Web interface to CLASSIC 250KS on local network?

[RickyEM]

Just got a brand new classic 250KS. I assume there is a built in web server, is there? Assuming there is, I have been unsuccessful accessing it on my local network. The router is recognizing the classic and assigning it an ip and the ip information is correct (gateway, subnet, etc.) is correct. Still can't access it. Any tips on how to do that? Thank you...

[boB]

The Classic isn't exactly a web "server" but can be accessed over your internet/intranet.

Download our "Local Application" from our www.midnitesolar.com site main page...

http://www.mymidnite.com/?q=node/7

What it does is contacts the Classic by way of modbus over TCP/IP by that application or
third party applications.

We are talking about putting a web server in upgradable firmware some time in the future.

boB

[RickyEM]

Ok thanks, got the local application. Is there something special about the suggested port 502, or can that be changed?

[boB]

Ok thanks, got the local application. Is there something special about the suggested port 502, or can that be changed?

The port 502 should (normally) not matter unless you are going to connect to the Classic from the outside off your
home network.  If so, then you may have to set up port-forwarding on your router/modem that connects
your internal network to the outside world.

boB

[RickyEM]

Thanks. It works nicely but after a while the Midnite reports "busy" and stays there. Until I turn the controller off and on again (by disconnecting and reconnecting it to batteries).

Any ideas?

Is there a way of rebooting the Midnite without disconnecting from batteries?

[boB]

Thanks. It works nicely but after a while the Midnite reports "busy" and stays there. Until I turn the controller off and on again (by disconnecting and reconnecting it to batteries).

Any ideas?

Is there a way of rebooting the Midnite without disconnecting from batteries?

Instead of re-booting the Classic, next time try waiting a minute or two with the Local App OFF and then try
again and see if it comes back up.   I have heard that sometimes has to be done.

If that doesn't work, please report back.   We will get to the bottom of that.

boB


PS.  Is the Classic set up for STATIC or DHCP IP address ??   What kind of router are you using ?

You also might try setting it to DHCP and then after your router has given the Classic an IP address,
set it to STATIC and press ENTER to save that IP address into the Classic for it to remember.

I have seen routers just start changing IP addresses before for some weird reason.
Try waiting a minute before re-invoking the Local App though and see if things
come back to life without rebooting the Classic.  That's really what we are trying to
avoid having to do.

[RickyEM]

I have tried stopping and restarting the status panel. The controller was "busy" last night and I turned off my laptop and was "busy" when I started my laptop this morning. It is not a problem with the ip which is a fixed ip address. If the ip addresses were changing it wouldn't be able to connect. It connects to the controller but the controller reports "busy."  The only "fix" is to restart the midnite. If I restart the controller while the panel is running on my laptop the status of the controller will go from "busy" to the normal status panel with green light on right. The only fix for this that I have found is to restart the controller.

[boB]

What kind of router are you using ??

boB

[RickyEM]

It is a linksys router...Please note that restarting the router has no affect on the controller reporting "busy".

[astro_optics]

Hi boB,

I bought 3 Classics 200 and one 250, to build a large solar system (by my standards).
hey have good operational specs, and after some research I settled on using the Classics, especially as they apparently have built in Web servers.

I was very disappointed to find out that the web server is not a server at all, and thinking back would have been better off choosing one of the new Chinese Charge controllers that come with proper web servers built in. 
For the money that these units cost, web server wound be mandatory!

Apparently,  voice prompts feature was to be built into them...  a built in web server would be a better choice to implement into these devices, provided that it can be technically achieved (Memory and other constraints)?  If not possible log download via ftp could be an option.

So, I (and surely other owners) have to spend lot of time looking around to find another solution to his shortcoming!

[RossW]

I was very disappointed to find out that the web server is not a server at all, and thinking back would have been better off choosing one of the new Chinese Charge controllers that come with proper web servers built in. 

I'm not affiliated with Midnite, but I think you're being a bit harsh with the criticism there.
Sure, the classic has some limitations with the network that I'd rather were not there, but they certainly are not a "deal breaker", or they shouldn't be anyway.

For a start, I'm going to make the bold (and not necessarily correct) assumption that people using this class of charge controller are off-grid. And that implies the site needs to be at least somewhat aware and considerate of the power consumption of every device and component on site.

In my own scenario, I monitor, log in perpetuity, graph and generate alarms for abnormal conditions, directly from the Classic.
I don't expect the classic to do it, and I would rather it didn't. I doubt what *I* want will be the same thing that you want, and that'll be different to what just about everyone else wants.

I have a server (or indeed, several), located elsewhere where power isn't such an issue, and where connectivity is easier. I've written (and released) tools that use the interface standards used by Midnite (and published by them) to request data from the classic. I still think their devices are miles ahead of the rest. Sure, there are things that could be done better, but they're not deal-breakers. Sure, they cost more than some others, but midnite have a support team and policy second to none. They know their stuff, and they'll work with you to get to the bottom of an issue, even if it's not their fault.

There's also a lot to be said for "due diligence". The specs of the devices are not a secret. If they won't do what you expect them to do, don't get them. If you're not sure they'll do what you need, they have knowledgable people to advise you. Buying a product that's unsuitable for your application doesn't necessarily mean the product is at fault.

That's my 2c. If you don't like my opinion, you're entitled to a full refund of all monies you paid me!

[atop8918]

I think there must have been a misunderstanding.
We do not advertise a built-in web server. We have a Web Service that customers can use: www.mymidnite.com. This is not a built-in web server, nor do I believe we have ever claimed that it is. We offer the mymidnite web portal and the Local Application for free as monitoring solutions. Additionally we have a published spec of our MODBUS protocol for customers who want to use their own or 3rd party MODBUS software with which to monitor the Classic.

[tecnodave]

Astro-optics,

Check out the claims of that Chinese company that is offering a "web server" into their charge controller! If it is the company I think it is their version of a "web server" is not what you would expect. I have read several threads about here and at NAWS. It is not a web server at all. It does allow you access from your "local net" but it is not a "web server" . I have 4 controllers from this company if you want cheep garbage. They are totally last use items. Someone from NZ has some not too favorable comments about using the controller that you speak of. They got rid of it!, swapped it out!

They have never been able to answer any question about their product in the 2 years that I have been using them.

I don't think I should name them but the ET6415N is cheep Chinese garbage! Seen it, had on bench, huge EMI/RFI emissions through the plastic front cover, blankets the HF bands up through 100 MHz,
Knocks out my FM broadcast radio!  Ok we all know I am speaking of EPSolar and the Tracer and eTracer lines.

They don't even know what a L-16 battery is,  <quote>  "It should have no different charge profile than any other flooded lead acid" <unquote>. Their "engineering resource unit"

Enough of my 2 cents

td

[zoneblue]

If your local app loses connection, make sure you have a recent firmware. Firmwares in some 'new' classics can be as old as 1370 ish which, in teh scheme of progress made on it is ancient, and some of the earlier firmwares did have disconnect issues. Not so the latest, its pretty stable.

Id ditto Ross and the others, the modbus interface is incredibly powerful. Check out the blackbox as an example of what you can do with it.

http://code.google.com/p/theblackboxproject/

[Resthome]

If your local app loses connection, make sure you have a recent firmware. Firmwares in some 'new' classics can be as old as 1370 ish which, in teh scheme of progress made on it is ancient, and some of the earlier firmwares did have disconnect issues. Not so the latest, its pretty stable.

1849 had been stable for me since it came out. But all of a sudden it has had multiple disconnects. Actual more than before and nothing has changed with the net. The Classic only running around 850 watts. Have no idea at this time why all the disconnects with the LA have returned.