Morningstar ethernet meterbus converter

[hedge]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4RsnFV9BWo

Interesting new product, looks like you'll be able to make your older MorningStar controller now have a ethernet connection. It's built in to the mppt-60, but this device allows you to add it to other controllers.

Not all that practical in an rv, but I guess you could run a small local lan to easily change settings.

No idea what it costs yet.

[red31]

I can sit on a log and if curious view what I might need to see.
Now that I can see batt voltage 30' away I do that monthly to see what it is before sun up, my load is identical nightly. No goofy buttons, cell phone 'key pad', its bluethooth travels with it as does the controller's.

Liek mr wiz, I'll add a big tablet powered via the controller's USB when one comes available. For now the android app pleases me. It's just too easy.

Thanks, sorry if my way does not suit you.

[Almot]

Red, you don't need to see "all" the adjustable parameters at the same time and at all times, unless you are changing them all the time. Or, if you do, then there is something wrong with the system or there are exceptionally bad sun/weather conditions.

When you are not playing with it constantly, the only variables of interest are V/A pre and post-controller, running mode - MPPT/Absorb/Float, AH harvested since dawn, and maybe for curiosity - running W of the panels. All of this I can see at the same time on the display of Rogue MPPT 3048. 4-line display and full interface. No offense, but Morningstar meter is joke in comparison - very basic.

All adjustable parameters - and I mean "all", even adjustable Tcomp - can be viewed and changed with easy 3 buttons. 30 days log too. I only wish they were making more decent controllers like this. More often you see this feature on low-end models where they are trying to compensate for lack of functionality.

$30 monitor from Ebay would display most of the needed data too, though it wouldn't be an interface.

[westend]

I'd be in on the Morningstar Ethernet device if the price was about 1/2 of what they're getting for one. It would just be an easier way to monitor than using a wire and a laptop.

A while back, a buddy gifted me a small PC with a touch screen. I was thinking of permanently mounting it in the RV. I could then use it to monitor the charge controller and have it as an HTPC. I don't even know the size of the hard drive but an external drive would conquer that, if too small.

There's lots of ways to monitor solar charging. After getting used to what I have, a push or two of the buttons on the Victron battery monitor is about all I do. Twice a year (or so), I check electrolyte levels and dip the cells for SG. That is all I'm doing for charge monitoring since solar does a great job of keeping the batteries healthy.

[red31]

I'd rather see all the parameters on one cell phone screen and adjust rather than parameter by parameter on a controller screen. With a Bluetooth controller and cell phone. Check the garaged home landscape light system from the kitchen.

[Almot]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
My wireless is:

I open the window and yell for help.

I wonder if anybody other than hungry coyote would come, if I did the same.

My controller is mounted where it is accessible. In this particular instance it also means - programmable, right on the controller panel.

There is something to be said for a "proper" interface on a controller. The one that you can use for precise setups, changing anything on the fly and watching logs. Not that I need to do this more than few times a year, - and would rather be sitting on a log than watching one :)...

Monitoring trailer from home? Not likely, without wifi or cell phone coverage in the area.

[BruceMc]

I acquired a serial to USB adapter when I had an old logging style weather station. The station has since died & gone home to Maria (The rain is Tess, the fire Joe, and they call the wind Maria), so I tried it with my TS-45 PWM. It worked like a champ when connected to windows XP (XtraPainful), but not with windows 7 in a VM on the Mac. The software allows only for COM1-4, and 7 in the VM started at COM5.

Interesting setup. I never had much interest in tying it to a LAN, as the PWM to XP was sufficient for me. The XP has since gone down that Windows7 spinning blue toilet swirl....

Now that I've sold the Four Winds complete with that solar setup, I get to start over one of these days. At this point, it's not a high priority but may get done this summer.

[full_mosey]

westend wrote:
Thanks for posting this. It eliminates the need for a connection wire. I hope Morningstar can keep the cost low.

$159.00 each! I have three legacy devices for $477.

Hmmmmm

HTH;
John

[JiminDenver]

Even having the TS-MPPT-60 and the expensive cable I wasn't able to get the ethernet to work right. The serial to USB converter connected instantly to the computer for programming and logs. I also have the remote panel for easy viewing of the basics.

It would have been slick to hook the controller up to one of my hotspots and have it all be wireless. I saw in one video how they used a smart phone to replace the remote panel. That would mean I could check on the trailer from home.

Maybe I should get that working.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

"Is that before or after you grab your home made defibrillator?"


When I want the granddaughters I vigorously shake the cow bell on the patio. It's primitive down here - most gringos cannot endure it and sell out and move back to where they do not have to think...:)

[westend]

pconroy328 wrote:
I only watched a few minutes, but I'd take one of two approaches: plug it into a Raspberry Pi 3 and then let the RPi's WiFi connect to the RV LAN, or hang a small hub/switch off something like an Alfa R36 router.

I heard "serial to ethernet" converter, and if I heard right there are some other ways and products to skin that cat.

I would think the same about the serial to ethernet thing but I believe there's something about the Modbus communication protocol that this new device has.

I dunno', though. I use a serial to USB converter with mine. That would mean the web is only a step away. Does the Raspberry handle serial interface?

[hypoxia]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
My wireless is:I open the window and yell for help.

Is that before or after you grab your home made defibrillator? :E

[pconroy328]

I only watched a few minutes, but I'd take one of two approaches: plug it into a Raspberry Pi 3 and then let the RPi's WiFi connect to the RV LAN, or hang a small hub/switch off something like an Alfa R36 router.

I heard "serial to ethernet" converter, and if I heard right there are some other ways and products to skin that cat.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

My wireless is:

I open the window and yell for help.

[westend]

Thanks for posting this. It eliminates the need for a connection wire. I hope Morningstar can keep the cost low.