Just received a Classic 150: ?s on firmware updates

[mrayers]

Hi,

My classic 150 was dropped off by UPS today. 

However, I am not planning on installing it for quite a while, possibly a few years. I am collecting all the parts for a small OTG PV system now, for use in the future when I relocate to a far distant place...

Of course, I would like to keep the device updated with the latest firmware(s) from now on, in case I have a hard time getting the updates later. That brings me to a couple of questions:

- I appears in the Firmware video that the unit must be fully connected in order to do the update. Is there any way to do the update with the classic still in the box? In other words, can I provide some sort of temporary power source, and if so, what would be a good way to do that?

- I saw the other thread which mentioned that a Win 7 instruction video might be comming out. Any word on that? My PC doesn't have a physical COM port, so the ports device was not installed originally. When I tried to add it in the Device Manager, and set to COM 8, I kept getting irq conflicts. I haven't spent too much time trying to solve that yet. But, is there any way to do it without using COM 8--USB perhaps? I do have an old klunker XP pc which I could use if I have to, but I won't keep that box around much longer and will need a better way in the future.

Also, I see there is not a sub-forum for inverters, so I will ask this here too; I will also be purchasing an inverter soon, as part of my collection. I had a particular model picked out, but then I read here that Midnite is working on the "MyTie." Is there a thread or a page that you could point me to that gives a rough idea of what that device will be like? Don't need exact specs, or such, but if it looks like a promising device I will hold off on that purchase until it becomes available (and, any idea when that might be?)

Thanks,
Mike Ayers
Bandon, OR

[laszlo]

Midnite is a great brand to build your system on.  There is an article with a video link in the general discussion for  Midnite's new circuit board assembly machines- it's quite impressive.  They own their own manufacturing process, which should help with new products.

You can use a 12V DC power supply or small battery connected up to the Classic to power the charger while you perform the firmware update.  Make sure to use correct polarity.  I use my portable drill's battery for programming the controllers -- you get the idea.

[mike90045]

I read here that Midnite is working on the "MyTie."

Don't you have to get a liquor license before you can sell that ?

"out of this world."

[Halfcrazy]

Mike
As Laszlo pointed out you need  supply capable of 12 volts and 5-10 watts to power the Classic. I would say if you are not going to use it for a little bit give us about 2 weeks and we will have the new code out with all the cool data logging as well as all the Aux functions labeled and documented etc.

As for the MyTie I think that is still a bit out there in the futur. Hopefully not to long though as it is a real cool product line and will be a ton of fun to build on.

Ryan

[mrayers]

Thank you 1/2 and Laszlo.

I will wait for the new code then , which will be easy, beacuse I am going to have to scrounge around to find a 12-V battery/supply anyway.

Can you throw me more of a bone for the inverter... Does the "Tie" in the name imply it is mainly for grid-tied systems? Will it be mainly for small or large systems?

Cheers,
Mike

[mrayers]

Hi again,

LOL!!

It's hard to believe that it's been five and a half years since I first posted this thread. Wow, time flies!

But today I finally got around to updating the firmware on the Classic that has been sitting under my bed all of that time.



Everything went smooth as glass, of course. The main hold-up was that pesky issue of me not having anything 12V to get the process started (hard to beleive, but true). I eventually broke down and bought 2, 6V-lantern batteries and used them in series, which worked great. I have no further use for them, so if anyone wants them, let me know. 

Cheers,
Mike

[TomW]

. The main hold-up was that pesky issue of me not having anything 12V to get the process started (hard to beleive, but true). I eventually broke down and bought 2, 6V-lantern batteries and used them in series, which worked great. I have no further use for them, so if anyone wants them, let me know. 

Cheers,
Mike

mrayers;

You can use a common 9 volt battery. I have done it several times when I had to haul it to a pal who had a Windows machine to update it.


Tom