Android app for the Classic

[casaneil]

Graham.

I am a new Midnite user of 9 months and this App is looking very good and thanks for your work done. I am sure you have plans but is there an easy method of finding 2 Classics through the App? I guess I can enter the other IP and go again or any ideas? Maybe I missed it.

I run 2 networked Classic 150's and in FollowMe mode. Local App on local network and MyMidnite on remote in the UK when away from site. Site has to operate without deep maintenance. Any feed back you need that helps you post me.

I use Android Samsung Tablet Original 10.1 Two years old. Gingerbread? Works good. Windows 7 IT. Usual stuff. Quick question. Where is the Battery voltage measured. Same as Local App? No offence to this project or any other but we seem to gather so many Voltage readings off grid. Outback Fx, Chargers, Controllers and more. What did the Kilwatt say? But as an instant picture of performance. Your App is great and really useful. No PC/Mac needed and a mate (friend) can call by with App and call it back to me when no network available.

Thanks again. N

[Graham]

Graham.

I am a new Midnite user of 9 months and this App is looking very good and thanks for your work done. I am sure you have plans but is there an easy method of finding 2 Classics through the App? I guess I can enter the other IP and go again or any ideas? Maybe I missed it.

I run 2 networked Classic 150's and in FollowMe mode. Local App on local network and MyMidnite on remote in the UK when away from site. Site has to operate without deep maintenance. Any feed back you need that helps you post me.

I use Android Samsung Tablet Original 10.1 Two years old. Gingerbread? Works good. Windows 7 IT. Usual stuff. Quick question. Where is the Battery voltage measured. Same as Local App? No offence to this project or any other but we seem to gather so many Voltage readings off grid. Outback Fx, Chargers, Controllers and more. What did the Kilwatt say? But as an instant picture of performance. Your App is great and really useful. No PC/Mac needed and a mate (friend) can call by with App and call it back to me when no network available.

Thanks again. N

The app only supports one classic at this time, you can set the static address to monitor a specific CC. The voltage data should be the same as the local app, I'm reading the values as defined in the MS modbus spec.

I hope to finish the support for the whizbang SOC% data and the historical calendar view this weekend.
After that I'll probably add support for multiple CC.


Graham.

[Graham]

I posted a new update for my android app at sourceforge.com/projects/classicmonitor

still very much a work in progress, try it out and let me know if it works on your mobile device.

Since I don't have internet at my cabin, I'm working on a 'store and forward' feature that reads the day logs from the classic then forwards them to the PVOutput site once the device has internet service.
The calendar view doesn't yet scale properly, + still working on the calendar javascript code to render the log data on the calendar. (modbus file transfer is done).

next I'll be adding support for multiple CC, + other makes like morningstar...

Graham.

-----------------

version 1.3

Refactores code to use BroadcastIntents.
Modbus Master now running as an Android IntentService.
Added Custom modbus read for File transfer.
Gauge scaled by touching the gauge when unlocked.
Added SOC% on main page
Added 'Countertop' view for SOC%, activated by touching SOC% on main page
Added Webview for PVOUtputs and Calendar (data feeds not complete)
Added Aux LEDs to power gauge

[philb]

Very nice work!
I used the program for one and a half days. It only lost connection to the classic a few times. I'm impressed!

[offgridQLD]

 This new version is great! I like how you can scale the gauges. I like how the battery gauge scales to 8000w +/-  .  The only issue and it's only a small one is PV input current dial has a max scale of 50A. Perhaps 80A or so would be nice for the classic 150 I some times see over 50A input pv Amps.

Another small issue is the text at the bottom of the screen telling me what charge stage the classic is in. That next is cut off a little. For some reason the nexus 7 keeps its oncreen controll bar active along the bottom of the screen blocking some of the text.

Overall this is a very good app that just got better

Thanks.

Kurt

[Cniemand]

The latest release is shaping up nicely, Graham!

One question. When my system is at rest, the voltage is 53.4. In Text view this version shows 53.4v. (as the previous versions did) However, in Portrait, the guage only shows 53v whereas the previous version showed 53.4v.

Am I missing something?

- Cloud

[Graham]

The latest release is shaping up nicely, Graham!

One question. When my system is at rest, the voltage is 53.4. In Text view this version shows 53.4v. (as the previous versions did) However, in Portrait, the guage only shows 53v whereas the previous version showed 53.4v.

Am I missing something?

- Cloud

I did a fair amount of re-factoring of the code last weekend, it's probably something I did, I'll post another update this weekend.


Graham.

[casaneil]

The Monitor App is way better now. Thanks. I have it on an older Android and I need to Force Stop in Manage Apps. If not it seems to clash with the Midnite PC local App. After a reset all is OK. I may be missing something. Task manager says it's stopped. I am aware that apps cannot be up and running together and this is much an android issue.

Clarity and the new scaling is excellent. Can't wait for the multiple Classics function.

[Graham]

The Monitor App is way better now. Thanks. I have it on an older Android and I need to Force Stop in Manage Apps. If not it seems to clash with the Midnite PC local App. After a reset all is OK. I may be missing something. Task manager says it's stopped. I am aware that apps cannot be up and running together and this is much an android issue.

Clarity and the new scaling is excellent. Can't wait for the multiple Classics function.

I put a test version of the app in https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2x7rxopvr2yft3c/5jNqeMA8fH, could you try this one and see if it clashes with the midnite PC app.
This version will close the TCP socket whenever the app is minimized and re-opens the connection when resumed.
If it works ok, I'll incorporate the changes to the main sourceforge version.

You might have to uninstall the previous version before installing this one.
Let me know how it works for you, thanks.

[casaneil]

OK. The latest Dropbox link above does fix the TCP problem. Now minimise the Android App (not 'killed') and PC Local App works fine now. Close PC App and reopen Android and all settings remain good. Nothing lost. In the new Settings screen Classic IP Address and Gauges are greyed out. Display bi-directional gauge units in watts? I have it checked ON although I do not know it's function. Wizzbang? The Lock Scale is now checked ON. Self evident and a useful function as possibly previous version was not saving meter scaling. Not positive on this.

Only bug is after applying settings and returns to display an overlay screen notification " Connected to Classic address/192.168.1.14.502 " remains and flashes for approx. 45/60secs. Does not occur when simply minimising and reopening in normal use. I will test this further and on a later Android version if needed.

The calendar screen is looking good. To see a snap shot of total Kwh and float or not for each day is useful. When the multiple Classics function arrives this App will go into our system and one other on a 7" tablet for simple but effective monitoring with no PC needed.

Many thanks for the work. N.

[casaneil]

Last comments were based on Android version 2.3.5. HTC Desire HD. An hour or two later I have a Samsung 10.1 Tablet version 4.0.4.

Better results. Small bug on HTC was "Connected to Classic ........" overlay remained on and flashing for 60 secs. Samsung the same for 15/20secs only. But No flashing. Seems OK.

Screen shots attached. N.

[Graham]

Last comments were based on Android version 2.3.5. HTC Desire HD. An hour or two later I have a Samsung 10.1 Tablet version 4.0.4.

Better results. Small bug on HTC was "Connected to Classic ........" overlay remained on and flashing for 60 secs. Samsung the same for 15/20secs only. But No flashing. Seems OK.

Screen shots attached. N.

Thanks for testing this, it's the first time I see the calendar working with a real classic, I've been developing this using a modbus simulator and I haven't had the chance to get back to my cabin to test it with my equipment. Do the calendar values match the results in the local PC app?

I should disable the 'Display bi-directional gauge units in watts' setting if the whizbangJr is not detected, I posted new pictures of the pages on sourceforge https://sourceforge.net/projects/classicmonitor/, this is what you would see when it detects a whizbangjr, you get the choice to view the battery current in watts.

Currently the connection is re-established every time you exit the setting page, I should only do this if the IP values are changed.

The dropbox apk file is a debug build, I'll post a new release build to sourceforge later this week, it should be a little more responsive.

Next I'll be working on the 'store and forward' feature to PVOutput.org then I'll be adding support for multiple devices by swiping up/down.
Once it's feature complete, I'll add the resource files for other languages...

[casaneil]

Yes the calendar values match the results in the local PC app. Float value is also correct. I can send Excel Export files and/or Android screen shots if useful.

Very responsive and quick after minimised then reopened. I look forward to the swiping multiple Classics.

Any more info you need while off site let me know. I'm on site, networked till the 7th. N.

[Graham]

Yes the calendar values match the results in the local PC app. Float value is also correct. I can send Excel Export files and/or Android screen shots if useful.

Very responsive and quick after minimised then reopened. I look forward to the swiping multiple Classics.

Any more info you need while off site let me know. I'm on site, networked till the 7th. N.

Thanks again for testing this, I posted a release build classic.apk (v1.4) on the sourceforge page (https://sourceforge.net/projects/classicmonitor/) that has the calendar data and the disconnect/connect TCP on minimize. Let me know if it works the same, release builds can sometimes have error that don't show up in debug builds due to compression and obfuscation of the code.

G.

[casaneil]

Yes. Latest version release build classic.apk (v1.4). Sourceforge link today.

Tested without issues but only on one Android v. 4.0.4. Samsung 10.1 Tablet. 2 yrs old. As earlier two tests.

I no longer use the version 2.3.5 on a small HTC Desire HD phone. Too small and OS is old. Not practical. It's a phone.

IP Connection address warning overlay now normal on screen after a settings save. Maybe my imagination. My old Android version 2 device deceiving?

Thanks for your input. It is midnight in S. Spain now and post me for any other info you may need.

N