Hook up Aurora Power One PVI5000 to Linux through USB interface - help!

[Joey]

Techies,

I've recently installed an Aurora PVI5000 to a couple of panels. I also have a linux server running which I hooked up to the aurora through its USB interface.

Linux sees and initiates the USB connection. The Aurora has a Texas Instruments TUSB3410 Microcontroller which shows up as the read/writable COM port /dev/ttyUSB0. I use the Linux aurora program to communicate with the inverter via that port.

But, the Aurora inverter refuses to report me anything useful. It connects, but just won't play ball. Until, that is, i hook up a WinXP laptop with Aurora Monitor on it and reset the inverter. Aurora Monitor works as expected, and if I then hook up the inverter with the Linux server (without resetting the inverter) I can get my data there as well.

Then the sun sets, comes up again, and the inverter won't speak to me anymore.

Anyone any idea? Is it a setting at the server? I can't find anything in the inverter settings..

J

Ps
Kernel: Linux Mint running 2.6.32-46-server
kernel module in use: ti_usb_3410_5052

[bonaire]

Have you contacted PowerOne? I know you're rolling your own monitoring but verify with them, at a minimum, that you are not voiding your inverter warranty by attempting this. I've seen the PVI desktop monitoring unit on eBay and from Civic Solar for about $320.

[Joey]

... for about $320.

Aye, I'm not going to spend a single euro to get information out of a machine that I own, and I don't think any law here permits Aurora to void my warranty over it. The machine is sold with an USB port with an off the shelf piece of hardware behind it that uses a standard protocol in communication. I just need to find the correct setting.

Aurora does not support Linux.

J

[bonaire]

Maybe use VMWare and put up a Windows XP image and you're good. How often do you need to pull data out anyway? Just hook up every few weeks and check your MPPT output at mid-day to make sure it's running well. Or do it for a whole day and generate a graph.

You can also check your power from the front panel at mid-day. I'm certainly satisfied with my own front-panel access to my two 3.6 Auroras and can verify voltage, amps and daily kWh production. If one of the four MPPT values show strange values - I'll call in my installer to look into it. I really don't understand the need to "stare at graphs" like some of the Enphase users do. One pays a lot for equipment that doesn't "really" offer a lot of value but is more of a nice to have. Going the open systems route like you are doing gives you that same information without a lot of cost added onto the system for special monitoring gear.

[inetdog]

But, the Aurora inverter refuses to report me anything useful. It connects, but just won't play ball. Until, that is, i hook up a WinXP laptop with Aurora Monitor on it and reset the inverter. Aurora Monitor works as expected, and if I then hook up the inverter with the Linux server (without resetting the inverter) I can get my data there as well.

The problem appears to be that the module in the inverter expects some sort of initialization or logon sequence before it will continue to communicate according to the rest of the protocol.
You need to find out what that is. The only ways I can think of to do that unless you get help from Aurora are to monitor the signals on the USB port using a USB data sniffer connected to another port or to observe the signals sent from the Aurora Monitor program using debugging software.

Does Aurora Monitor require you to enter the module serial number or other such data as part of the software setup process?

I have not tried any of the tools listed at this site, but it looks like one or two of them may help you figure out what Aurora Monitor is doing.

[Joey]

Maybe use VMWare and put up a Windows XP image and you're good. How often do you need to pull data out anyway? Just hook up every few weeks and check your MPPT output at mid-day to make sure it's running well. Or do it for a whole day and generate a graph.

[...] One pays a lot for equipment that doesn't "really" offer a lot of value but is more of a nice to have. Going the open systems route like you are doing gives you that same information without a lot of cost added onto the system for special monitoring gear.

It's a nice to have, so i don't want to spend too much on it. At the same time I'd like to be able to stare at the graphs and look into the history with some detail to see that all is running smoothly. I suppose there´s a 'nerd' factor there as well - I'm also graphing my daily power usage (to see where we can cut down a bit).

Also, I tried getting connected from an XP installation in VirtualBox, but again I get nothing.. Maybe the Aurora needs a firmware upgrade. Anyway, I'm half thinking to get a RS485-RS232 converter so I can get to it via IP. Saves me a lot of hassle it seems..

J

[Joey]

The problem appears to be that the module in the inverter expects some sort of initialization or logon sequence before it will continue to communicate according to the rest of the protocol.
You need to find out what that is. The only ways I can think of to do that unless you get help from Aurora are to monitor the signals on the USB port using a USB data sniffer connected to another port or to observe the signals sent from the Aurora Monitor program using debugging software.

Does Aurora Monitor require you to enter the module serial number or other such data as part of the software setup process?

I have not tried any of the tools listed at this site, but it looks like one or two of them may help you figure out what Aurora Monitor is doing.

Yes, a logon sequence has occured to me as well.. somehow it needs to be switched on. I do not get to enter a serial number, only an address (nr 2 in my case). I doubt Aurora are going to help me create something for free while they could sell me an expensive alternative.
Thanks for the links - I'll see if I can make sense of it all..

J