RPC HTTP or UDP support?
Hi,
I'm thinking about buying Mango software.
Before that I would like to know if Mango can interface with SMA SolarTechnology Sunny Webbox via RPC as described here:
http://files.sma.de/dl/2585/SWebBoxRPC-BA-en-14.pdf
Would be nice to know that before starting.
Thanks.
BR,
coke
Coke,
We built a system from the ground up (python based) to monitor these effing things using RPC and present fancy javascript graphs. It worked but maintaining and updating it was difficult so I switched to Mango.
If you enable the Modbus server on your Webbox, then you can configure a Modbus-IP data source and points as detailed in the attachments.
You can find details on the Modbus implementation here: http://files.sma.de/dl/2585/WEBBOX-MODBUS-TB-en-19.pdf
Your Webbox will need to be running 1.52 or newer, with the most recent device profile. Before you can poll devices (inverters) you need to assign them a slave ID in the Webbox - the webbox itself is slave ID 2.
Feel free to ask me any more specific questions. This took me many weeks to gradually work out.
Attachment: download link
Hi,
could you send me the detailed settings of the three "slave 2" data points?
I still don't get the right values.
Thanks.
I can, but first tell me what you have tried and what results you are expecting/getting?
Hi,
I was trying to reproduce the same you did.
Just to test if I can work it out without help.
First I created the data source like from your screenshot, of course with my IP.
Then i created the data point Total Yield with id 2 as holdings register, offset 30531 and data type "4 byte unsigned integer"
When I look at the points value it's always 4.294967295E9 and never changing.
I tried several other points but they all have the same value.
Sorry, I'm really not familiar with this but I'm trying to learn.
Those settings sound right. I have exactly the same.
I would say then that you have an incorrect firmware or device profile version in your webbox.
You should make sure your Webbox is running firmware version 1.53F12 or newer, and then go into Webbox > Info > Manual Update and upload device profile v1.39:
http://cl.ly/1k0V3y1e1W2B (you must have an SD card installed with free space).
*Disclaimer: Do this at your own risk, if in doubt contact SMA
By the way, it's usually easier to test out register addresses and types using the 'point locator test' on the data source page.
After you get the right value you can add the point.
Let me know how this goes.
BTW, the bug in the webbox firmware seems to only affect certain registers (total yield being one of them). If you try register 30775 (active power, all phases) during the day time when you plant is actually generating power, you should get a normal value. That register has always worked for me, on every webbox on our network (about a dozen).
I can confirm that Mango works perfectly with SMA's Webbox. Follow Jeremyh instructions. Critical is to have the the device profile updated, as I found out a few months ago after weeks of trying to get good data. SMA does not post this profile on any of their websites. You have to ask for it. Idiots.
SMA does not post this profile on any of their websites. You have to ask for it.
I posted a link to 1.39 (latest as of a month or two ago) a few posts up
And thank you for that. It might help a lot of Webbox users. There must be thousands who with outdated profiles/firmwares. But I guess "if it works, don't mess with it.
Working on designing a DGlux page.
@Balistar said:
Working on designing a DGlux page.
Would love to see a screenshot of that if you can share!
The issues with the Webbox took many calls to SMA to sort out. It's hard to get a straight answer out of SMA sometimes. And we are not a small customer!
The Modbus implementation on the Cluster Controller (which is the successor to the Webbox) still has some similar problems with certain counter (yield) registers. I've contacted SMA about it and apparently it's being worked on.
The issues with the Webbox took many calls to SMA to sort out. It's hard to get a straight answer out of SMA sometimes. And we are not a small customer!
Same.
Nothing really to show yet. For the moment I am mostly just doing basic designs to get data onto the page(s). DGlux makes it difficult to create nice designs. Manuals are very basic. They don't publish sample designs that use the more fancy interactions. Makes the learning curve steep. Mango, I am sorry to say, does not make it easy either. For example infinite automation must have figured out how to configure modbus, bacnet, RS485, etc from most common products from vendors like SMA, Siemens, eGauge, etc. Yet they don't publish this knowledge about their own product.
Once I have something decent I will post.
Simple to start with. As you can see PV output gets throttled around 10am. Under full load it should be able to get to 45kW. Small load at the moment.
Hi Everyone,
my update to 1.53F12 just wont run off the SD Card. I have unpacked the firmware directly into the SD card update directory without any luck. If anyone can share the exact update procedure that would be great!
Alex
did you use the SD card update by copying the FW to the Update directory?
did you use the SD card update by copying the FW to the Update directory?
Cant get the instructions on Page 67 to work besides there is no Browse button under WebBox > Info - I am logged in as installer.
Click the [Browse...] button under "WebBox > Info" in the "Manual update" field in the user
interface
You have to switch off and on (power) the Webbox.
After that give it some time and it will automatically update.
There is no 'browse' button because this is not a feature that was included in firmware before 1.53. The update can only be done by copying the binary onto SD card (or by SMA support remotely).
A power cycle is NOT necessary (edit: and I would not do one and risk bricking the device by interrupting the update process, which may have already started). The webbox will detect the card and update file and begin the process automatically.
It really would be best to contact SMA support in your country. They can help you most efficiently and accurately. In my country (Australia) you can just call them; you don't need to be an installer or reseller etc.
