Getting data from Mastervolt Sunmaster to PC

[GeoffM]

I understand PCs a bit, but not invertors. Before I found some older posts here, I bought from ebay an RS485 - USB converter, expecting to simply plug the converter into the Sunmaster and have a long (active) USB cable to my computer. (Or, if it allows, simply take the lappy up into the loft once a month to capture the data).

So today I took the Sunmaster apart, only to find it has what looks like a network cable port not the RS485 I was expecting to see.

Would really appreciate someone explaining to me the best way to make the right connections. I have acres of network cable, and the guy next door has a crimping tool (or whatever they are called) to put a standard Ethernet end on it.

The converter has 6 holes on a PCB with a plug which plugs into the (male) D plug which has the USB cable coming out of it. It's like this one (but I didn't pay that much!) http://tinyurl.com/7lujtxq.

So I guess I need to know which wires to wire to which port? Or isn't it that easy?

Thanks in advance.

(btw I have read previous posts on this but none quite answered my question in such a way that I could readily understand it)

[GeoffM]

Hmmm... I have an Energy Fit monitor which EON gave me. That clamps round your wire to the main meter and is supposed to tell you what you are consuming.

It connects to the PC with a cable with Ethernet at one end and USB at the other.

Do we think that could do the trick??

[jez54]

Find supremetwo on here.  He has Mastervolt and is doing what you want to do already.  He has a pretty picture of the result on the *long* Enecsys thread.

[GeoffM]

Yes, I've read that thread (I think) along with a few others. I was hoping he'd drop by and see this one 

[supremetwo]

So today I took the Sunmaster apart, only to find it has what looks like a network cable port not the RS485 I was expecting to see.

Yes, I've read that thread (I think) along with a few others. I was hoping he'd drop by and see this one  

Hope fulfilled.

Which Sunmaster?

The XS series have the ports as per the diagram below to which the RJ45 cable connects. Do not use the Sunmaster port.

As for the adaptor, one solution may be the serial adaptor

http://www.mastervolt.com/solar/products/data-control-accessories/pc-link-passive-rs485-232-converter/

together with a USB to RS232 Serial Port adapter such as:-

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/serial-rs232-to-usb-adapter-707

A cheaper alternative to the MV item was discussed here:-

http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,14675.msg166536.html#msg166536

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/rs232-to-rs485-converter-6040

[GeoffM]

Yes, it's an XS. I already have a converter, similar to the Deal Extreme one but with USB not RS232 on the "other side". (I'm trying to do this more cheaply than buying the MV one!)

So... I make up a cable with an Ethernet plug to plug into the Sunmaster, using standard Cat 5 network cable.

My converter has connectors labelled  T-/A, T+/B, R+, R-, GND, +9v.

I don't understand what connections I'd make to what. Here's a pic of an Ethernet plug, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rj45plug-8p8c.png. I guess I need to know which corresponds to which, if you can help.

Unless I'm completely missing something... 

[supremetwo]

Shows the locations with respect to the plug T- T+, R+, R-

No GND and definitely no 9V and not crossover. Use of non-Mastervolt adaptors at your own risk.

[GeoffM]

Thanks - didn't work though 

I don't have time right now as I go away for a week tomorrow  but will have a fiddle when I get back 

[supremetwo]

Is there a programme on a disk that came with your adaptor USB TO RS232.exe?

If so, install that before plugging in the USB. Then plug in the USB and Windows should find the driver and allocate a com port  - look for USB serial port in:- Start>Settings>Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager>Ports (COM & LPT)

If you have no disk, try a search on the manufacturer of your adaptor.

[GeoffM]

I installed the disk, the port came up as COM5, and I could see that in the Mastervolt program but when you scan for inverters it didn't find any.

[supremetwo]

I installed the disk, the port came up as COM5, and I could see that in the Mastervolt program but when you scan for inverters it didn't find any.

Had the inverter switched off due to lack of light?
  
It has to be running for the programme to detect it.

Are you using Masterlog beta v 1.0.0.33?

[GeoffM]

Apols for being slow getting back, as I mentioned I was away last week.

Yes, I have the 1.0.0.33 of Mastervolt, and have de-installed it and re-installed it just in case....

Just been fiddling again. I don't think it's due to the lack of light, I reckon it's the cabling (pin outs).

If I have everything plugged in and Search for the inverter, the first Search returns real quickly without finding anything, and a second search goes into a loop using about 45% processor and gobbling up increasing amounts of memory till the program crashes.

If I unplug it from the inverter the search ends really quickly without finding anything.

I've wired it in line with the straight through example above.

Any thoughts please?

[ericw]

I think the drawing in the bottom left of this http://images.mastervolt.nl/files/20061025_Installation_DATA_CONTROL_PRO_in_a_box.pdf may be of help.
I would try connecting your R+ & R- to the RJ45 pins shown on the drawing.

[GeoffM]

Thanks - so we are suggesting just two wires connected? I've wired it that way and will test once the sun gets up properly!

[supremetwo]

Thanks - so we are suggesting just two wires connected?

Try just the two, but note that the drawing is for an R12-RJ45 crossover connection to a data control box, not to an RS232/USB Serial Port adapter and does not show the other pinouts.

The cable for the MV-supplied RS232 converter does not have pin crossover and AFAIK, four connections are required.

I asked my contact at MV for the exact pinouts at the inverter end last week, but no response yet.

P.s. It took 8 pages in 2008 before the 600 was sorted; note the four connections.

http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3529.0.html