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 Post subject: Xantrex: using db-9 on xantrex for monitoring
PostPosted: Mon May 26, 2008 11:00 pm GMT EthGMT 
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Minnow
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Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:48 am GMT EthGMT
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Location: metro Denver, CO
Hello,

I am getting my system installed in the next couple of weeks, and I am trying to get everything ready before the system comes online.

I will have 3 Xantrex GT units installed in my basement. And I will be using 3 copies of sg-view to monitor the units.

I need to know if the holes at the bottom of the unit where the rs-232 plugs are located are 33mm(1 5/16 in) or more in diameter as this is the size of the db-9 connector? Otherwise, I will need to decide how I want to do the RJ-45 conversion. (any suggestions)

Thanks!


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:04 am GMT EthGMT 
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Red Cobra Delta Guppy
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Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2002 1:01 am GMT EndGMT
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Only pins #2,#3 and #5 are used in the RS232 cable and a standard shell won't fit thru the openings. I have always used cat5 wire ( roll from Home Depot ) and just soldered on db9 connectors as its so few wires


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 Post subject: Re: using db-9 on xantrex for monitoring
PostPosted: Tue May 27, 2008 9:57 am GMT EthGMT 
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Guppy
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Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:24 am GMT EthGMT
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Location: Los Angeles
I too, have just used a simple DB-9 connector soldered onto the wire. I use a short piece of heat shrink tube over each pin. My cable was a shielded twisted pair. With no backshell, it fit thru the knockout of the inverter. Inside the inverter, there is a clear plastic shield to separate the high voltage area from the data lines.

Running several inverters, you may want to peek at this style of connector interface: http://yost.com/computers/RJ45-serial/ You may benefit from using the db9-RJ45 adapters, but would :
1) adapt the wires to the GT pinout
2) never connect to the Xanbus RJ connector (which has voltage in it)

Actually, I think it's a bad idea to use RJ connectors, because of the Xanbus power and damage probability, so forget this idea for GT inverters.

( I'll leave it here because the Yost idea is so elegant. )

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 Post subject: Thanks for the info! 1 last question
PostPosted: Tue May 27, 2008 11:44 pm GMT EthGMT 
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Minnow
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Thanks Guys! :-)

To make sure, the Xantrex units have a female DB-9 connector.


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 Post subject: re:1 last question
PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:31 am GMT EthGMT 
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Guppy
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Yep, GT inverters have a DB9 connector (I forget if it's M or F)

Your laptop or whatever, also will need 3 serial ports, and I understand that simple USB-Serial adapters work well enough. Opto-Isolators are not required.

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"Since the dawn of time it has been mankind's dream to blot out the sun"
Montgomery Burns


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:37 am GMT EthGMT 
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Red Cobra Delta Guppy
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Keep in mind, the cheap single port usb to serial dongles don't work well with more than one installed in a PC system, the drivers are not written to be multithreaded, so if you have two connected, they won't work and I have seen blue screens on XP systems!

For all my multiport needs I use edgeport usb-serial boxes, this are commerial grade units ..

One on eBay now is a good deal for an 8 port box

http://cgi.ebay.com/Inside-Out-Edgeport ... dZViewItem

I pay 25 - 75 dollars for these units on eBay, they are 200+ new


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 Post subject: serial ports
PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 12:51 pm GMT EthGMT 
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Guppy
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Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:24 am GMT EthGMT
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Location: Los Angeles
Solar Guppy wrote:
Keep in mind, the cheap single port usb to serial dongles don't work well with more than one installed in a PC system, the drivers are not written to be multithreaded, so if you have two connected, they won't work and I have seen blue screens on XP systems!

For all my multiport needs I use edgeport usb-serial boxes, this are commerial grade units ..

One on eBay now is a good deal for an 8 port box

http://cgi.ebay.com/Inside-Out-Edgeport ... dZViewItem

I pay 25 - 75 dollars for these units on eBay, they are 200+ new


That's good to know. I knew a single works just fine. I thought it would scale up, but I guess not.

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"Since the dawn of time it has been mankind's dream to blot out the sun"
Montgomery Burns


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 3:37 pm GMT EthGMT 
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Catfish
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Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:34 pm GMT EthGMT
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Location: So. Orange County, CA
Quote:
To make sure, the Xantrex units have a female DB-9 connector.


Right, female.


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 Post subject: Thanks!
PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 9:53 am GMT EthGMT 
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Minnow
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Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:48 am GMT EthGMT
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Thanks!


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 9:58 am GMT EthGMT 
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Guppy
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Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:34 am GMT EthGMT
Posts: 105
Location: Maine
I just ordered a standard 50' cable and used a file to make a groove for it to fit in near the lower right of the wiring box lid. Worked fine, looks like it was made that way.


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