[RE-wrenches] Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO

Sun May 18 06:13:29 PDT 2025

SA will combine the SOC if the Communication is working properly with the
BMS and the MNS AIO. See attached

On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 8:28 AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> I will also mention that SA seems to be pulling the SOC information from
> only the first inverter added to the system, or the one designated as "#1"
> in SA. It is not averaging the SOC pulled from all three inverters.
>
> Another note: I tried the Emulated BMS in SA, and it didn't work. The
> battery graphs were all wrong, only showing that absolute value for current
> rather than showing charge and discharge current. The reported SOC stayed
> pegged at 100%. I went back to using the inverter values, and that is when
> I discovered the SOC was not dropping fast enough in SA, which led me to
> the battery aH issue.
>
>
> Jason Szumlanski
> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208
>
> On Sun, May 18, 2025, 8:11 AM Jason Szumlanski <
> jason at floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote:
>
>> That's not a bad idea. But it is one more thing to potentially go wrong
>> and have to maintain.
>>
>>
>> I just discovered something else with a parallel AIO and SA setup. Really
>> it's more of an inverter issue. The inverters have wildly inaccurate SOC
>> values if you are doing open loop. You have to divide the battery aH
>> setting by the number of inverters you have for accurate numbers, at least
>> on the firmware I have. I noticed on this triple setup that when the
>> batteries were depleted about 80% (20% SOC), that the inverters reported a
>> SOC of 73%. Each inverter only sees the aH that they consume individually
>> and deduct that from 100%.
>>
>> If you are using the inverter values for SOC in SA, you need to set the
>> aH in the inverters to the proportional share of the battery capacity.
>>
>> This is something I believe Midnite needs to fix unless it has already
>> been addressed in a firmware upgrade.
>>
>>
>> Jason Szumlanski
>> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
>> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
>> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
>> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208
>>
>> On Fri, May 16, 2025, 9:53 AM Jay via RE-wrenches <
>> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Jason
>>>
>>> How about you install a 12v battery charged from the inverter to power
>>> the device which would give you back up on backup.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On May 16, 2025, at 12:58 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
>>> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> 
>>> But the upside is it doesn't rely on the cloud, so historical data is
>>> stored locally, even in the event of a system shutdown (if you power the Pi
>>> device from the battery DC bus). That doesn't do much good if the battery
>>> BMS turns off, of course, but it's nice to continue logging data even if
>>> there is no Internet connection.
>>>
>>>
>>> Jason Szumlanski
>>> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
>>> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
>>> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
>>> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208
>>>
>>> On Fri, May 16, 2025, 12:48 AM Brett Stigile via RE-wrenches <
>>> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Overall I like Solar Assistant as well.  Be aware it is not cloud
>>>> based.   Sure it stores locally on the Pi, that’s great.  But, if the
>>>> internet is down you are blind.  Not supper helpful for remote sites if you
>>>> can’t look through the data a see if there was a potential issue or if the
>>>> internet is just down.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Brett Stigile
>>>> Owner/Renewable Energy Electrician
>>>> 503-317-7950
>>>> brett at oregonsunwrangler.com
>>>>
>>>> Oregon Sun Wrangler LLC
>>>> CCB: 240661
>>>> License No: 66LRT
>>>> NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification
>>>> #PV 100414-008123
>>>>
>>>> > On May 15, 2025, at 1:05 PM,
>>>> re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> > Send RE-wrenches mailing list submissions to
>>>> >    re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>>> >
>>>> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>>> >
>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>>> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>>> >    re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>>> >
>>>> > You can reach the person managing the list at
>>>> >    re-wrenches-owner at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>>> >
>>>> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>>>> > than "Re: Contents of RE-wrenches digest..."
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > When responding to posts within the Digest, be sure to restore the
>>>> Subject: line to the exact original, and please edit out any extraneous
>>>> lines from the quoted message.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > Today's Topics:
>>>> >
>>>> >   1. Re: EG4 Praise (Maverick Brown)
>>>> >   2. Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO (Jason Szumlanski)
>>>> >   3. Re: Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO (William Bryce)
>>>> >   4. Re: Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO (Kirpal Khalsa)
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> >
>>>> > Message: 1
>>>> > Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 08:14:41 -0500
>>>> > From: Maverick Brown <maverick at mavericksolar.com>
>>>> > To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>>> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] EG4 Praise
>>>> > Message-ID: <A830425D-80E1-4E8E-A23E-023873895B16 at mavericksolar.com>
>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>>> >
>>>> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
>>>> > URL: <
>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250515/1d46c98a/attachment-0001.htm
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > ------------------------------
>>>> >
>>>> > Message: 2
>>>> > Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 11:37:53 -0400
>>>> > From: Jason Szumlanski <jason at floridasolardesigngroup.com>
>>>> > To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>>> > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO
>>>> > Message-ID:
>>>> >    <CAE438R-L9F0ka3QyPans-cYtQc3PDmvLK5uR6K5-Oz=
>>>> WKpey3Q at mail.gmail.com>
>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>>> >
>>>> > I just got Solar Assistant up and running with my triple AIO site. It
>>>> was
>>>> > surprisingly easy. I think I am in data heaven. This is everything I
>>>> had
>>>> > hoped for from the Midnite Pro app. It consolidates all three
>>>> inverters'
>>>> > instant and historical data while providing real time individual
>>>> inverter
>>>> > data as well. I'm not sure if I can get the historical data per
>>>> inverter,
>>>> > but that is available through the Midnite app anyway, and has little
>>>> > usefulness in a multi-inverter environment.
>>>> >
>>>> > If anyone needs tips on how to get this done, feel free to contact me
>>>> off
>>>> > list.
>>>> >
>>>> > The short answer is I purchased a preloaded Solar Assistant Pi device
>>>> > directly from Solar Assistant, and three USB to RS-485 dongles from
>>>> Amazon.
>>>> > I got the Pi device with the DC power supply and connected it
>>>> directly to
>>>> > my battery bus so it stays on even if the inverters shut down.
>>>> >
>>>> > Jason Szumlanski
>>>> > Florida Solar Design Group
>>>> > -------------- next part --------------
>>>> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
>>>> > URL: <
>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250515/b8d7966f/attachment-0001.htm
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > ------------------------------
>>>> >
>>>> > Message: 3
>>>> > Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 12:20:45 -0400
>>>> > From: William Bryce <wlbryce at pineridgeproducts.com>
>>>> > To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>>> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO
>>>> > Message-ID:
>>>> >    <
>>>> CAEQmjP4UqH9GCFGHt4MkEVtY71FbfOfh4o7gCaBUQbRj67Omog at mail.gmail.com>
>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>>> >
>>>> > I highly recommend using SA with ALL Asian inverters. This will
>>>> remove the
>>>> > chance of a SolArk screen of death bricking and locking you out of
>>>> your
>>>> > inverter, and also remove any chance of data or setting manipulation
>>>> from
>>>> > others.
>>>> >
>>>> > With SA, ALL the data is served and stored on the RPie computer
>>>> locally.
>>>> >
>>>> > On the MNS AIO, you can run the Dongle and the SA at the same time.
>>>> >
>>>> >> On Thu, May 15, 2025 at 11:38?AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
>>>> >> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I just got Solar Assistant up and running with my triple AIO site.
>>>> It was
>>>> >> surprisingly easy. I think I am in data heaven. This is everything I
>>>> had
>>>> >> hoped for from the Midnite Pro app. It consolidates all three
>>>> inverters'
>>>> >> instant and historical data while providing real time individual
>>>> inverter
>>>> >> data as well. I'm not sure if I can get the historical data per
>>>> inverter,
>>>> >> but that is available through the Midnite app anyway, and has little
>>>> >> usefulness in a multi-inverter environment.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> If anyone needs tips on how to get this done, feel free to contact
>>>> me off
>>>> >> list.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The short answer is I purchased a preloaded Solar Assistant Pi device
>>>> >> directly from Solar Assistant, and three USB to RS-485 dongles from
>>>> Amazon.
>>>> >> I got the Pi device with the DC power supply and connected it
>>>> directly to
>>>> >> my battery bus so it stays on even if the inverters shut down.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Jason Szumlanski
>>>> >> Florida Solar Design Group
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
>>>> >>
>>>> >> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Change listserver email address & settings:
>>>> >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>>> >>
>>>> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work,
>>>> try the
>>>> >> other:
>>>> >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
>>>> >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>>> >>
>>>> >> List rules & etiquette:
>>>> >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Check out or update participant bios:
>>>> >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> > -------------- next part --------------
>>>> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
>>>> > URL: <
>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250515/610bc1b7/attachment-0001.htm
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > ------------------------------
>>>> >
>>>> > Message: 4
>>>> > Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 09:50:38 -0700
>>>> > From: Kirpal Khalsa <kirpal at oregonsolarworks.com>
>>>> > To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>>> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Assistant and Midnite AIO
>>>> > Message-ID:
>>>> >    <
>>>> CAOE7iVGgp1Vxyz-82jpD1LzyW7EUMDNsw-6iBS-KnHjNk4thMg at mail.gmail.com>
>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>>> >
>>>> > Does the Solar Assistant work with Outback gear?
>>>> >
>>>> > Kirpal
>>>> >
>>>> > On Thu, May 15, 2025, 9:21?AM William Bryce via RE-wrenches <
>>>> > re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> I highly recommend using SA with ALL Asian inverters. This will
>>>> remove the
>>>> >> chance of a SolArk screen of death bricking and locking you out of
>>>> your
>>>> >> inverter, and also remove any chance of data or setting manipulation
>>>> from
>>>> >> others.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> With SA, ALL the data is served and stored on the RPie computer
>>>> locally.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On the MNS AIO, you can run the Dongle and the SA at the same time.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On Thu, May 15, 2025 at 11:38?AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
>>>> >> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >>> I just got Solar Assistant up and running with my triple AIO site.
>>>> It was
>>>> >>> surprisingly easy. I think I am in data heaven. This is everything
>>>> I had
>>>> >>> hoped for from the Midnite Pro app. It consolidates all three
>>>> inverters'
>>>> >>> instant and historical data while providing real time individual
>>>> inverter
>>>> >>> data as well. I'm not sure if I can get the historical data per
>>>> inverter,
>>>> >>> but that is available through the Midnite app anyway, and has little
>>>> >>> usefulness in a multi-inverter environment.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> If anyone needs tips on how to get this done, feel free to contact
>>>> me off
>>>> >>> list.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> The short answer is I purchased a preloaded Solar Assistant Pi
>>>> device
>>>> >>> directly from Solar Assistant, and three USB to RS-485 dongles from
>>>> Amazon.
>>>> >>> I got the Pi device with the DC power supply and connected it
>>>> directly to
>>>> >>> my battery bus so it stays on even if the inverters shut down.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Jason Szumlanski
>>>> >>> Florida Solar Design Group
>>>> >>> _______________________________________________
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the
> other:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:
> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250518/6257dd5a/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: IMG_3267.png
Type: image/png
Size: 230917 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250518/6257dd5a/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: IMG_3266.png
Type: image/png
Size: 165599 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250518/6257dd5a/attachment-0003.png>