Getting data from Mastervolt Sunmaster to PC

[GeoffM]

Thanks. I'm just reading some stuff on R485 standards and I'm also thinking that more than two wires are required - this Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-485 talks about 3 wire connection.

The manual with my converter has the following table.

RS485-RSRS422（DB9M pin）                               
DB9M                1             2           3   4   5      6          7   8   9
RS485-422      T-/D-    T+/D+   R+   R-   GND            

I've now tried a few combinations without any luck (but at least nothing has blown up, and I'm still alive!) so I'm going to stop the "poke and hope" and see if I can get some better info somewhere (or wait for your buddy to get back to you, thanks!!)

[ericw]

Geoff,
I think you have a similar interface to one I have (and never used) the manual for this gives T-/A  & T+/B as the RS485 connections so I think that theses are the ones to connect to the Data- & Data+ pins in the inverter socket.


Well it would show it if the picture came out properly.
The manual for the PL203usb to Rs485 converter has a more comprehensive pinout diagram confirming that its T-/A & T+/B that are used.

[GeoffM]

Yes that looks just like my manual.

I think I tried that but will do so again tomorrow - presumably + to + and - to -.

Based on the pic referred to above (http://images.mastervolt.nl/files/20061025_Installation_DATA_CONTROL_PRO_in_a_box.pdf) I'm using pins 3 as - data in the RJ45 and pin 4 as +. Am I right on that?

[GeoffM]

Just reading the Diehl thread - a link indicates that a (at least) connection might be required, to ground. Hoping to have time to experiment tomorrow.

[supremetwo]

Here is the updated connection diagram from Mastervolt.

Note that they only use pins 3 and 4 for their monitoring software.

Beware of the 12 volts on pins 1,2 and 7,8, which are only used for an external display and could cause damage if inadvertently connected to a computer port.

Example diagram for the USB adaptor (albeit for an Aurora) with just the two wires:-

http://aurorasetup.poirus.com.au/

This also shows the Hexin USB adaptor HXSP-2108G as used by Geoff - note the different drivers for Vista or Windows 7:-

http://www.hexin-technology.com/USB_2.0_To_RS-485_RS-422_Converter-Product-256.html

For connection to a desktop that has a serial port, a fairly simple make up circuit with a couple of resistors and a d-sub is detailed at:

http://www.photovoltaikforum.com/datenlogger-f5/datenkabel-fuer-mastervolt-qs-wechselrichter-t5646.html

The German adaptor specifies 1/4W, 5% tolerance carbon film resistors.

These 0.6W are the nearest Maplin ones, stated to be the same size as the carbon film also a better tolerance of 1%:-

http://www.maplin.co.uk/metal-film-0.6w-resistor-2162

The 9 pin d-sub:-  http://www.maplin.co.uk/d-sub-connectors-1113
It's pins on the computer so you need the female socket.

Please note that I have not personally tested the German d-sub adaptor.

[GeoffM]

...and a BIG thanks to supremetwo for assisting me with getting this going.

In the end all I have connected is 3 and 4 on the RJ45. 3 goes to the terminal marked T-/A and 4 goes to T+/A on teh adapter shown above. There are no transosors anywhere, and no cables crossed over, tied or anything - just two straight connections.

Now I need to find out what I can do with the lovely data...

Dunno where I'd be without the itnernet, and helpful people like supremetwo 

[supremetwo]

Just a few things about the Masterlog programme.

The Masterlog setup pane does say 'Do not run without inverter cables connected and USB ports/drivers configured'.

If you do run Masterlog setup without the inverter connected, you can lose any previous data if the data file is overwritten with a new version.

The default location of the data file is C:\MasterLog and the file name is myLogData.sdf.

Backup myLogData.sdf up at frequent intervals as with other data on a computer.

You can also create a dated copy in C:\MasterLog, say once a week, e.g. datemyLogData.sdf.

You can then always get back to square one by deleting an accidentally-overwritten myLogData.sdf and renaming a dated file to myLogData.sdf or using a restore of the backed up file if that is more recent.

There is the restore day option, which you can use to get back the data stored in the inverter if you do not run Masterlog on that day but only a day total as the inverters do not store minute by minute.

If you exit Masterlog in daylight, you will obviously lose minute by minute monitoring for the rest of that day (I have mine set to read the inverter at 5 minute intervals).

If you start up Masterlog during a day, it will increment the values from the previous day automatically and then continue reading at your minute setting.

The inverter stores the last 30 days outputs. Masterlog setup for a new installation is supposed to pick up the last 30 individual days but the beta and the 'Restore days' function only does 10.

You can manually enter daily inverter outputs for the other 20 days in the database pane by noting the figures from the history display of the inverter and then entering two lines 11.30am and 12.30pm (as per any restore days already in your database), obviously altering both the date and time columns. You get a blank line via the + button in the database.

Enter Pact and Eday as noted from the inverter display and zeros in the other columns. Note that you must click the 'save changes' icon before exiting the database. Hover your mouse over an icon button for its description.

A monthly total in the database is unaffected provided your computer runs Masterlog again within 30 days, because it will carry on from the stored day values.

The help file for the programme is distinctly lacking. Hopefully that and the 10/30 day issue will be corrected with an update that is due soon.

[electro2701]

Thanks for all the help, I have used an RS232 to 485 converter off ebay (£4-99) and an 8 way lead with an RJ45 plug on one end. Wires 3 and 4, doesnt matter which end you count them from, are connected to two terminals marked RT+ and RT-. Pin 3 happens to go to RT- and 4 to RT+ but I am sure it doesnt matter because they merely reflect each other in opposite polarities, when one is up the other is down.
This has worked for me, my main problem was not installing the setup.msi for the database after I had run the setup.exe file, but thanks to supremetwo thats now sorted.
Now..
How to get the live data posted onto Pvoutput.org?

[electro2701]

Hello again,
The RS232 to 485 converter I bought off ebay was Item number: 230687868871 or
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230687868871&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:GB:1123
price £4.99


Just two wires required 3 and 4 from either left or right of the edge of the connector.
Works a treat

[electro2701]

Pin 3 happens to go to RT- and 4 to RT+ but I am sure it doesnt matter because they merely reflect each other in opposite polarities, when one is up the other is down.

This statement is wrong! It does matter and just by chance I put wire 3 into RT- and wire 4 into RT+ and it worked first time. sorry for any confusion.

[supremetwo]

How to get the live data posted onto Pvoutput.org?

Few Mastervolts on pvorg and I cannot see a process specific to any Mastervolt.

http://pvoutput.org/help.html#integration

Are you entering your data manually?

If you have set up live data, please share how you do it.

[electro2701]

Hi Supremetwo.
I am entering my data manually.
 Cheers

[GeoffM]

Just rebooted my computer and the USB device has come up as a different COM port than usual, probably because I left a USB drive plugged in.

So all my data has gone (although I am backing it up every day so ought to be able to recover, except today's detail).

That is very unimpressive, I hope the next version of the software is a little more smart about checking stuff before it loses things.

[supremetwo]

I hope the next version of the software is a little more smart about checking stuff before it loses things.

That issue has been reported.

[xuraax]

Hi,

I have recently installed the same PV setup as Supremetwo using an xs4300 invertor. I bought a usb to rs485 interface from Dealextreme which I installed on an XP machine running the masterlog software. I build a cable as per instructions in this thread but I still cannot get the setup to work.

I get to the point where I connect to the COM port( for me it is com 3) but when i then do the SEARCH for invertors nothing comes up and the software eventually hangs.

I cannot test the RS485 interface fully but when I connect a scope on the T+ and the T- pins and run the terminal emulator software provided I get a healthy 5 volts peak to peak signal coming out so I am guessing the board is functional. At the moment my cable is only 0.6m long so signal reflections should not be a problem.

Is there anything I can do to test the RS485 on the XS4300?

Does anybody have the Mastervolt Protocol so that I may try and extract the data myself?

Is the Mastervolt Protocol alluded to on the Soladin thread on this site also used on the XS series?

Any help from you guys will be really appreciated.

xuraax