New To Forum, Solaredge monitoring question

[norrisk66]

Hi, First post here.

I have a Solaredge inverter with the "monitoring" function.

Since new, the system would always seem to be 3-5 days behind in its' monitoring function (when checked on my iPhone app)

Recently, (actually since 7/27/2016 according to the app) the system has not updated at all.

I have spoken with the installer and Solaredge tech support several times, they keep telling me that I need to have the installer come out on a service call (costing $160).

Is there anything I can do myself to check this? It seems like the inverter has just stopped "talking" to the receiver box (which is about 100' from my inverter).

They have also told me that I need to relocate the receiver closer to the inverter, but it worked (albeit not great) for over a year in its current location.

The Solaredge receiver box has all 3 "bars" of reception lit up, and the S<OK> green LED is on. But the Amber/yellow receive light never comes on, or flashes.

I did get a longer CAT-5 ethernet cable, and tried to re-link it, to no avail.

When scrolling through the inverter data, I remember the actual inverter display showing S<OK> at one point, and I can't seem to find this parameter now.

Thanks in advance!
Keith

[ButchDeal]

All Solaredge systems have monitoring built in.
it sounds like you have a zigbee wireless ethernet gateway on the inverter. you can move it closer and reset it.
Another option is to get ethernet cable from your internet router to the inverter itself (there is an ethernet port on it).

[huge]

I had a problem with it a couple of times too. Just try resetting it. Sometimes it starts working

[foo1bar]

Personally, I ran an ethernet cable to mine.
It took a fair amount of work (belly crawling in crawl-space, drilling holes through ceiling joists, fishing through drywalled-in spaces)
But I don't have to worry about the communication flaking out.
If you can run an ethernet cable to yours, that's what I'd do.

[brewbeer]

If you can run an ethernet cable to yours, that's what I'd do.

Agree with this. Run a cable if you can.

[cebury]

I had a problem with it a couple of times too. Just try resetting it. Sometimes it starts working

Yah if the reset works, it's the same problem several of us have and so far the solution has not been available to us on this forum. If reset (easy todo) makes all the previous data show up then running the cable is the fix. After you get the cable in and connected directly to from your router to the solaredge Ethernet port, go into the settings and set the monitoring to LAN.

[s2kfun]

My dealer provided a set of power ethernet adapters with SolarEdge and so far mine has been very stable. No need to crawl or poke holes other than plug one adapter to a nearby power outlet and run the ethernet cable to the inverter. The other adapter just plugged in one of the ports in the router. Simple and stable. Good luck.

[norrisk66]

I am hoping there is an update in the works. I have tried shutting off all power to the Inverter 2X at night, and still can't get it to connect.
I realize that the ethernet cable hardwire is the best option-but it is a bit frustrating that SolarEdge provides this as an option, and it doesn't work as promised.
This was a fairly expensive option that I had added on, and I wish I could get it working as designed. The reason we went with the wireless option was due to the fact that hardwiring was not an option.

[s2kfun]

I assume your wireless works as expected before and now you have connection problem. Two possible problems came to my mind. You either have wireless interference lately such as a neighbor just installed a new router that happened to use the same channel as your SolarEdge wireless device also uses (most likely on the 2.4 gigahertz bandwidth. Or the second possible culprit is your wireless device is suffering premature death and starts showinf sign of dying. Another option you may consider trying is to install a wireless extender somewhere between your wireless router and your SolarEdge wireless device to see if the signal is any better. I understand your frustration when you're dealing with something that you have expected the thing to work more smoothly but it doesn't. I wouldn't count on version 2 from SolarEdge but would try the wireless extender or blame the SolarEdge wireless device is suffering premature failure. Good luck.

[ButchDeal]

The solaredge device is NOT wifi, it uses zigbee. there could easily be more zigbee interference as well but not the same as wifi.

[SunEagle]

I was also told that a zigbee device has a specific access code that is required to get the device to link up to a network.

I have a &quot;smart power meter&quot; but my POCO will not give me the code to access it using zigbee since I do not have a &quot;need&quot; in their opinion unless I install a solar pv system.

[norrisk66]

Since the monitoring was working at one time, and it has not helped that I have moved the receiver closer to the inverter,
could it be that this ZigBee module went out? I am assuming there is something inside the inverter that has the ethernet cable plugged into this, and the antenna that sits on top of the inverter plugged in as well?

[ButchDeal]

Since the monitoring was working at one time, and it has not helped that I have moved the receiver closer to the inverter,
could it be that this ZigBee module went out? I am assuming there is something inside the inverter that has the ethernet cable plugged into this, and the antenna that sits on top of the inverter plugged in as well?

The inverter has a zigbee gateway plugged into it as well as an ethernet port (zigbee gateway is not in the ethernet port). it is possible that it went bad and would be covered on the warranty. place a call to tech support at solaredge and tell them what you have done to try to resolve the issue.

[foo1bar]

Since the monitoring was working at one time, and it has not helped that I have moved the receiver closer to the inverter,
could it be that this ZigBee module went out? I am assuming there is something inside the inverter that has the ethernet cable plugged into this, and the antenna that sits on top of the inverter plugged in as well?

The Zigbee module is a separate tiny board that plugs into the inverter inside the inverter case. It does not plug into the ethernet jack in the inverter. it plugs into a different socket on the inverter logic board.

It's possible but very unlikely that the zigbee module has gone bad.
It should be relatively easy to test whether there is a problem with the equipment or a problem with the distance/RF.
You just take an extension cord and a long ethernet cable out the door/window near the inverter so they're right next to each other and make sure that they communicate properly when they're next to each other. The PDF "Setting up the zigbee ethernet gateway" for solaredge goes over how to pair the receiver and the inverter. And has troubleshooting steps that you can try.

I'd go with the extension cord test just because that is an easy (and cheap) way to check on things. And will probably make the troubleshooting steps easier since you'll have everything in one spot.

[norrisk66]

I happened to check my SolarEdge Monitoring app on my iPhone this morning.

It has now updated?! I haven't done anything to remedy the situation. I am confused as to why it wouldn't communicate for over 2 months, and just start working on its' own?

[ButchDeal]

I happened to check my SolarEdge Monitoring app on my iPhone this morning.

It has now updated?! I haven't done anything to remedy the situation. I am confused as to why it wouldn't communicate for over 2 months, and just start working on its' own?

Zigbee is a wireless system, signal is effected by other interference transmissions, weather, etc. Any of that could effect the signal. Then when it did connect it likely updated 30 days or more of past data in the cache on the inverter.

[darylspower]

That happened to mine the other day, the yellow light is the internet connection and my internet was down and caused the problem.