Status of the MNS COMBOX Project

[Brucey]

NOW THE BAD NEWS - Seems the little Orange Pi Zero is running hard to keep up with all the tasks, running way too hot for me, I have seen 90C on the CPU temperature data I just started logging to the database. There may be a limit on the number of devices it will comfortably support. I am testing 2 Rosies, 1 Barcelona, 1 Hawkes Bay and that seems to much.  3 Devices and the MNGP2 may be the limit. A CPU heat sink and small FAN is a must now. I have some small 5V 1" sq fans to test with.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS - I have ported most of the code over to run on a Raspberry Pi 3B+ and it seems to handle my devices.  No, it will not fit in the MNCOMBOX case so I decided if I have to get a bigger case for mine I'll switch to a 4-Line x 20 chr Blue LCD display.

Would the commbox also be used for comms with b17s? Just wondering if each of the five modules would be considered a separate component like a Rosie, HB etc, or if it's rolled up in the chassis to present as one enclosure/frame with 5 subcomponents Otherwise may run out of resources on the commbox?

[boB]

Would the commbox also be used for comms with b17s? Just wondering if each of the five modules would be considered a separate component like a Rosie, HB etc, or if it's rolled up in the chassis to present as one enclosure/frame with 5 subcomponents Otherwise may run out of resources on the commbox?

Yes, probably 

At this time, it certainly could and is compatible with what we are doing with Canbus.

The commbox has already verified it talks to the B17 and back and forth.

[Off Grid Salt Spring]

Hi, perhaps your sick of people asking, but is there any approx eta when the Combox might make it to market? I really enjoyed installing my last Rosie, and am looking forward to the next ones, however the lack of integration and especially online monitoring for the devices are a turn-off for remote users these days.

Thanks for your work! Looking forward to it.

Damien
Off Grid Salt Spring
Positive Power Systems

[Wizbandit]

I'm going to say the Midnite COMBOX project is dead.  There is no path forward for a sustaining engineer to work the project and deal with the needed hardware changes.  There is no support mechanism plan in place, there would be no phone support which Midnite has always required.  I worked on all the present Python code for all the Midnite products running on the COMBOX and with some limitations have most of the bugs worked out.  I even added some code and built an engine to gather data from the MN-ONE AIO 10K inverter system which is pretty cool to look at.  I even made a bridge to get the Classic on the CANBUS and controlled from a MNGP2 which was not easy but the development version works mostly and is pretty cool.

It looks like Management is turning over monitoring to Solar Assistant.  They will be handling all the hardware, software and support issues.  I'm not in favor of their EULA as it it pretty restrictive as most software developers have become with their specialized software. One thing I didn't like is if you want to change to say a bigger Raspberry Pi, you get to move your paid license ONE TIME, after that you need to buy the license again, pretty hinky. You need to ask them when they will be adding MN products to their software.

Here is the web site:  https://solar-assistant.io/

As you will see they have found you need minimum requirements from a Raspberry Pi to work dependably. The little Orange Pi ZERO used in the MNCOMBOX was under-powered.  The case was sealed and it ran hot without ventilation and a small 5V fan.

I will at some point finish porting all my code over to run on a $35 Raspberry Pi 3B+ and include instructions on how to setup and run your own if there is interest.

[Brucey]

I'm going to say the Midnite COMBOX project is dead.  There is no path forward for a sustaining engineer to work the project and deal with the needed hardware changes.  There is no support mechanism plan in place, there would be no phone support which Midnite has always required.  I worked on all the present Python code for all the Midnite products running on the COMBOX and with some limitations have most of the bugs worked out.  I even added some code and built an engine to gather data from the MN-ONE AIO 10K inverter system which is pretty cool to look at.  I even made a bridge to get the Classic on the CANBUS and controlled from a MNGP2 which was not easy but the development version works mostly and is pretty cool.

It looks like Management is turning over monitoring to Solar Assistant.  They will be handling all the hardware, software and support issues.  I'm not in favor of their EULA as it it pretty restrictive as most software developers have become with their specialized software. One thing I didn't like is if you want to change to say a bigger Raspberry Pi, you get to move your paid license ONE TIME, after that you need to buy the license again, pretty hinky. You need to ask them when they will be adding MN products to their software.

Here is the web site:  https://solar-assistant.io/

As you will see they have found you need minimum requirements from a Raspberry Pi to work dependably. The little Orange Pi ZERO used in the MNCOMBOX was under-powered.  The case was sealed and it ran hot without ventilation and a small 5V fan.

I will at some point finish porting all my code over to run on a $35 Raspberry Pi 3B+ and include instructions on how to setup and run your own if there is interest.

Thanks for your efforts on this despite the ultimate ending. So looks like solar assistant would be around $56 for the license, provide own pi of appropriate type, and then a USB cable to connect to Rosie canbus?

Can you help on which one of these would work?

https://solar-assistant.io/shop

Or is Rosie support for Solar Assistant still a work in progress on their end?

Oops nevermind should have read better.

"You need to ask them when they will be adding MN products to their software."

[aaapilot]

I will at some point finish porting all my code over to run on a $35 Raspberry Pi 3B+ and include instructions on how to setup and run your own if there is interest.

Hey James, I would be super interested in trying your code when you have time! (I would bet there are quit a few of us, running both Classic & HB/Barc/Rosie in the same system.). Can't thank you enough for your efforts and hard work on the COMBOX.  It was once resurrected from the fire .... could happen again some day?   Maybe its new name then will be the Phoenix

Just downloaded and flashed a card w/solar-assistant to use w/my existing Pi4.  Might as well get it connected to my Pytes batteries and have it ready when the Midnite Canbus libraries are uploaded.

Dave

[Barry Fields]

I'm going to say the Midnite COMBOX project is dead.

Saddens me to see efforts like yours come to an end.

Try to look forward to other opportunities.

Barry

[ClassicCrazy]

I will at some point finish porting all my code over to run on a $35 Raspberry Pi 3B+ and include instructions on how to setup and run your own if there is interest.

Yes I am also interested in anything that you release. The main thing I want is to just monitor my Hawkes Bay. Some of us can probably make something work from your efforts.
Thanks,
Larry

[Vic]

I'm going to say the Midnite COMBOX project is dead.  There is no path forward for a sustaining engineer to work the project and deal with the needed hardware changes.  There is no support mechanism plan in place, there would be no phone support which Midnite has always required.  I worked on all the present Python code for all the Midnite products running on the COMBOX and with some limitations have most of the bugs worked out.  I even added some code and built an engine to gather data from the MN-ONE AIO 10K inverter system which is pretty cool to look at.  I even made a bridge to get the Classic on the CANBUS and controlled from a MNGP2 which was not easy but the development version works mostly and is pretty cool.

It looks like Management is turning over monitoring to Solar Assistant.  They will be handling all the hardware, software and support issues.  I'm not in favor of their EULA as it it pretty restrictive as most software developers have become with their specialized software. One thing I didn't like is if you want to change to say a bigger Raspberry Pi, you get to move your paid license ONE TIME, after that you need to buy the license again, pretty hinky. You need to ask them when they will be adding MN products to their software.

Here is the web site:  https://solar-assistant.io/

As you will see they have found you need minimum requirements from a Raspberry Pi to work dependably. The little Orange Pi ZERO used in the MNCOMBOX was under-powered.  The case was sealed and it ran hot without ventilation and a small 5V fan.

I will at some point finish porting all my code over to run on a $35 Raspberry Pi 3B+ and include instructions on how to setup and run your own if there is interest.

Sure to hear of this.  Your graphics from the MN Combox, have been quite stunning!

Thank you very much for all of your hard work on all of this.

Take care,    Vic

[boB]

Sure to hear of this.  Your graphics from the MN Combox, have been quite stunning!

Thank you very much for all of your hard work on all of this.

Take care,    Vic

Right on !  He has done a GREAT job !

[Raster]

Wizbandit:

I am also very interested in anything you would publish about live monitoring. A Rpi with a Canbus usb dongle (I have a Jhoinrch with the lights, works with Savvycan, Cangaroo) can share the Canbus on the network with usbip. Just need the appropriate message info for MN products. Here's hoping. Will be using the same tools: Node-red, Grafana, and Influxdb.

R.

[qrper]

Well that sucks!

mike

[Wizbandit]

Well, if someone can convince Midnite to build a batch of COMBOXes and sell them to FORUM users as bare hardware with no support I will provide the software for no charge.  They do work but not the way Midnite wants.  The idea was to have an account on MyMidite so you could get a way to connect without port forwarding like
 MYSOLARSYSTEM.MYMIDNITE.COM and have your COMBOX reporting it's local IP so you could access it.  This was never going to happen, the programmer for MyMidnite site is gone, the Local App programmer is gone, the hardware engineer that designed the Combox is gone, the software developer they hired to try and get it working is gone.

Solar Assistant will be okay, nothing great IMHO. I like my idea of user customization of graphs, gauges and dials.  I'm not sure SA has that, I have not had time to play with it.  I looks like they are using the paid version of Grafana so they have much more custom graphics on their dashboards.

[ClassicCrazy]

Well, if someone can convince Midnite to build a batch of COMBOXes and sell them to FORUM users as bare hardware with no support I will provide the software for no charge.  They do work but not the way Midnite wants.  The idea was to have an account on MyMidite so you could get a way to connect without port forwarding like
 MYSOLARSYSTEM.MYMIDNITE.COM and have your COMBOX reporting it's local IP so you could access it.  This was never going to happen, the programmer for MyMidnite site is gone, the Local App programmer is gone, the hardware engineer that designed the Combox is gone, the software developer they hired to try and get it working is gone.

Solar Assistant will be okay, nothing great IMHO. I like my idea of user customization of graphs, gauges and dials.  I'm not sure SA has that, I have not had time to play with it.  I looks like they are using the paid version of Grafana so they have much more custom graphics on their dashboards.

I think all that some of us want is just the Canbus code to get the basic stuff like we could get with the Classic. Like volts, amps, state of charge, soc , etc.  For me , I can make and share with others the graphs to display all that in Grafana , others have the skills to get that ported over to do the same in Home Assistant .
I have never been able to fully evaluate what my Hawkes Bay is doing since I would have to watch it real time.
And I don't need to send the data or monitor it through a remote server somewhere. Just need it on my home network. Remote access to data can be accomplished if someone wants to do it with mqtt or using free Tailscale vpn which works on all platforms and is easily set up. I recently learned about Tailscale and am setting it up on my home computer and a raspberry pi 3 to go in out hamshack where there is only a limited public sort of internet . Tailscale creates a secure tunnel that works without doing anything like port forwarding , etc.
Raspberry Pi also has an official secure remote system now, though I haven't tried that yet since it needs 64bit pi which means I need to get a newer Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 model which I may soon get.
I think the talents of those who own the newest Midnite products will develop what we need and be shared for free, much like what was done with other apps that users made for the Classic.
Monitoring is what is really needed right now.
Larry 

[Raster]

ClassicCrazy:

Excellent summary. I would like the same. I don't know if I can figure all the connections out, but will try if the Can data is available. For example, with Node-Red on a RPI4, I have a GPS dongle with FTDI to USB dongle, and also BLE to gather temp data from RuuviTag sensors, and an SDR interface to get temp data from longer range AmbientWeather temp sensors. The GPS puts out a lot of stuff that can be pre-processed in Node-Red. NR doesn't have a great dashboard, but will do initially for the most important live data.

What are the pinouts for the Canbus on the MNGP2?

R.