I'm just glad i finally got the video out as it's been sitting there unpublished for so long lol. Your board design is great. BTW i forgot to link to your original video so I've updated the description.
Colin Hickey Cheers. If I were to design it again I’d be tempted to add a couple of drilled holes to allow for a cable tie to secure the cable and possibly make eight holes in total for the 8 wires in cat5 and label them as O, WO, G, WG etc. It would make it easier to identify and add some redundancy. Not sure if you think either are a good idea?
Built in cable retention would be a good idea. On my recent modules I’ve put hot glue around where the network cable wires are soldered to the board to help. I think 8 individual wires would make a great addition as well. I’ve been doubling the wires up to achieve the redundancy but then it makes it harder to assemble. In a way a network socket would be the best way but would add to the BOM and make assembly slightly more tricky.
Hi, thanks Colin and Adam for the series of videos. I made a module up using an ESP-12F (just what I had lying around, an FCC approved module with screened can), but had to make a few changes to get it to work with my EPEVER AN series controller (negative earth model with blue buttons). In case it helps anyone else (or if you are ever planning to spin more boards), the changes I made are: - add 3V3 to 5V logic converter (4-way modules are 5 for 99p on ebay, possibly not necessary, but ESP-12F modules are not supposed to be 5V tolerant and its only 20p extra) - add 470uF electrolytic capacitor on 5V input to linear regulator. (fixed continual reset issue) - add 470uF electrolytic capacitor on 3v3 output to linear regulator. (seems to fix residual intermittent reset issue). Whilst trying to get it to work I disconnected the third pin on the RS485 side of the RS485 to TTL board as my working USB to RS485 cable only had two connections. The third pin on my board is labelled in Chinese and it might say ground but as it isn't connected through to the TTL ground I left it floating and all works fine.
Hi Colin. I bought you completeRS485 2 WIFI with box some weeks ago.Just having time now to connect it. I can see RS485-WIFI with windows 10. I can connect it.... But I have no procedure to get more.... LOL.... I think there is a web page ? How to connect (URL ?) May be having more information will help. Best regards Herve from France
They do sell separately the ebox device for wifi comms but sadly it can only at as a wireless access point and not connect to an existing network which is a pain and one of the reasons i did the design.
If it's in a kit form the shipping may not be too bad and i may be able to reduce it further. As soon as you get above 2cm or so thick it has to go from a large letter to small package which ramps the price of shipping up.
Sounds like your from my neck of the woods mate. Just about to pull the trigger on a Tracer 1210an, but I'll be using it with lithium batteries (Banks of 18650 cells). AFIK I'll need either an external programmer or connect it to a laptop/computer? What's the easiest option for this? Thanks.
yup i'm a geordie, you can buy a really cheap usb to RS485 adaptor, around a pound from ebay/ali and sacrafice an old ethernet cable. alternatively you can buy a premade cable for not much more. Let me know if you can't find one. I used a laptop to program and after that you shouldn't need to connect
Happy to say that I ordered your kit off of Tindie and it works great with the Triron N series. Never could get all the parameters to fill in with com0com/com2tcp, but tcp2com worked flawlessly. Great project, thanks to you and Adam Welch for collaborating on this.
@@8bitboomer Awesome, really happy it's working well for you. Your the first person who has given any feedback so far. Feel free to leave a positive review on Tindie ;-)
Hi All, I have purchased one of the RS485 to WiFi adapters and have connected it to my wifi. I just need a little guidance on how to use this with the ePever software on my PC. @Old Time Engineer, the cost of shipping was a couple of bucks. I bought 2 as a just in case. Thanks -Rene Alamo
Half tempted to buy one ;-) Glad to see our little colab is available for purchase. Great work Colin.
I'm just glad i finally got the video out as it's been sitting there unpublished for so long lol. Your board design is great. BTW i forgot to link to your original video so I've updated the description.
Colin Hickey Cheers. If I were to design it again I’d be tempted to add a couple of drilled holes to allow for a cable tie to secure the cable and possibly make eight holes in total for the 8 wires in cat5 and label them as O, WO, G, WG etc. It would make it easier to identify and add some redundancy. Not sure if you think either are a good idea?
Built in cable retention would be a good idea. On my recent modules I’ve put hot glue around where the network cable wires are soldered to the board to help. I think 8 individual wires would make a great addition as well. I’ve been doubling the wires up to achieve the redundancy but then it makes it harder to assemble. In a way a network socket would be the best way but would add to the BOM and make assembly slightly more tricky.
Hi, thanks Colin and Adam for the series of videos. I made a module up using an ESP-12F (just what I had lying around, an FCC approved module with screened can), but had to make a few changes to get it to work with my EPEVER AN series controller (negative earth model with blue buttons). In case it helps anyone else (or if you are ever planning to spin more boards), the changes I made are:
- add 3V3 to 5V logic converter (4-way modules are 5 for 99p on ebay, possibly not necessary, but ESP-12F modules are not supposed to be 5V tolerant and its only 20p extra)
- add 470uF electrolytic capacitor on 5V input to linear regulator. (fixed continual reset issue)
- add 470uF electrolytic capacitor on 3v3 output to linear regulator. (seems to fix residual intermittent reset issue).
Whilst trying to get it to work I disconnected the third pin on the RS485 side of the RS485 to TTL board as my working USB to RS485 cable only had two connections. The third pin on my board is labelled in Chinese and it might say ground but as it isn't connected through to the TTL ground I left it floating and all works fine.
Hi Colin. I bought you completeRS485 2 WIFI with box some weeks ago.Just having time now to connect it. I can see RS485-WIFI with windows 10. I can connect it.... But I have no procedure to get more.... LOL.... I think there is a web page ? How to connect (URL ?) May be having more information will help. Best regards Herve from France
Why aren't EPever providing this as part of their Tracer accessories, it would make a huge difference to end users like myself?
They do sell separately the ebox device for wifi comms but sadly it can only at as a wireless access point and not connect to an existing network which is a pain and one of the reasons i did the design.
Stuart what have you installed so far?
Nice I may get one but shipping may be high to USA. Thanks for showing looks neat
If it's in a kit form the shipping may not be too bad and i may be able to reduce it further. As soon as you get above 2cm or so thick it has to go from a large letter to small package which ramps the price of shipping up.
Would this work with a Rich Solar Charge Controller?
Hi sorry I’m not familiar with that brand you would have to check their documentation to see the pi out and voltages
can this device act as a server connected to a router and permits access in anywhere outside home?
Sounds like your from my neck of the woods mate. Just about to pull the trigger on a Tracer 1210an, but I'll be using it with lithium batteries (Banks of 18650 cells). AFIK I'll need either an external programmer or connect it to a laptop/computer? What's the easiest option for this? Thanks.
yup i'm a geordie, you can buy a really cheap usb to RS485 adaptor, around a pound from ebay/ali and sacrafice an old ethernet cable. alternatively you can buy a premade cable for not much more. Let me know if you can't find one. I used a laptop to program and after that you shouldn't need to connect
@@Chickey Aye I pulled the trigger and bought the kit including the premade cable from aliexpress. Software downloaded and ready to go.
Did you ever figure out why this doesn't work in the TRIRON N series?
Hi Michael sadly I don’t have a AN model to test with so shall have to rely on others.
Happy to say that I ordered your kit off of Tindie and it works great with the Triron N series. Never could get all the parameters to fill in with com0com/com2tcp, but tcp2com worked flawlessly. Great project, thanks to you and Adam Welch for collaborating on this.
@@8bitboomer Awesome, really happy it's working well for you. Your the first person who has given any feedback so far. Feel free to leave a positive review on Tindie ;-)
Hi Colin thankyou for the video ...Would it be possible to do a video of your Solar PI Setup as i would like to do the same cheers
Hi I think it’s been quite a while since I did my initial install so an update video might be a pretty good idea.
Hi Charlie, i put up a video recently'ish showing my setup for you
Colin Hickey Thanks Colin just off over for a catchup 😁
Hi All,
I have purchased one of the RS485 to WiFi adapters and have connected it to my wifi. I just need a little guidance on how to use this with the ePever software on my PC.
@Old Time Engineer, the cost of shipping was a couple of bucks. I bought 2 as a just in case.
Thanks
-Rene Alamo
Hi Rene, are yous using windows or linux?
Thank you for responding mate. Iam using Win10.
Hi Colin, I am using Windows 10 latest creators update.
Hi Colin never heard back from you on this,
Hi colin have you tried the module on your sungrid tie if you have a serial to wifi port in your model as i have 2 units only have 1 wifi module