Solar Guppy - All Things Solar Forum

It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:23 pm GMT EthGMT

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Monitoring GT over TCP/IP (indirect RS-232)???
PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:52 pm GMT EthGMT 
Offline
Fish Eggs
Fish Eggs

Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:07 pm GMT EthGMT
Posts: 1
Through a port redirection the GT View software is to communicate via the web-enabled-device (using port redirection from COM port-X to an IP-address).

Problem description:
To connect GT 3.0 to a PC. The direct connection with RS-232 cable is not an option:
- length of the RS-232 cable
- cost overrun more than $500
- etc.

We do have an ethernet cable available at the inverter, which is connected to a SWITCH (TCP/IP) at the other end, part of internal network. But connecting another laptop is not an option (environment is too harsh).

We decided to use a Lantronix UDS 100. It is a device which can be configured with a fix IP-address on the internal network. On the other hand it is connected to GT 3.0 via RS-232 cable. It suppose to translate RS-232 protocol to TCP/IP. The GT-View, running on a PC, will be connected to a virtual COMM-port, which is configured to talk to a fixed IP-Address (of Lantronix device).

Questions:
1. Is the GT View software capable of communicating to a virtual COM port?
2. Would the latency create a problem since the PC is not directly connected to GT 3.0?
3. What other problem do you foresee?

Thanks a bunch,

Kailash


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 5:32 pm GMT EthGMT 
Offline
Red Cobra Delta Guppy
Red Cobra Delta Guppy
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2002 1:01 am GMT EndGMT
Posts: 1159
Location: Lakeland Florida
The issue with Serial to TCP converters is they do byte packing. It might work, it might not, you are just going to have to try it for the final answer.

From GT-View prospective, a comm device is a comm device.Others have had sucess doing wireless, read thru the other postings ... one can go about 1000ft with RS-232 ...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:24 pm GMT EthGMT 
Offline
Fish Eggs
Fish Eggs

Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:21 pm GMT EthGMT
Posts: 6
Location: San Jose
the serial to ethernet convert they sell at gridconnect.com seems to work well (once you configure the port to support RAW mode).

I've got this working on my home network and it's working sweet. part #GC-NET232-DTE (http://www.gridconnect.com/net232-dte.html)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:49 pm GMT EthGMT 
Offline
Fish Eggs
Fish Eggs

Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:21 pm GMT EthGMT
Posts: 6
Location: San Jose
additional note: once you get a serial to ethernet converter documented in the Mac OS X monitoring post - it appears the serial protcol documented by Xantrex works just fine via telnet.

steps:
1. aquire serial -> ethernet adapter
2. setup adapter
3. telnet [adapter-ip-address] 10001
4. type xantrex protocol commands into telnet - watch results come
back!!

this is sooooo - cool cause you can do this from any client with telnet
access to the network!!

programmer's start your compiler's - this baby's been opened up!!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Lantronix ETS Works great
PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:11 pm GMT EndGMT 
Offline
Fish Eggs
Fish Eggs
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:50 am GMT EndGMT
Posts: 9
Location: brooktondale, ny
I am using an old Lantronix ETS4P terminal server that I bought on ebay. Old DECserver 90TL can also be used, and are really inexpensive on Ebay (less than 30 dollars for an 8-port version). Wire the serial port of the inverters to the terminal server which can be screwed to the wall, and then run an Ethernet cable back to whereever your router/switch lives.

The terminal server ports need to be set for the right baud-rate, and defined as "remote access" ports, and given a TCP port number in RAW mode.

I am using a COM-port mapping program to map COM2 to the IP addres of the terminal server on that specific TCP port. The PC then magically grows a new COM port.

GTview then is set up to use the new COM2 port, and viola you are logging, without a real serial cable.

_________________
John Reed
Brooktondale, NY
Sunpower SPRx4000 x 2, Sunpower 220w x 36


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000 - 2020 phpBB Group

phpBB SEO

© SGT 2002 - 2020 Solar Guppy