I’m having hell trying to connect Solar Assistant directly to my EG4 non lcd screen 48v 100ah batteries. I’ve had SA connected directly to the inverter (eg4 3000) using their supplied usb cable, but they say that won’t work directly to the battery?
What cable for Solar Assistant to connect to EG4 battery?
- Thread starter Cardude
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timselectric
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EG4 battery setup in SolarAssistant
How to connect an EG4 battery to SolarAssistant.
Thanks. I guess I didn’t get a RS485 with a USB end when I ordered my EG4 batteries.
Is this what I need?
signaturesolar.com
Is this what I need?
EG4 USB Read/Write Cable
Signature Solar provides solar panels, off-grid solar systems, grid-tie, and hybrid systems. Quality solar inverters, bifacial solar panels, complete solar kits, solar batteries. Featuring brands such as EG4 Electronics with their solar battery, LifePower4 and EG4 LLifePower4 and EG4 LL
signaturesolar.com
timselectric
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I believe so.Thanks. I guess I didn’t get a RS485 with a USB end when I ordered my EG4 batteries.
Is this what I need?
EG4 USB Read/Write Cable
Signature Solar provides solar panels, off-grid solar systems, grid-tie, and hybrid systems. Quality solar inverters, bifacial solar panels, complete solar kits, solar batteries. Featuring brands such as EG4 Electronics with their solar battery, LifePower4 and EG4 LLifePower4 and EG4 LL
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
I connected Solar Assistant to my SolArk so I would get data from the inverter about loads, the grid and other useful information. The battery connected to my Solar through another cable but both cables were joined by a splitter so that the battery information could get to the SolArk for reporting along with all the other data from the SolArk. That is not the typical CAT6 splitter but a simple one that acts more like a Y connection.
I originally thought that Solar Assistant is designed to be connected to only to Inverters but I see this section that shows connections to batteries:
EG4 battery setup in SolarAssistant
How to connect an EG4 battery to SolarAssistant.
I do use a separate RJ45 to USB cable to poll details with Hyper Terminal about details on each cell in each of the seven rack battery modules. I do not need that information on a regular basis and only access it when necessary or on the ocassions that I was disconnecting some of the modules or reconnecting them.
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After watching Adam De Lay’s video on Solar Assistant, he doesn’t seem to think the SOC generated by the battery BMS is very accurate. He uses a Victron Smartshunt instead, which he claims is more accurate?
So maybe my quest for battery BMS info is not really needed and I should go the smart shunt route? I’ve been relying on the inverter supplying SOC for the batteries, but was wanting more detail like battery temp. Or maybe I should just leave it alone and keep using the inverter values?
My main goal is to get a very accurate SOC on the batteries.
So maybe my quest for battery BMS info is not really needed and I should go the smart shunt route? I’ve been relying on the inverter supplying SOC for the batteries, but was wanting more detail like battery temp. Or maybe I should just leave it alone and keep using the inverter values?
My main goal is to get a very accurate SOC on the batteries.
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
Does the smart shunt interface with your inverter and or Solar Assistant? That is important if you want the inverter to use the smart shunt values.
From what I understand yes the Victron shunt would interface with Solar Assistsnt. I’m not worried about the shunt connecting to the inverter because I can use SA to monitor things the shunt. And, I might be able to use SA to still monitor the inverter AND the shunt, if I can figure out how to wire that up.
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timselectric
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Almost everyone would agree with this. (Including me)
Solar Assistant, yes.
Inverter, no.
timselectric
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This is what most of us are doing.
The smart shunt is selectable in the battery monitoring section.
timselectric
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timselectric
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You will need the Smart Shunt and the VE direct cable.
So I can use the cable I’m currently using to connect my inverter to the orange Pi, then use the second cable to plug the pi into the shunt? And they will both work together?
Could I mount the shunt after my negative bus bar or does it have to go before the bus bar? I have two batteries connected by bus bars.
Could I mount the shunt after my negative bus bar or does it have to go before the bus bar? I have two batteries connected by bus bars.
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timselectric
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Yes
timselectric
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All of mine have Bluetooth.
I thought that all Smart Shunts did.
I thought that all Smart Shunts did.
marionw
Solar Enthusiast
The VE.Direct connection to the Victron SmartShunt is an RS232-TTL connection which is different to an RS232 connection. They have different logic levels for communication.
What is/are the models of the EG4 "non lcd screen 48v 100ah" batteries. If they are EG4 LifePower4 batteries I may be able to help.
What is/are the models of the EG4 "non lcd screen 48v 100ah" batteries. If they are EG4 LifePower4 batteries I may be able to help.
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