Status of the MNS COMBOX Project

[aaapilot]

I got a similar response, I'm guessing customer service guys aren't aware/privy of what's going on in development, or they don't mention until it's officially released to avoid support headaches. I think it was mentioned it may be three weeks or so before we see anything.

I chatted with Ryan on the COMBOX and he is going to ask management if they will be willing to use up existing parts to build up and sell some bare COMBOX's to users as un-supported hardware.  Then all you would need is to ask me for the code to play with.  I have it talking to the new MNAIO-10K All-in-One inverter as well as the MNPowerFlo5 battery now.  The MNCOMBOX has a working builtin power supply that takes 9-12VDC via 2.1mm coaxal power jack.  I just received some 36-60V to 12V power supplies to test to see if I can avoid Linux file system damage by powering the COMBOX off the 48VDC battery. I would probably have all the raw parts shipped here, assemble and commission them before shipping.  Not sure, still thinking about this.  I have also hooked a 9V battery to a 2.1mm power plug and used it to keep the COMBOX running during a power-cycle of Rosies.

Is there any progress on getting monitoring established for Rosie/HB/Barc???  I just checked Solar Assistant website and the Rosie/HB/Barc are not listed as compatible. Or ... yay/nay about building some unsupported ComBoxes?  It's been over a month since the ComBox was killed and the subject has gone silent. Appreciate any updates


Dave

[aaapilot]

I got a similar response, I'm guessing customer service guys aren't aware/privy of what's going on in development, or they don't mention until it's officially released to avoid support headaches. I think it was mentioned it may be three weeks or so before we see anything.

I chatted with Ryan on the COMBOX and he is going to ask management if they will be willing to use up existing parts to build up and sell some bare COMBOX's to users as un-supported hardware.  Then all you would need is to ask me for the code to play with.  I have it talking to the new MNAIO-10K All-in-One inverter as well as the MNPowerFlo5 battery now.  The MNCOMBOX has a working builtin power supply that takes 9-12VDC via 2.1mm coaxal power jack.  I just received some 36-60V to 12V power supplies to test to see if I can avoid Linux file system damage by powering the COMBOX off the 48VDC battery. I would probably have all the raw parts shipped here, assemble and commission them before shipping.  Not sure, still thinking about this.  I have also hooked a 9V battery to a 2.1mm power plug and used it to keep the COMBOX running during a power-cycle of Rosies.

Is there any progress on getting monitoring established for Rosie/HB/Barc???  I just checked Solar Assistant website and the Rosie/HB/Barc are not listed as compatible. Or ... yay/nay about building some unsupported ComBoxes?  It's been over a month since the ComBox was killed and the subject has gone silent. Appreciate any updates


Dave

I'll bump my post to the top.  FNG or Whizbandit, can you update the forum for monitoring Rosie/HB/Barc please.  Thanks.

Dave

[ClassicCrazy]

Dave,
Do you know how to run Node Red ?
There is some work being done to have that do some monitoring.
I haven't had time to play with it yet though because I am busy putting up some more PV before winter .
Larry

[aaapilot]

Hi Larry, sadly, no .... at least not yet.  As the winter sets in and I have time, I may have to pick your brain to figure out something.  I'm pretty disappointed that MN did not provide a way to remotely monitor their new Flagship equipment, now selling retail for well over a year, after promising early adopters that it was practically complete.  Then it's completely abandoned. In this day and age, I can't conceive a reason monitoring wasn't built into the system from day one.

Dave

[Brucey]

While waiting for solar assistant integration, I've just been using a Cerbo and VRM to monitor my Rosie load as "DC power". Got a second smartshunt to connect to my hawkes bay 90A to track production that way as well.

[ClassicCrazy]

Hi Larry, sadly, no .... at least not yet.  As the winter sets in and I have time, I may have to pick your brain to figure out something.  I'm pretty disappointed that MN did not provide a way to remotely monitor their new Flagship equipment, now selling retail for well over a year, after promising early adopters that it was practically complete.  Then it's completely abandoned. In this day and age, I can't conceive a reason monitoring wasn't built into the system from day one.

Dave

I hear you and wonder about that also.
Larry

[Crisply8719]

Dave,
Do you know how to run Node Red ?
There is some work being done to have that do some monitoring.
I haven't had time to play with it yet though because I am busy putting up some more PV before winter .
Larry

Hi Larry,

I know how to use Node Red. Would you be able to send me what you have? I just got my Midnite "The One" Inverter and I'm really interested in pairing it with Home Assistant.

Thanks,
Nathan

[ClassicCrazy]

Dave,
Do you know how to run Node Red ?
There is some work being done to have that do some monitoring.
I haven't had time to play with it yet though because I am busy putting up some more PV before winter .
Larry

Hi Larry,

I know how to use Node Red. Would you be able to send me what you have? I just got my Midnite "The One" Inverter and I'm really interested in pairing it with Home Assistant.

Thanks,
Nathan

I suspect that The One inverter is going to be totally different comms than the Hawkes Bay , Barcelona, Rosie types. Maybe Ryan will weigh in on if it has the same comm specs. The other question is if Solar Assistant software which was just announced will support above mentioned, will also be supporting The One ?
I will see what I have for node red , though I haven't tried it yet with my Hawkes Bay.
Larry

[Wizbandit]

I suspect that The One inverter is going to be totally different comms than the Hawkes Bay , Barcelona, Rosie types. Maybe Ryan will weigh in on if it has the same comm specs. The other question is if Solar Assistant software which was just announced will support above mentioned, will also be supporting The One ?
I will see what I have for node red , though I haven't tried it yet with my Hawkes Bay.
Larry

MODBUS RS485

[Crisply8719]

I suspect that The One inverter is going to be totally different comms than the Hawkes Bay , Barcelona, Rosie types. Maybe Ryan will weigh in on if it has the same comm specs. The other question is if Solar Assistant software which was just announced will support above mentioned, will also be supporting The One ?
I will see what I have for node red , though I haven't tried it yet with my Hawkes Bay.
Larry

MODBUS RS485

Wow, that looks like exactly what I'm wanting. Can I ask how you are getting the modbus data?

[Wizbandit]

Wow, that looks like exactly what I'm wanting. Can I ask how you are getting the modbus data?

The MNCOMBOX that uses an Orange Pi ZERO but that project has been shelved.  I have ported most of the code to run on a Raspberry Pi 3B+.  The little OrgPi struggles to run 2 Rosies, 2 Hbays, a Barcelona, BMS code and 4 MNGP2's.  The Raspberry Pi has enough power but it won't fit in the COMBOX case.

I have 2 COMBOXS running, one in the Garage for the MNAIO10K, 1 Hbay90 and 4 Classics, one in the WOODSHOP for the others.  The Classics use MODBUS over TCP, the AIO uses MODBUS over RS485.  Since I had the code done for Classics it was easy to just change registers to get data from the MNAIO10K, took me 20 minutes of code work.  My code allows you to get data from all COMBOXS on the network and display on a single GRAFANA dashboard.  Really cool.

[ClassicCrazy]

Wow, that looks like exactly what I'm wanting. Can I ask how you are getting the modbus data?

The MNCOMBOX that uses an Orange Pi ZERO but that project has been shelved.  I have ported most of the code to run on a Raspberry Pi 3B+.  The little OrgPi struggles to run 2 Rosies, 2 Hbays, a Barcelona, BMS code and 4 MNGP2's.  The Raspberry Pi has enough power but it won't fit in the COMBOX case.

I have 2 COMBOXS running, one in the Garage for the MNAIO10K, 1 Hbay90 and 4 Classics, one in the WOODSHOP for the others.  The Classics use MODBUS over TCP, the AIO uses MODBUS over RS485.  Since I had the code done for Classics it was easy to just change registers to get data from the MNAIO10K, took me 20 minutes of code work.  My code allows you to get data from all COMBOXS on the network and display on a single GRAFANA dashboard.  Really cool.

Will your raspberry pi code ever be released ?
Larry