Solar Assistant assistant

[MartBrooks]

Hello folks,

I've been using Solar Assistant for well over a year now and I think it's a great product, certainly worth the money. The developers have been responsive to bug reports and feature requests and it, mostly, DEWISOTT.

One thing it has been lacking for some time is better automation. There is automation there but it's limited and very beta right now. As such I've been working on my own automation tool which piggy backs on to SA, using its MQTT interface to control the inverter.

On the off-chance you:

a) Are at least a little bit comfortable with Perl.
b) Use Solar Assistant

..then perhaps you could help me develop it a little faster than I'm managing.

GitHub - martbrooks/SolarAssistantAssistant

Contribute to martbrooks/SolarAssistantAssistant development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Feedback and bug reports welcome.


Mart.

 

[doityourself2021]

Mart, Hi
Need a little guideance with moving from my Growatt SPF6000T -DVM split phase off of ShineApp ... I want to go to Solar Assistant Raspberry 4 PI,
I have some questions maybe you can help me with.
A. If I purchase from Amazon a complete kit - link https://www.amazon.com/RockBee-Rasp...&qid=1713492993&sprefix=,aps,1139&sr=8-3&th=1
Will this provide everything I need to get up and running.. ??
B. As for hook up, I am using 3 LifePo4 150amp each lithium batteries with BMS boards connected in parallel and communication with the Growatt RS485 -
Question- since the Battery BMS boards which are Seplos boards are communication with the Growatt, can I connect to the USB of the Growatt where the Shine app Growatt Dongle is connected or where?
I understand the power of the SA PI, I plan on using WiFi communications via my router and access via my desktop.. is the app loaded in the Raspberry to access the info?
Basically can you or someone shed so light on the proper connections to make this work.. I have a basic idea and understanding , would appreciate any help.. Thank You.. Ric

 

[Brett V]

You will connect the usb where you Wi-Fi dongle is currently connected to a USB port on the Pi running SA. No converters needed, just a simple usb cable. The one provided with the inverter works fine. In the general settings tab of SA, select the Growatt and use inverter values in the battery setting.

 

[meetyg]

Can't you achieve the same goal by pushing the data to HomeAssistant via MQTT ?
I know it's also possible to change inverter parameters via the MQTT interface.

 

[doityourself2021]

You will connect the usb where you Wi-Fi dongle is currently connected to a USB port on the Pi running SA. No converters needed, just a simple usb cable. The one provided with the inverter works fine. In the general settings tab of SA, select the Growatt and use inverter values in the battery setting.

Bret, Hi
Thanks for the comeback.. so basically, my feedback with the PI will amount to the same info I am now receiving from the Growatt Dongle.. however the question next is, what about the status of each battery and it's SOC, voltage and amps .. all of which currently is being fed to the Growatt, via network cable from each BMS board in the Battery bank..
Another question comes to light.. as the network cables are daisey chained, from BMS battery #3 is looked at as Slave #2, Battery #2 is seen as Slave #1, and Battery #1 is looked at as Master, which if fed to the Growatt via RS485 BMS port of the Growatt currently.
Is there a different way to connect the SA Pi with the batteries for that info and the Growatt using the USB. Thanks in Advance - Ric

 

[wattmatters]

A. If I purchase from Amazon a complete kit - link https://www.amazon.com/RockBee-Rasp...&qid=1713492993&sprefix=,aps,1139&sr=8-3&th=1
Will this provide everything I need to get up and running.. ??

Yes but $150! Man Pis are expensive. Pretty sure mine were never that much.

You still need to purchase a Solar Assistant Licence. It might be cheaper just to buy a pre-loaded Raspberry Pi from Solar Assistant.

I understand the power of the SA PI, I plan on using WiFi communications via my router and access via my desktop.. is the app loaded in the Raspberry to access the info?

You just go to the local IP address for the instance of Solar Assistant.

Basically can you or someone shed so light on the proper connections to make this work.. I have a basic idea and understanding , would appreciate any help.. Thank You.. Ric

Suggest reading through their documentation:

Introduction to SolarAssistant

Read a high level overview of SolarAssistant.

solar-assistant.io

 

[doityourself2021]

Wattmatters,
Read you Loud & Clear - Thanks,

 

[doityourself2021]

Has anyone had a shipping issue with receiving the order.. I ordered from Solar Assistant on April 23rd, they show DHL shipped out on 25th, April, from Wisconsin, 26th it was in Chicago and has not moved since. It is now May 5th.. still no movement or replies I have tried reaching out to SA last week, said they would have team look into it.. still no word.. and DHL not able to tell me anything other than contact the shipper, which is SA. Sent them 2 additional emails, still not replies..

 

[timselectric]

DHL sucks.
I won't buy a product if DHL is the only shipping option.
You are just going to have to be patient and cross your fingers.

 

[doityourself2021]

DHL sucks.
I won't buy a product if DHL is the only shipping option.
You are just going to have to be patient and cross your fingers.

Yes , Agree , going to see if I can talk to someone at DHL and at SA, tomorrow. Appreciate the reply , thanks Ric

 

[bobcov]

DHL sucks.
I won't buy a product if DHL is the only shipping option.
You are just going to have to be patient and cross your fingers.

This is so true. There's little to nothing SA can do once DHL takes possession besides declare it lost.

 

[wattmatters]

There's little to nothing SA can do once DHL takes possession besides declare it lost.

They could use a different, more reliable, service.

 

[Ampster]

Can't you achieve the same goal by pushing the data to HomeAssistant via MQTT ?

That is what I started doing before I got sidetracked. Eventually I am going to revive that project because Home Assistant interfaces with some other home automation devices which I have. I can do simple relay logic programming but have no desire to learn Perl at this time in my life.

 

[timselectric]

They could use a different, more reliable, service.

I believe I was told that DHL was their only option.
I just buy through watts247.
Problem solved.

 

[doityourself2021]

SA, with Vince, was very helpful, as DHL lost the first shipment.. Vince got the warehouse to ship other than DHL, received the SA Orange complete in 4 day.. I have a queston on hookup as I have the Raspberry Pi Orange - , Power supply no issue, the PI has 2 blue female and 1 white USB ports.. what is the difference the Blue Port and White Port on the Pi Orange?

 

[wpns]

SA, with Vince, was very helpful, as DHL lost the first shipment.. Vince got the warehouse to ship other than DHL, received the SA Orange complete in 4 day.. I have a queston on hookup as I have the Raspberry Pi Orange - , Power supply no issue, the PI has 2 blue female and 1 white USB ports.. what is the difference the Blue Port and White Port on the Pi Orange?

Not sure (Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi are two separate products by different companies), but usually white is USB2 and blue is USB3

 

[doityourself2021]

Ok, that makes sense Blue and White. now for the SD card issue.. I purchased complete Device with software.. It does not come with SD card, and instructions make no mention of what or how to use the SD card except if your downloading the OS.. I m a little lost on this. According to the Help page it says to ignore those instructions as well the registering if Device with Software purchased.. so I m a little lost on this as well.. May be someone can set me straight when you purchase a complete Device with Software, etc. Thanks - R

Not sure (Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi are two separate products by different companies), but usually white is USB2 and blue is USB3

Thanks for reply.. makes sense now..

 

[MajicDiver]

According to the Help page it says to ignore those instructions as well the registering if Device with Software purchased

I may be missing what you are asking, but I did what it said and ignored those instructions. Haven’t had any need to worry about sd card. Of course I have not looked into how to backup.

 

[doityourself2021]

I may be missing what you are asking, but I did what it said and ignored those instructions. Haven’t had any need to worry about sd card. Of course I have not looked into how to backup.

Thanks MajicDiver, maybe I'm looking into it to much.. best stay with the KISS method.. lol

 

[wpns]

Ok, that makes sense Blue and White. now for the SD card issue.. I purchased complete Device with software.. It does not come with SD card, and instructions make no mention of what or how to use the SD card except if your downloading the OS.. I m a little lost on this. According to the Help page it says to ignore those instructions as well the registering if Device with Software purchased.. so I m a little lost on this as well.. May be someone can set me straight when you purchase a complete Device with Software, etc. Thanks - R

Thanks for reply.. makes sense now..

So you got an orange pi and it doesn’t have an SD card, but it works anyway? It must have some built-in program storage. Again, I’m not really familiar with the orange pi.