EPSolar 4215BN Solar Charge Controller Monitoring Software

Let's get the Monitoring Software v1.2 working with the EP Solar 4215BN Solar Charge Controller.

Or how to get your Solar Charge Controller to talk to your PC.

Since my charge controller is installed on the far side of the house from my PC, I had to extend the comm. cable. Since the connector is for a std. 8-pin Ethernet cable, a regular 8-pin Ethernet cable will work fine for extending it. These just have all 8 pins connected straight through end to end.

I just plugged in a 50ft. cable and a tombstone coupler and plugged the RS485-USB cable into my PC:
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016RU8JUY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B016RU8JUY&linkCode=as2&tag=4crawler-20&linkId=QOO4D4JLIE6UT4RG

Set up the adapter to 115,200 baud and RS485 mode with the Windows Device Manager. I think I may have installed the USB driver supplied with the Monitor Software package (next paragraph).

Then download and install the software. Installs on Windows XP with the .NET4 support, but won't run due to unhandled exception errors in the .NET4 library. Likely works on Vista on up, I used 8.1. Installation is typical Windows fare, no special hoops to jump through. No Mac/iOS or Linux support.

Create a station for each charge controller by selecting the COMx port assigned to that controller. Multiple controller support seems to be provided with a com port per device.

USB communication and temperature sensor cable:
http://smile.amazon.com/Battery-Temperature-Sensor-Monitoring-adapter/dp/B016RU8JUY

EP Solar download page:
http://www.epsolarpv.com/en/index.php/Technical/download

RS485 Cable Length:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-485
At the 10^8/baud rule, 868m. length at 115,200 baud
50' Ethernet cable is about US$5

USB Cable Length:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Cabling
50 ft. active USB cable is about US$15

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And as always, thanks for watching!

SOUNDTRACK:
Lousiana Fairytale by Austin Rogers
http://drfiddle.com/show_tune.php?id=94

Видео EPSolar 4215BN Solar Charge Controller Monitoring Software канала R Brown (4Crawler)