Comments on: SolarMax MaxTalk protocol reverse engineered

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 16:46:54 +0000

Trying just to access my SM3000S. I’m a server admin so I think I know a little about connecting networking kit but this thing just does not want to communicate, I have it connected to a powerline network system which I tested with a laptop and works fine, the LAN connecton light goes on when I turn on the ethernet on the SM3000S but the static IP I have set does not show on my router and I cant access it via the powertalk software. 🙁

By: Niobos

Niobos — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:42:05 +0000

To accept either between 3 and 4 characters, you need to change it to \w{3,4}

By: JeroenS

JeroenS — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:39:06 +0000

In reply to StevenMa questions about the script failing for the MT series converters. I have found the issue but I am not a coder and would appreciate if somebody can help me with the following.
Is seems the MT series does not know the UDC command but instead has the UD01 and UD02 commands.
However, this peace of code:

die(“invalid response”) unless $V_MSG =~ m/^\|64:(\w{3})=([0-9A-F]+)\|([0-9A-F]{4})}$/;
# TODO: check checksum
die(“wrong response”) unless $1 eq $P_COMMAND->{‘name’};

Checks the length of the returned values and expect a 3 letter code to identify the returned value. But, we are getting back a 4 letter identification code. I can change the w{3} to w{4} but than it fails for all the other queries.
Here is a query and response from the converter getting CUD02 from one of them (I have two):

Query: {FB;D6;27|64:UD02;UGD;UI1;UI2;UI3|08B4}
Response: {D6;FB;3C|64:UD02=1251;UGD=D28;UI1=F45;UI2=F45;UI3=F4E|0D86}

How can I change the piece of code to also accept both 3 and 4 letter commands?

Thanks in advance.

By: DavidG

DavidG — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 22:09:42 +0000

I am talking to my SolarMax 4600P with these commands, so I am sure the 5000P would be the same.
I am not using the Perl script so I cannot comment on that.
Try using the MaxTalk utility to prove communications (it is also a useful utility).

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 10:45:28 +0000

I have a solarmax 5000 P series inverter which I guess has different query codes than the units discussed here.
I am hoping somebody might know what the correct query codes might be to write to the LAN to get the proper response
I am using the perl script solarmax-test-chris.pl
I have the inverter connected via Ethernet and im fairy sure it’s connected ok because I get COMMUNICATION..: OFFLINE when the inverter is off at night.
When the inverter is on I get:
Writing “{FB;FF;16|64:PAC|0461}” to Socket
Reading response header from Socket
Timeout
Exiting subroutine via next at ./solarmax-test-chris.pl line 214.

Regards,
Chris

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 12:32:40 +0000

Hi Guys,
I would like to regulate Power and Power factor for SolarMax inverter SM80C. Any idea how to do it using some packet? I have MaxTalk installed but I cant find the option to regulate a concrete inverter. Any idea how the regulation packet should look like?
Thanks,
Jan

By: Jeroen

Jeroen — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 13:53:20 +0000

Hi John,

I don’t think anyone can help you here. This topic is about data communication with the inverter. If I understand you correctly the inverter is not working at all.

By: john

john — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 12:30:42 +0000

hi.
i have a problem (error code 11)solarmax inverter 13mti can anybody help me
it dose not work and the red led is on i have no production.evrithing on thai mains power are corecct and the dc power is corecct

By: DavidG

DavidG — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 21:57:03 +0000

Thanks for the info. I don’t like the chances of seeing any enhancements. Just have to write my own 🙂

By: Bios

Bios — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 04:05:59 +0000

Hi DaveG
MaxMonitoring will not work properly with P series inverters. Dashboard gauges fail etc only text data and graphs display, The windows version works partly as does the Ipad app version. It will not work with android systems. IT (MM) will hopefully be updated, but with SolarMax now bankrupt it may never happen.
Bios