I have a new H1 G2 inverter "with LAN" and battery but they are in a location with no wifi. They are operating ok but I can't monitor them through the app. We have run cat6 ethernet to the datalogger, so everything is physically connected, but I can't actually find any instructions from Fox about how FoxCloud (either version) can register the LAN-connected datalogger. Has anyone managed to get wired connectivity working with Fox Cloud? Presumably at some point I have to run something from within my home network that can be pointed at the relevant IP address for the device? If absolutely necessary I can get temporary wifi to the inverter location.
(I will also be connecting an RS485 for the DDSU meter, so if the spare pins on that are a better alternative, please let me know.)
Help would be much appreciated!
M
H1 G2 wired LAN setup
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Dave Foster
- Posts: 1850
- Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2022 7:21 pm
The wired datalogger doesn't need to go through the laborious setup that the wifi version does - as long as you give it an internet enabled connection it will connect to the Fox Cloud and start reporting.
The datalogger is what binds the inverter to the installer, agent and user so when it is changed you will lose any previous user access, so what you must do is to remove any older datalogger serial number from the site (plant) and then add the new datalogger serial number to the plant and it will work fine (this is often best done by an installer as they have higher access).
It might be easier if you create a new agent account, create your plant (site) again and then add the new datalogger serial number that way you will have full access to the inverter and be able to do your own firmware upgrades.
The datalogger is what binds the inverter to the installer, agent and user so when it is changed you will lose any previous user access, so what you must do is to remove any older datalogger serial number from the site (plant) and then add the new datalogger serial number to the plant and it will work fine (this is often best done by an installer as they have higher access).
It might be easier if you create a new agent account, create your plant (site) again and then add the new datalogger serial number that way you will have full access to the inverter and be able to do your own firmware upgrades.
Thanks very much Dave
This is very much a joint effort with my installer who hasn't tackled a Fox system before (and it's his first solar system).
I thought that if I started under my account (EndUser) that we would not need an Installer account (and there's no agent). I was able to create a Plant under my account and add the datalogger S/N but it is showing as offline.
Now I need to understand whether this is because an Installer really does need to set it up first or because I have a 100 metre (!) cat6 ethernet cable ...
Would the datalogger still be flashing (fast) red if the ethernet connection is good? (I assumed this means no wifi and the wired connection might be good but I am at the limits of range so it may be unstable.)
I am also wondering whether it may be better to put a POE access point on the end of my network cable and switch to wifi so I can see what is going on from the Android app but it seems a shame to do that if it's just a config issue.
M.
This is very much a joint effort with my installer who hasn't tackled a Fox system before (and it's his first solar system).
I thought that if I started under my account (EndUser) that we would not need an Installer account (and there's no agent). I was able to create a Plant under my account and add the datalogger S/N but it is showing as offline.
Now I need to understand whether this is because an Installer really does need to set it up first or because I have a 100 metre (!) cat6 ethernet cable ...
Would the datalogger still be flashing (fast) red if the ethernet connection is good? (I assumed this means no wifi and the wired connection might be good but I am at the limits of range so it may be unstable.)
I am also wondering whether it may be better to put a POE access point on the end of my network cable and switch to wifi so I can see what is going on from the Android app but it seems a shame to do that if it's just a config issue.
M.
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Dave Foster
- Posts: 1850
- Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2022 7:21 pm
The flashing red quickly is a worrying sign as is the site showing as off-line so it does sound as if there's a problem with the ethernet cable to the datalogger - do you have something you could plug in at the end where the datalogger is, a laptop or similar - something that would let it negotiate with your router, get an IP address etc.. and hopefully get internet access - the LAN datalogger doesn't need much but it does need all of that.
In all honesty if you can get the LAN datalogger working i'd strongly recommend sticking with that, the wifi module works but it's a pain if/when the ssid/password changes and you need a decent signal strength so that you can reliably talk to the inverter.
In all honesty if you can get the LAN datalogger working i'd strongly recommend sticking with that, the wifi module works but it's a pain if/when the ssid/password changes and you need a decent signal strength so that you can reliably talk to the inverter.