camp I bring out the four 50's. pic (http://solarnomad.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_20150822_091124.jpg)
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: ClassicCrazy on August 19, 2015, 06:27:24 PM
Inedible - you may like to read Justin Le  cross Canada ebike ride from a few years back. I remember it was fun to follow his adventure. He used to like to ride at night , and would find outlets for charging.
https://endless-sphere.com//forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5652&hilit=justin+le+cross+canada

I think perhaps there may be some other long distance ebike adventures - if you are going to post your trek let us know so we can see how you are doing along the way !

Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Bunkie314 on October 14, 2015, 10:35:30 PM
Twin mode power output indications are twin 2 puts out considerably less than the master. Typically the master output is 150 and twin 2 will be 25. I've checked out all connections and went through the setup procedures you specified in my other post.

Only change was FW upgrade.
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: CDN-VT on November 06, 2015, 08:02:35 PM
Just got my 1740 Firmware updated . Nice & EZ in the drag & drop.
I now have the LCD display able to fall asleep & go off .Best fix for me ..
I was putting black tape over the screen to hide the glow.
Im hoping that I will see a small increase , but were in winter mode of the Liquid Sunshine !!!
That and the cart should be getting updated panels for next year.. Im physical size limited .

VT
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Highflyer on November 19, 2015, 10:16:53 AM
Mario or any other knowledgeable sage,

I finally got to update the firmware in my Kid that is running the aeration and LED lighting for the Tilapia.  Before the Kid was updates, the SOC was 65% with 150ish Ahrs remaining due to three days of cloud cover.  After the update, the Kid thought I had 99% and 228 Ahrs remaining. 

Any thoughts,  do I need to reset something else, or will the Kid figure this out?  How do I now tell the Kid the real state of charge for the batteries if needed ( I know how to set the Ahrs setting)?

Thanks for any advise.
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Halfcrazy on November 19, 2015, 11:28:04 AM
You can not set the % but as soon as the kid goes to float it will recalibrate
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Highflyer on November 19, 2015, 05:05:08 PM
Ryan,

Thanks for the info, sounds great.  The Kid seems to be making more power with 1811 (getting to float sooner under similar conditions), I'll run my test Saturday and let you know.
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Free Energy Freak on November 20, 2015, 06:22:52 AM
Have they sorted the issue regarding Windows? I am now running Windows 10 Pro, a direct upgrade from Windows 7 Pro.

Can I safely upgrade my Beta Kid using Windows 10, now?
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: Halfcrazy on November 20, 2015, 08:07:24 AM
I am not aware of any issues updating a kid with windows 10? You do need to run the registry repair program first then reboot the computer but that is it.
Title: Re: New Solar Firmware 1811
Post by: ClassicCrazy on January 19, 2016, 02:25:09 PM
So if you plug your Kid into the computer does it show up on there as a drive ?

Larry