Foxess inverter ethernet data to PC data and other monitoring LIE (SOLVED)

[MrMobodies]

17/02/22 Update:

I have received an official response from Fox-ess that they are now backing the use of a modbus over a serial converter so that users can run their Homeassistant/Rednode appliance in house as an alternative to the ethernet port which they have disabled since firmware version 1.50. I was told at first by my contractor/installer that connecting anything up to the serial port not approved by the manufacturer could void the warranty.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/dodgy-technology/foxess-inverter-ethernet-data-to-pc-data-and-other-monitoring-lie/msg4706369/#msg4706369

Pin outs: RS485 pins within the (Item E) plug:


W610 Converter:
Amazon: £54.98
https://www.amazon.co.uk/USR-W610-Ethernet-Wireless-Converter-WatchDog/dp/B07DNWM62H

W610 Converter instructions for Fox-ess
https://github.com/StealthChesnut/HA-FoxESS-Modbus/wiki/USR-W610-Setup-Guide

Change in menu -> setting -> installer menu -> communications:
from "ethernet" to "RS485".

September 08, 2022, 02:26:49 pm
I had solar panels installed with an inverter and charging point, all which only offer this "cloud hosting" nonsense rather than a choice to use a local datalogger or even built in webserver just to view the basic info so I switched the wifi stuff off for a start on the charging point which one of them had.

The main inverter I got has a lan port, it is pingable but no webserver and I thought great I can monitor the presence on the lan on a monitoring to see if it is on incase there is a fault and it powers down.

I found something wonderful in the manual:

6.5 Communication Device Installation (Optional)
• Ethernet
Ethernet communication is the standard communication interface.
Application Occasion
This function is appliable for the below situation:
1) For data transmission: It can transmit the inverter data from inverter to PC or other monitoring equipment

2) For monitoring: It can transmit the inverter data from inverter to Foxess monitoring website/APP though home router connected.

That raised my hopes a little so I send them an email to inquiring whether they do a monitoring standalone PC software or 3rd party manufacturer or standards it needs to work.

This bullshit response which sounds to me like they were pulling the wool other my eyes:

From: service@fox-ess.com <service@fox-ess.com>
Sent: 08 September 2022 12:05
To: Subject: Re: H1-5.0-E Inverter ethernet port
 
Hi Sir,

Which country are you from?
Are you end user or installer?
What is your H1 SN please?
The ethernet port on H1 is a reserved port , function not ready to use.

They don't explain how I go about making this function ready for use.

Obviously they are lying to me. One sensible thing in the manual and utter garbage bullshit response that it is a "reserved port" not described as in the manual which I take insult.

If they say they decided to withdraw it or mentioned that it never materialized or labelled "reserved/service only", next the ethernet label and manual then I could understand or it not being mentioned at all but written in the manual like that. Sorry I think they are lying I just don't like being lied to like that.

I should not have to do this rubbish to view the basic info about the voltages and strings, "create an account, sign in, download the app, sign in to that and whether other aspects like firmware updates and voltages can be controlled from the website and I don't want that risk.

I don't mind reporting as an optional but I want the priority inhouse first as the webhosting I see is finite. They could one day pull the plug on it on their hosting if they disappear, decide to simply stop supporting the monitoring of that model or start charging a subscription fee to view it. They could roll out a firmware update behind my back and it fails then that means I have chase them up.

So that's I refuse to use the so "cloud" hosting and don't have much expectations for it. If I got use to depending on it and they do one of the things above it would be a big let down.

I'd rather it be left alone and with a stand alone solution, appliance of laptop that won't have internet access to it or no detailed lan monitoring at all.

This Foxess one I have been given has no built in wifi module or bluetooth and I can't find or no items when checking to turn them off, only ethernet which is great and what I wanted.
2) For monitoring: It can transmit the inverter data from inverter to Foxess monitoring website/APP though home router connected.

I wonder:
1: As they put it in their response, if it was a "reserved" port" and "non functioning", why are they mentioning the other option above in their manual.
2: With no built in wifi, how else is it suppose to connect up to their "cloud" platform which reinforces why I think I am being lied to.
3: Why am I getting DHCP and traffic statistics and is pingable on the router I was testing it with (no broadand).

So it does function in some way.

Maybe I should do some more testing and see if it connect up to their cloud platform to validate this lie.

What do you think?

[helio0centra@gmail.com]

Almost all cloud services are built to harvest your data. They want you to connect your solar panels to the internet so they can sell your usage data. That and the possibility that it is vaporware means you need to find a way to track locally it even if it means building your own sensors.

[MrMobodies]

I connected it up, monitoring using NTOPING and checked open states and it does nothing after DHCP. So I am please it does not make connections outside to their website or cloud nonsense.

I did a port scan of the usual port range and found one port open.
Port 502 modbus:

I found this tool and it does indeed transmit data using that Modbus protocol.


A simple search shows it is used for monitoring stuff like this and there are some monitoring stuff but what I can see needs adjustments. So all I have to do is find something that will interpret the data, well actually that is all too easy said than done, I believe I will have to do a lot of work to get something working in house.

If they said to me, that is there for 3rd party monitoring solutions that we don't support and can't help you with it and you'll have to find out about it and set it up yourself then fine.

From: service@fox-ess.com <service@fox-ess.com>
Sent: 08 September 2022 12:05
To: Subject: Re: H1-5.0-E Inverter ethernet port
 
Hi Sir,
The ethernet port on H1 is a reserved port , function not ready to use.

Instead they outright lied and insulted me and spoke to me in a way like am stupid and confused ignoring what I pointed out in their manual.  Saying it is "reserved" whatever that is suppose to mean for whom and what? and pretending it is "nonfunctional"... Utter bullshit. Trying to pull wool over my eyes when I can see in plain sight and then see it operate. As shown that ethernet port is functional and does exactly what is mentioned in there except it doesn't seem to mention the details such the protocol, what the sensors are what or to label up for third party monitor (I assume from the registers?) and any compatible monitoring pc software or appliances.

The ethernet port has a screw on cover as with the other ports and their response reminds me of a scene that Thunderf00t sometimes put in his video:
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

21 Seconds in this clip.

[MrMobodies]

I was searching for menu items from the inverter in the manual that didn't seem to go into detail. So search them up to find that there is another manufacturer, Solax that has the same menu items in the same style, same screen and buttons on some of their inverters.

Now I found a video of someone, Ben Fletcher who was not happy with his "Solax cloud" nonsense in that it only updates every 5 minutes from the stick that plugs into it. Here is his channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BG5gVmhSM-KRk4P4YBDig/videos
Thanks to him I got something to barely show some results.

I found that "FC4 Read input registers" in 300 and 99 sensors seem to work, only a few sensors show up which don't seem correct and it is night time.

https://github.com/StealthChesnut/HA-FoxESS-Modbus
I found a script somewhere for Foxess inverters  to run in conjunction with another appliance to make it run on standalone or something like that and then I see the registers they use.

# v0.9
sensors:
input_type: holding
slave: 247
data_type: int16
address: 31000 - name: "PV1-Voltage"
address: 31001 - name: "PV1-Current"
address: 31002 - name: "PV1-Power"
address: 31003 - name: "PV2-Voltage
address: 31004 - name: "PV2-Current"
address: 31005 - name: "PV2-Power"
address: 31006 - name: "RVolt" # Grid Voltage
address: 31007 - name: "RCurrent" # Generated AC Current ?
address: 31008 - name: "31008" # Generated AC Watts ? 
address: 31009 - name: "RFreq" # Grid Frequency
address: 31014 - name: "Grid CT"
address: 31016 - name: "Load Power"
address: 31018 - name: "AmbTemp"
address: 31019 - name: "InvTemp"
address: 31020 - name: "BatVolt"
address: 31021 - name: "BatCurrent"
address: 31022 - name: "Battery-Discharge-Power"
address: 31023 - name: "Battery-Temp"
address: 31024 - name: "Battery-SoC"

Changing FC from "FC4 Read input registers to "FC3 Reading Holding Register" and the addresses seems to show a few accurate results on some of the counters so that looks promising if I know what to change. It is night time at the moment. The voltage on the LCD panel for the solar is actually reporting 2.4v. Maybe residual current?

I didn't know from where that file came from is for another appliance that I might give a ago but very useful in trying to get something to work in house with the need, of a whole load of a crap.

I can't find very much from the manufacturer other than they part of some alliance named Sunspec and also SolarEdge are part of it.
https://sunspec.org/project/fox-ess/

Fox is a global leader in the development of inverter and energy storage solutions. Engineered by some of the world’s leading inverter and battery experts, our products are breaking new ground; offering customers the most advanced product features currently available, coupled with unrivalled performance and reliability.

Fox is part of a global conglomerate of renowned and recognised companies. A key shareholder is Tsingshan Group, a Fortune Global 500 company and the largest producer of stainless steel in the world. It has more than 56,000 employees and annual sales revenues in 2020 of 42.4 billion USD.

They release software but require what seems to be a yearly license to use it.

The Foxess (Tsingshan Group, Wenzhou), , and Solax (Hangzhou) don't seem to be related despite looking very similar.

I can't trace back what I searched for to connect to Solax so I took a sentence:
Google:
"The inverter has integrated export limitation functionality."
And a few turned up, one from a Candian firm and another from Energizer with a few differences:

Foxess H1/ACI:
https://www.fox-ess.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Hybrid-AC-User-Manual.pdf


Energizer:
https://www.energizersolar.com/s/Approved-Energizer-Solar-Inverter-User-Installer-Manual-Approved-21-09-09_Online.pdf

Don't the manuals look similar in wording?

Foxess H1/ACI:


Solax X1 Hybrid 3-5KW

As in Youtube video
 youtube.com/watch?v=yci6Z35J3C0
Ben Fletcher: Solax Hybrid Modbus setup part 1

The same dome buttons and positions with the lights but varying with symbols and colours.

I believed that these possibly came out of the same place or factory ordered by specification or maybe it could just be coincidence and that they are making it similar in house and using a generic template to write their manuals.

[MrMobodies]

I had a look at this solution where I found those registers:
https://github.com/StealthChesnut/HA-FoxESS-Modbus

youtube.com/watch?v=uMPr0V6lTHg
Setup FoxESS and Home Assistant using RS485/Modbus
iameccles 2,934 views3 May 2022

All working as detailed in the video with a few changes in location of the files but works straight away so those registers are indeed correct and I have two choices.



History seems okay too:


I'd never thought I'd get this working.

Not the nicest I find of the user interface. Some sticky/fixed elements don't seem to hide with the headerhider extension and I hid some stupid dimming overlays as as shown in the video as the man was looking for files where it dimmed even more on creating files causing major distraction and obscuring the background:

##.mdc-dialog__scrim
###sidenav-overlay
##.modal-overlay

I am very pleased that it worked straight away.

All I have to do now is move it onto something concrete.

Isn't that nice? It does exactly what I want it to do and as described in the manual unlike their response:

From: service@fox-ess.com <service@fox-ess.com>
Sent: 08 September 2022 12:05
To: Subject: Re: H1-5.0-E Inverter ethernet port
 
Hi Sir,
The ethernet port on H1 is a reserved port , function not ready to use.

Liars

It looks like they don't want me using the built in ethernet port.

When it is in place working for a couple of days I think it is time to reply to Fox ess again and challenge them with the results and have a go at them some more. I don't expect a response from my last message which was a bit blunt.

Joke: After showing them this I bet in the next firmware update they may disable the ethernet or modbus interface.

Actually this was my latest reply to them after that response in which I didn't expect anything back as I couldn't get rational explanation about that ethernet port.

Service@fox-ess.com <service@fox-ess.com>
Subject: Fw: H1-5.0-E Inverter ethernet port
 
England.
End user and installer

"The ethernet port on H1 is a reserved port, function not ready to use."
You dodged the question. You are talking bullsh*t. That is UTTER GARBAGE and I take that an insult.
1) For data transmission: It can transmit the inverter data from inverter to PC or other monitoring equipment.

That is NOT what it says in your manual as above and and you're telling me otherwise.
Obviously you are lying to me.

Now how do I go about using as mentioned above, with a PC monitoring or other monitoring equipment then may be I will give you the serial number.

In my contract, the insurance excludes, first person or third party damage to the system caused by any viruses or malware or misuse or hacking.

So damage caused by a hacked/compromised phone or in future your hosting being compromised could invalidate my warranty.

I find this "cloud" based hosting nonsense and a security risk, one inverter I was about to be supplied with before this where you could change the voltages on the website which is a big nono and they only give me that option with WIFI (no ethernet), which can be decypted also a big nono.

If any monitoring equipment I expect it to last as operate as long as the inverter works in house and has to function regardless of what happens out there on your web hosting or "cloud" whatever. That means on site solution Not through the manufacturer deciding not to; support it anymore and withdraw monitoring only provided through them or possibly decide charge a subscription fee in future.

Those are the reasons why I refuse to have any diagnostics or monitoring done over a webserver available from any connection and a matter time when a vulnerable is found and I feel this is deliberate limiting my choices.

It is also very stupid  being the distance of meters away as well as the possible security risk associated.

[MrMobodies]

Almost all cloud services are built to harvest your data. They want you to connect your solar panels to the internet so they can sell your usage data. That and the possibility that it is vaporware means you need to find a way to track locally it even if it means building your own sensors.

I maybe willing to give them all of that voluntary (as long as it doesn't identify my name or address) if they let me run it in house first in exchange for easy remote monitoring but no, they want everything their way to the means of controlling the equipment and doing what they feel  like to it. Like in this thread on Enphase I just found from last year and some complaining recently about being locked out.

https://support.enphase.com/s/question/0D53m00006ySLuRCAW/unimpressed-with-loss-of-local-api-connectivity-to-envoys

Unimpressed with loss of local API connectivity to Envoy-S
Phillips_1325 asked a question. Edited by Gajendra (Moderator) November 19, 2021 at 12:09 PM
Unimpressed with loss of local API connectivity to Envoy-S
The recent firmware update to my Envoy S gateway that was pushed by Enphase without my consent has now restricted local API connectivity and broken my home automation setup.

Wouldn’t have anything to do with attempting to force your customers to pay for cloud API services to access data that used to be freely accessible?? I PAID for that system, the data that solar system is producing is MY OWN data. I should not have to sign up for any ‘cloud’ API requiring that I provide ‘attribution to Enphase’. This behaviour by Enphase is questionable to say the least..

This is why I am frightened to buy anything now without researching and inquiring everything about it. I would monitor equipment in this day and age at first for stuff like this and set firewall rules accordingly put a stop to unauthorized access outside where things like this could happen and in this case where the manufacturer assumes total control, denies access to the user, remove features and do what they feel like. So it s not the same as what they chose it for and brought it with.

Jeremy Walton (Moderator) 7 months ago
We understand that certain users want their energy systems connected only locally, and to dispense with our token authentication process. However, our token authentication solution is currently applicable to all locally-connected Envoys, and we stand by this decision which we feel gives an enhanced level of security for such systems , where unauthorized access is largely in the hands of the system-owner . To be clear, we did not move to token-based authentication to obstruct users from obtaining their own data or to somehow profit from that (which we do not).

To clarify a misunderstanding around this issue, tokens for system-owners are valid for 6 months and therefore present extremely low inconvenience and risk that a token expires during an extended outage. If you are receiving a shorter token (1 hour or 12 hours) then the problem is likely that you are logging in as “installer” and you will need to use a “system-owner” enlighten account instead. Customer Service can assist with this.

Okay so where does the need of a website and tokens come into it for local viewing. They admitted they are not seeking to a subscription model but they could change their minds.

As well as betraying their own customers, they accuse and blame them for unauthorized access to their own equipment when it is Enphase doing the unauthorized things themselves like assuming control over appliances (by opportunity when connected up) paid for by the end users and removing access and features to things that were brought at the at the time of purchase.

Weber_2910 5 days ago
Wow! What a a devastating answer from enphase:

"Good morning, Unfortunately, the gateway requires an internet connection . For further questions, *don't hesitate to contact us.     
Interestingly they used the word "unfortunately" - they accept the loss of customers. So I will not make the project with enphase.

Sully 4 days ago
@Weber_2910​  I'm almost 1 year into my Enphase system and I'm wishing I had gone another route, the panels and microinverters are working fine but I dislike the requirement for internet connectivity :[/u]bullshit:. I also have a battery that has been failing for the past 6 months and I can't get them to RMA it.

linder_1760 4 days ago
My enphase is working sweetly. I do not, and will not, allow envoy to call home  , allowing Enphase to (ssh) tunnel back. The single issue I see is the database becoming full but since envoy is a linux system without doubt the DB is sqlite with pragmas to limit the size and being full is not an issue if all this is true. A rainy winters day with wireshark should reveal all. Any requirement for internet connectivity is marketing gobbledy-gook  .

I like that answer. Very very wise and proactive in their approach for not falling for that nonsense.

Here's what I expect like what I had before with my previous solar panel system:
Customers first and then company/contractor second:
Inverter data output -> direct or appliance (basic webserver via lan) -> *customer -> internet (to company/contractor if desired).
*(onsite where the customers can always get it and retrieve the information locally stored)

Not the other way round:
Inverter data output -> wifi dongle -> *internet -> webhosting and account -> company/contractor -> internet -> *stupid "app" on phone.
*No internet no monitoring or datalogging.

I had never thought of this as the only option, I find that beyond stupid but obviously for them to do this sounds to me like they are up to something or some incentive involved (data gathering, revenue from subscription/licensing etc) for them to care to lock users out for this internet-only viewer approach when it's operations are local and don't need it.

This internet-only viewing nonsense reminds me a little of America in history with the way coloured and black skinned people were treated, when they would paid at the front of a bus like everyone else and was told because of their skin colour they had to go round to the back to get on but then as I was reading on occasions the bus would drive off (that being the internet when it is not available or they go out of business and leave you without monitoring or access to the data gathered and the possibility of running an appliance to do it locally).

[s1977]

Hi MrMobodies

    Hopefully given your work above I wanted to check if you can provide some guidance with an issue I am facing. I have a Fox H1 6KW hybrid inverter with PV and battery storage. I have recently started building the dashboards using Home Assistant and got the Fox ESS Cloud based solution working. However I wanted to check the RS485/Modbus solution too as data is moving out of my local network, so might as well get it off the inverter and not the cloud interface. Having tried the Modbus option, I kept on getting connection errors when connecting on port 502 on my inverter's local IP address.

    I was offered the default wi-fi dongle initially; however I replaced it for a wired connection, so currently using the Smart LAN dongle to patch it into my network. Now I have tried connecting with the Smart LAN on or directly patching into the Ethernet port (labelled F in the manual), which is what you started off with. Neither connections permit me to make a local connection. Would you be able to advise if you had to enable the Ethernet port or something to get it to work?

Thanks

[MrMobodies]

I'll try and help.

I was offered the default wi-fi dongle initially; however I replaced it for a wired connection, so currently using the Smart LAN dongle to patch it into my network.

I read from a forum somewhere that the pocketlan thing will not do this.

directly patching into the Ethernet port (labelled F in the manual), which is what you started off with.

I connected it straight up to the ethernet port on the inverter.

In the installer's menu, I did remember turning on "remote access" somewhere from the start (believing it might turn on a built in webserver if it is there but isn't) and left it on before I discovered port 502 was open and MODBUS. Not sure if that will have anything to do with it. I'll see where I can find that option later.

At the beginning I did have an issue, I connected it up to a switch which was VLAN'D off between the Homeassistant and inverter and to monitor it's presence bit the inverter stopped responding twice and it hanged "nothing changed on display" the batteries (fault light on controller) but seemed to recover an hour later. So I thought I'd connected it up directly which was a USB network dongle on the appliance and no problems thereafter for a month now.

I had seen this happen with other stuff in the pat, like a black and white HP all in one laserjet that was new in 2013 where if it was polled too many times it would hang but we had three other HP printers and that seemed to be the only one to do it. That took me a while too discover that the Dude monitor would trigger it to hang.

I use an Asix USB dongle I picked up on Ebay.

Do you have access password to the installer menu?

I'd connect the inverter's built in ethernet port directly to another network interface (another nic or usb network dongle), then go into the installers menu to disable DHCP and set a static IP address in there and on the homeassistant for the secondary interface.

I am not if leaving the stick plugged in would cause the built in one not to work.

Also there if my fear that the manufacturer could change their minds at some point and release a firmware update to disable stuff like that modbus (I was told it would auto update at any time when connected up to their website and I wouldn't be able to turn it off which is another big nono).

[s1977]

Hello and thank you for your guidance below. I don't have any installer code for access.

I will try to use the USB option and see if that works. Hopefully it works unless that is blocked too.

[MrMobodies]

According to our PM's if you are getting modbus readings then that is a sign that it is likely working and you noticed with the other stick plugged in the website don't get the stats updated.

I remembered one time when I was trying to renaming the register values in a Rednode map from Solax to Foxess from the Homeassistant addon and I accidentally opened another connection to the inverter on a different map and it stopped responding and no ping reply until I stopped it and it started working a couple of minutes later.

So I'd test it without the wifi/pocket stick plugged in, once it is working with Homeassistant, then plug them in to see if it does indeed only reports to one interface at a time.

Also with the computer USB network dongle to inverter, since you can't get to the installer menu to set a static ip, I'd think you need to get a DHCP server to bind it to that dongle or maybe stick a redundant router in the middle and set the computer a static ip on that inteface to avoid setting the dead gateway.

With DHCP server binded to nic 2:
Network -> nic 1 -> computer -> nic 2 (usb dongle) -> built in ethernet port inverter

With a standalone router in the middle for DHCP:
Network -> nic 1 -> computer -> nic 2 (usb dongle set static IP same range as router after it and no gateway address)  -> router -> built in ethernet port inverter

Do change network range on the additional router if it is the same as the first router.

[s1977]

Hey, thank you for your additional inputs. I have tried a usb-to-RJ45 adapter (nic 2) but when connected, the inverter menu changes to a f/w upgrade one. Feels like the inverter tries to mount the USB as an additional drive for f/w upgrade purposes. So didn't go with that option further for the time being lest it disables or puts the inverter in some sort of safe mode prior to flashing. In my setup, i have everything patched to my Unifi switch and so is the inverter. Both inverter nics, Smart LAN and the Ethernet port do get different IPs when I enable DHCP in the Communications menu but that has caused the cloud readings to stop. Let me do a power cycle and re-try the analysis to see what breaks it.

Our solar company will provide warranty support and management, which is why I was still keeping the cloud connection alive (including reporting). I am sure I will realise there won't be much practical support for when any incidents occur and like you i will end up stopping any cloud data submissions.

[MrMobodies]

I think there maybe a misunderstanding.

I mean the nic 2 USB SIDE to connect to the computer not the inverter's usb port.

All that Homeassistant and addition does is read registers.

[s1977]

Ohh...Ok. Got you. Let me try that. As all of this is in my loft, I will try to connect the USB end to my Raspberry Pi, which has Home Assistant installed.

[s1977]

Hello

I tried using the USB-to-Ethernet interface on my HA hosted Raspberry Pi; however no success. I ended up calling my installers who advised that they had to reset something on the inverter; which means this option is a no-go. I have gone back to configuring Home Assistant to use the Cloud plugin instead for now.

[MrMobodies]

No success, and this was with the other dongle plugged in?

[s1977]

No success, and this was with the other dongle plugged in?

I tried it with both the Smart LAN connected and disconnected just to rule things out. Seems unlike your case, a setting turned off which didn't reset itself even after a power cycle. 

[MrMobodies]

Well, that is unfortunate but I am glad to hear that your contractor/installer were being cooperative.

I am going to see what happens if I disable "Remote access" later to see what happens as I think I left it on.

I am using a virtual appliance, for mine, Virtualbox on an old Duo Core but I brought a Lenovo M93P (10w idle) with Windows 10 LTSC 2019 and planning to use HyperV. It is so that I can backup and access the virtual drive image if it goes wrong and I have yet to find out about the file system it uses.

There is a glitch, I switched it off for a couple of hours before midnight and now the daily graphs don't reset to zero at midnight. I tried adjust the values in develop which apparently seem to show correctly. I installed the SQL stuff but the database Homeassistant is there but nothing in there. That's on hold until I find out what I am not doing correctly. This is so I can manually make adjustments.

Once it is all working I am going to disable the update as I want it to run long term without any disruption:
https://community.home-assistant.io/t/feature-request-block-supervisor-auto-updates/112743/58

CentralCommand MikeSep 19
This entire FR is about being able to stop supervisor from auto-updating. So, supervisor? But also none of the other stuff you listed auto-updates so I’m confused by your question.

Or are you asking when it arrives in the UI? If so the answer is it doesn’t. There’s no UI toggle, its in the cli.

ha supervisor options --auto-update=false
Btw for anyone looking to do this, two important notes:

If supervisor is out of date then all updates are blocked. Core, OS, addons, none of it can be updated while supervisor is out of date. You also cannot install new addons or add new addon repositories. Something to be aware of
Only the latest version of supervisor is supported. Your system will be treated as unsupported for purpose of issues while supervisor is out of date.

To try to maintain compatibility I copy a Chrome version that works to a folder (I use Vivaldi for this which is built in chrome):
Example:
C:\Browserprofiles\Programs\Google\Chrome90\chrome.exe

I copy the profiles: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data
Or don't bother as a default one will be made automatically wth the shortcut switch.

I copy the Chrome shortcut, rename and change the target to:
C:\Browserprofiles\Programs\Google\Chrome90\chrome.exe --user-data-dir="C:\Browserprofiles\user\Homeassistant"
And put a nice little ICO beside it and put into something like "C:\Browserprofiles\Ico"

I install the Adblock ABP Plus extension to hide the following stupid things that dim large parts of the screen on dialogues.
That hurts my eyes when that happens, small white dialogue or side menu the background dims and obscures and cuts me off which I find isn't very nice as I want it left alone I might be paying attention to something there.

##.mdc-dialog__scrim
###sidenav-overlay
##.modal-overlay
github.com##.d-flex.js-sticky.js-position-sticky.top-0.border-top-0.border-bottom.p-2.flex-items-center.flex-justify-between.color-bg-default.rounded-top-2.is-stuck
##.d-flex.js-sticky
###ha-launch-screen
##.ha-launch-screen-spacer
##.mdc-circular-progress__indeterminate-circle-graphic
##.ajax_notification.dismissable
###loading_parent
##.ajax_notification
##.ui-widget-overlay.ui-front

The only other thing (some fixed with the KIOSK addon) which I go into developer tools in browser to unset the fixed position elements. The HeaderHiderFixer browser extension or StickyDucky don't seem to auto hide it on scroll. I get very distracted and irritated seeing the blue bar stuck there constantly large in size and especially with it coloured blue.

[vladimirus]

Hello

I also followed the instructions to setup "Setup FoxESS and Home Assistant using RS485/Modbus" and everything works great apart from one thing... So I have Fox Ess H1-6.0-E connected directly to my LAN via ethernet port then using HA-FoxESS-Modbus-LAN module in HomeAssistant to scrape data from inverter's port 502 (I also connected Prometheus to scrape data from HomeAssistant so I can build more fancy graphs in Grafana but that's a different story).

Everything works, I can see all the stats in HomeAssistant pretty much in real-time which quite cool... But... Sometimes my inverter restarts, I dont know why and there is no real pattern to it. Sometimes it can restart couple of times a day, sometimes it can run for good few days before it restarts. When it does, it looses IP address completely (if i check settings About -> IP Add) then I see 0.0.0.0. The only remedy to this, is for me to manually go to "Setting -> Communication -> Ethernet -> Enable -> Set". After I've done that, everything starts to work immediately (I see all the data flowing into HomeAssistant)

Did anyone experienced this? Or know the cause or how to fix it? This is quite annoying since it requires me to be present and start DHCP at any time otherwise the stats wont be collected.

Thanks.

[PlainName]

and start DHCP at any time

Can you expand on what you mean there? Typically, a DHCP server runs continuously so perhaps you mean something other than a server - the DHCP setting in the equipment, maybe?

[vladimirus]

Can you expand on what you mean there? Typically, a DHCP server runs continuously so perhaps you mean something other than a server - the DHCP setting in the equipment, maybe?

Yes DHCP setting in the inverter...

So when the inverter restarts, it looses IP Address. If I go and check it (in the Inverter) "About -> IP Add ->" I get 0.0.0.0. So in order for the inverter to obtain an IP, I need to set in the inverter following:

"Settings -> Communication -> Ethernet -> DHCH -> Enable -> Set"

After I do the above, the IP address appears and everything works once again...

[vladimirus]

"Settings -> Communication -> Ethernet -> DHCP -> Enable -> Set"

[MrMobodies]

I had the same trouble too and couldn't find out why so first of all set a static IP but found it was still doing it.

It seems a number of things trigger it.

When connecting it an standalone switch, fine, laptop fine to switch but as soon as I plug that switch in to the network/router then it would randonly stop for a while where the buttons on the inverter would become unresponsive until resetting.

I brought a USB dongle (as an additional interface on the MINIPC) and no problems since.

If you open close the connection too many times (noticed with rednode) restart the appliance I have seen that happen.

[PlainName]

Wow! Getting and retaining an IP address is a rather critical part of being on a network, so this must have been tested extensively to make sure it fails so easily.

[vladimirus]

I brought a USB dongle (as an additional interface on the MINIPC) and no problems since.

I am trying to understand your setup, your inverter connected to what and how? And what does this USB dongle do?

[MrMobodies]

Sorry I forgot to post some stuff but here is a diagram of my configuration:


Onboard M93p ETH0:

USB Nic ETH1:


I set static IP's for everything but static ip for the inverter and the Network card going off to the inverter is needed.

Note: I have noticed, using two or more USB nic's of  the same chipset/type where they are numbered "Local area connection 1" and "Local are connection 2" can randomly switch places at boot up, so say if they assigned to virtual machines and when this issue occurs they can switch places and go off to the wrong virtual machine.

I am uing Hyper-V to host it.
I attached some screenshots below of the network configuration with HyperV.

I have come across an issue. I find I have to insert this on every startup if I restart it or it offers updates automatically and I don't want it to auto update:

supervisor options --auto-update=false

Now I tried blocking WAN traffic to the Homeassitant package (in my setup it is not going to need that) but it doesn't seem to complete start up whilst making connection attempts  to github where I think the Foxess addition is hosted. I am not entirely sure but I am going to run another copy to try and see if I can find out what is causing it and if I can do anything about it.

[usus]

Hello for the first time on this forum.

@MrMobodies - nice job done to document Fox ess inverter.
What's your opinion for using this inverter  with a car battery.
In the future can you make a capture of communication between invertor and battery management unit?

Thanks.

[MrMobodies]

Using this inverter with car batteries?
I am not sure if you can do that directly I don't think you can and seeing how there is controller between battery controllers.
Maybe reverse engineer it and design a whole load of things.

In Nodered you can see the communication coming from the inverter on the right panel but I am sure how to make it display with  the Homeassistant package. All I see are sensors and the results.

When you say car battery? Do you mean a car charger to charge up an electric car.
We had one installed with the understanding that I wanted all communication switched off. They provided a Wifi only. I think maybe possible as I have seen with an ethernet module that goes inside but I did search and found nothing about any support Modbus, it does have a built in webserver that directs you to joining it up to WIFI and connect to internet which is a Nono. So I don't I am missing anything there.

If you mean the communication between the inverter and HV2600 lithium battery storage controller and batteries:
It would be nice to see the readings, like the individual cell voltage and current of the module and by module and especially during charging and discharging but I am not willing to play around with it especially if it involves daisy chaining something between the battery and controller or between controller and inverter to capture the communication. If anything goes wrong and they find out that could invalidate the warranty.

It doesn't seem to take a lot to cause it to halt for a while when adding other communications like what the other commenters have mentioned.

It does have a DC cable that goes from the battery controller to battery module then next modue  and back to controller. So it might possible to find some DC clamps (Might even be an addon for Homeassistant as a sensor) to do some readings from battery controller and battery modules.

My opinion on the inverter:
It wasn't my choice I didn't pay for it but I didn't have a preference either at the time.

Pros:
-I like the metal enclosures.
-Ethernet Port with Modbus support 
-Appears to have a built in battery backup inside the unit so display is still on during a power cut. (Cons: how do I reset it when it is a fault.)
-Backup battery output (I was told they are working on an isolated earthing solution to allow it in the uk.)
-LCD screen shows good amount of
-Opensource/community kind of support for local datalogging appliance Homeassistant.
-Appears like decent battery management
--Trickles about 50W when it is down to 20% and stops at 15%
--When it gets to cold temperatures like below 0 the batteries start charging as a mechanism to prevent damage. This is something the manufacturer sets it to do. I don't know how effective it is. It is not in the documents but I found out about why it was doing this in the early hours of the morning through the contractor/installer who spoke to Foxess.

Cons:
-Dome buttons on LCD screen aren't great.
-No built in webserver webpage to display the sensor readings and logs via the ethernet port.
-No dedicated local lan monitoring appliance like the Sunnywebbox
-Manufacturer's lying and condescending attitude towards the customer regarding the installer/ datalogging and monitoring.
-Bullshit wifi "smart" stick nonsense addon" promoted as the only possible means of monitoring and datalogging (according to manufacturer) that depends on, their webhosting and your internet connection operating at all times (the utter stupidity where it has to upload the stats just to download it again and the delays if any despite the inverter being meters away.)

I am not saying it is great. It is working but as this is new from a Chinese manufacturer that I never heard of before as far as I know I still have my doubts. Things can change I just don't know how this will wear and tear in the future.

We had a quote and I am so pleased we didn't go for it and it was actually one of our first quotes from this local company. They wanted to install a Solaredge inverter, I think it was a HD WAVE and this was back near 2020. Now the brochures this gentleman was showing me (all with Solaredge stuff) had pictures of inverters with screens. If it didn't I'd be questioning with skepticism right there and say no forget it but you don't expect them not to have screens in this day and age for convenience. At the time I didn't know over 2 years before that that Solaredge started to manufacturer their existing inverters without screens that depends on phones to make them work.

But imagine the shock if the Solaredge inverters turned up without the screen (as opposed to the brochures they showed us) and required a phone and internet to make it start working I'd go absolutely mad.

Unless they have old stock but seeing how they are failing so soon (according to trustpilot and other websites about the failures and delay on replacements) I'd be in for a nasty surprise and shock.

[usus]

Wow didn't expected so long response.
While I proceeds your post check this:
 
Hope this will help you understand my question.

 Thanks.

[MrMobodies]

Looking at Youtube Video: Custom battery packs for Fronius Gen24 [part4]  I see you want to make a custom battery pack/battery system for the Foxess? inverter but the Youtube video shows a Fronius inverter.
I wouldn't know how to integrate it.

Please do share if you have an success.

[usus]

I think you may be intested in this

[texamicomio]

Hi @Vladimirus,
I connected the Foxess H1 inverter to my home LAN and I was able to communicate via MODBUS protocol without any problems. I'm developing a widget for Android to view real-time data directly from the smartphone's home screen. This morning, for the first time, the inverter didn't get the IP from the DHCP. I tried setting the static ip and resetting the DHCP in the inverter menu but I couldn't connect in any way.
Were you able to solve your problem?

"Settings -> Communication -> Ethernet -> DHCH -> Enable -> Set"

After I do the above, the IP address appears and everything works once again...

I attach the preview of my widget.

[MrMobodies]

Hi @Vladimirus,
I connected the Foxess H1 inverter to my home LAN and I was able to communicate via MODBUS protocol without any problems. I'm developing a widget for Android to view real-time data directly from the smartphone's home screen

Is this directly or from Homeassistant?

If more than one connection attempt is made and (disconnecting and reconnecting too fast) it will lock out for a while and eventually restart in like 10 to 20 minutes.

I'd connect the inverter directly to a separate network card or USB network dongle to the homeassistant applice and set a static ip on that and the inverter.

At first I had it connected to a switch (with DHCP by router) sharing a few virtual machines and I remember it kept on locking out and restarting as well. I am not fully sure but I suspect that could have something to do with broadcast traffic.

[texamicomio]

Hi MrMobodies
I connected the inverter directly to my home LAN (through a switch and then into the router). With a scan I found the IP address and connected with a free app (Modbus TCP). I made a lot of connections and developed my own widget. This worked for 3 days then the inverter stopped connecting. Could there have been an update? I noticed that the settings menu has changed.
I would like to reset the inverter.
I don't think the problem is LAN traffic.

Thank you for your answer.

[MrMobodies]

I think from my experience I had with it that it had something LAN traffic. I can't be sure as I don't want produce the steps and cause any major problems with it as it is working. Nothing has happened so far. Before I crimped the cables, first time I connected to a Draytek acting as a wireless bridge to another Draytek then into Pfsense (vlan in it's own) doing the DHCP, with one computer and it was fine. You see I want it on the lan as well so I can monitor it with the snmp monitor, Dude, program but if it is going to do that then a no go.

As soon as I put it on a switch or vlan with other stuff it would just cut out randomly and a lot. It would not work consistently. I connected it through a USB network dongle when I was experimenting with Rednode and renaming the Solax registers to one off a Foxess and got that to work. For days it was fine and with Homeassistant when I tested that too. A week later as soon as I connected back up to a different switch on a different Vlan in the cabinet doing the virtual machines the same thing happened and it would stop. So I just left it plugged into it's own network card since September and it is fine. The USB network seems pretty stable for what it is. The only change I have made is moved the appliance from a laptop to a minipc.

You do not have a "smart wifi" stick installed?

According to one commentor here it seems that when that is plugged it would cut out or something like that if I understand correctly?

Also I was told by Foxess it would auto update the inverter through the "Smart wifi stick when connected to their website/cloud whatever which is a big nono for me. I want something like that left alone without any interference from the manufacturer behind my back.

Is "Remote access" still there in the installer menu?

[texamicomio]

Hi MrMobodies,
the "remote access" menu item is still available in the menu and I've a "smart wifi" stick installed.
You described well what happened to you and I understand what you mean.
Perhaps my problem could have been caused by a remote software update after I reported an incorrect behavior of the inverter to assistance: at night there was a continuous noise from the relays.
In my opinion a remote update was done and now the noise of the relays is no longer heard but access with modbus is no longer allowed.

Before the update, the connection via LAN with MODBUS protocol work without problems.
After the update the LAN port has been disabled because the IP address is not even configured (neither with DHCP nor with static IP configuration).

I'm contacting technical assistance to ask for information. If I don't solve the problem I become dissatisfied with the FoxESS brand. 

[MrMobodies]

Before the update, the connection via LAN with MODBUS protocol work without problems.

With the wifi stick and connection to the website.

"Modbus no longer allowed" I hope not. It is wrong for them to *advertise* a feature in the manual and do what they like through the firmware updates. This is why I don't trust any update until I know exactly what it is going to do. I expect that once it is working for it to be left alone or you'd find them interfering with the product in ways that can affect you.

After the update the LAN port has been disabled because the IP address is not even configured (neither with DHCP nor with static IP configuration).

A little unclear, can you configure these things or not?

So if set to DHCP, routers logs show it does not request an IP address.
If set to static ethernet port does not light up?

I'm contacting technical assistance to ask for information. If I don't solve the problem I become dissatisfied with the FoxESS brand. 

Let see what bullshit you may encounter from the manufacturer:

1. The ethernet port on H1 is a reserved port , function not ready to use.
2. Not supported (We don't care). Okay put it back to the way it was.

3. Monitoring only possible through the website. 

Joke: 4. The mass majority don't use on site monitoring as they are not tek savvy users. They naturally burn very stupid with very a low iq level and naturally low abilities and can't comprehend the amazing mysterious things that us developers get up to every day which is extremely challenging on a daily basis. They need to be following strict instructions set by us, the brightest minds of society or they loose the warranty. Exposing them to this raw information is not good for us and may sabotage the advanced way of thinking set by us advanced thinkers for the mass majority! 

Joke: 5. You shouldn't be messing around in there. It is very complicated than you can ever imagine. Never mind how it works none of your business. You can cause viruses to appear which will lay bugs that will crawl around and cause problem and blow up your inverter and it will infect your neighbours wifi and it will be all your fault and will void your warranty and we can't have that.

Sorry that is the sort of manner I was spoken too throughout my younger years and some people still try it on just like the first one which was from the manufacturer which reminds me of the Wizard of Oz, when the dog opened the curtain and the man doing the frightening things said "Don't pay attention to the man behind that curtain."

Hopefully they may actually be helpful this time and fix it or offer a firmware downgrade or it might be something very simple.


I had another thought:

In my opinion a remote update was done and now the noise of the relays is no longer heard but access with modbus is no longer allowed.

after I reported an incorrect behavior of the inverter to assistance:

That was normally when mine was reset after freezing, the relays click, and I observed that happening a lot when it was connected to the vlan with other stuff on there.  It doesn't do it anymore.

Did you tell them your plans that you are running an in house appliance for datalogging as stated in the manual?
I'd confirm whether they'd disabled it intentionally and why? and whether they can re enabled it.

[texamicomio]

Hi MrMobodies,
I quote everything you wrote in your last post.
I try to answer your questions:

A little unclear, can you configure these things or not?

I tried these configurations:

• DHCP enabled
• DHCP enabled but with static assignment from the router
• DHCP disabled and manual IP address configuration into the inverter

NO WORK!

This evening I reset the inverter but the behavior remained the same.

So if set to DHCP, routers logs show it does not request an IP address.

I tried looking up the IP address with both ping scan and router ARP table (both static and dynamic).

If set to static ethernet port does not light up?

The switch port light is on and flashing like the others ports.

Did you tell them your plans that you are running an in house appliance for datalogging as stated in the manual?
I'd confirm whether they'd disabled it intentionally and why? and whether they can re enabled it.

They didn't answer my phone today. I will try again tomorrow hoping to speak with an operator capable of understanding my request.

I am very disappointed because a feature mentioned in the brochure has been removed after I did a great job on the widget that I want to distribute for free to all users of FoxESS inverters, although I will never recommend it to anyone.

[MrMobodies]

So with DHCP: no IP address is requested from router. Nothing on router logs.
Static IP: No ping response or modbus port open on port scan.

Silly question: Is this with the "smart wifi stick" removed?
I know you said it worked in addition before.
Can you try removing the "smart wifi stick?", and ethernet, wait for some time and reconnect the ethernet on it's own?

I was having another look at your widget:

Very nice.

Does start means to start the program fully?

Here is the original firmware version that came with my inverter to compare against yours:

Inv Ver
Master 1.24
Slave 1.02
Comm 1.25

If it is the same then it could be something else.
If not then if they really want to be helpful they can give the firmware above that I know works.

The manual does not seem to detail much about the ethernet port like how it should be connected up and used and troubleshooting.
It seems very vague and hush hush.

Attached: Hybrid-AC-User-Manual.pdf
Manual page 23

Ethernet
Ethernet communication is the standard communication interface.
Application Occasion
This function is appliable for the below situation:
1) For data transmission: It can transmit the inverter data from inverter to PC or other monitoring equipment.
2) For monitoring: It can transmit the inverter data from inverter to Foxess monitoring website/APP though home router connected.

I know at a firm that did access controls, one some of them if you did too much polling using a SNMP tool or on a network where there is too much broadcast traffic it use to set an alarm off. No a real audible just a message in the monitoring system. I came across a HP laserjet that did that, if the tool did a network scan or probed it many times a minute it would cause it to hang. I believe it maye possible that the wifi stick may actually just be a little micro computer inside that does datalogging through the RS485 port where it might have a firewall and rules whatever lan it is connected to where the inverter is not directly connected to the lan.

Safety:
If inverter settings can be changed remotely through the modbus that can affect the inverter, like changing voltages and lead to safety issues and so on then yes the manufacturer may have a point but if this is the the case it should be detailed in the manual that it needs to be separated from the local LAN devices and needs something in the middle for your application and widget that you need to build, like with Homeassistant appliance where the inverter is connected directly to it and the the homeassistant webserver is running on the network card towards the lan side.

Steve Robinson 1 month ago
It seems that the latest firmware  1.56, has disabled the lan port, so after finally managing to complete this step, I am no better off.  HA has listed all the sensors etc, but no data is coming through.

Well lets HOPE that it seems.

If that is the case, you see how can they treat people like shit and do what they like when they see progress.
I'd argue with them that it was not the product sold to you if that is the case above and want it the way it was originally provided to you without the smart stick. If you are willing to do away with "cloud"/hosting nonsense (I am totally against it) and you can persuade them into replace or give you the firmware to downgrade.

I am worried now that if mine breaks and it gets replaced.

A sub comment in that video points to this for the RJ485 datalogging method (possibly the port where that "smart stick" goes into):
https://foxesscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?t=24

Fri Oct 14, 2022 6:36 pm

As FoxESS has grown its market share globally, it's been under active development from its community of developers who want to extend its functionality, reporting and automation capabilities.

It's now possible to integrate your T series FoxESS solar inverter with Home Assistant.


1. FoxESS Local RS485 Modbus Integration https://github.com/assembly12/Foxess-T-series-ESPHome-Home-Assistant

Pros:
Realtime data polling via the RS485 port
Comprehensive list of data entities to report on and build dashboards using
Cons:
additional hardware or cabling needed

IamEccles:
USR-W610 Serial to WiFi Ethernet Wireless Converter RS232 RS485 Serial Server Support WatchDog Modbus Gateway TCP UDP
Brand: USR  4.1 out of 5 stars    59 ratings £54.98
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DNWM62H

Youtube comments:

Kris Haynes1 month ago
I've got the same problem too, followed all the setups, brand new system installed and looks like they;'ve disabled data polling out of the LAN port.   * Port clearly works as the cloud is still fine but locally I cannot extract anything

tommglx2 days ago
I seem to have this problem too. How do I check the firmware version? My system is about 3 months old and the issue seems to fit this. However, I have managed to pull some data using node red. So, it seems that the lan output hasn't been disabled, it must be another issue with either the VM, HA or yaml set up. Will update if I get it sorted.

tommglx 2 days ago
Further to this, I've jut realised that I now can't access that port with node red. I don't recall an update, not sure what happened.

Regarding firmware versions, on the web portal it says that my hardware versions are:
master: 1.44, slave: 1.02, manager: 1.39. Are these the firmware versions I'm looking for?

tommglx 2 days ago
Just went back to the inverter and checked a few settings: enabled remote control and DHCP. I don't know which fixed it, but I'm now reading values!

*I'd remove that SMART WIFI stick FOR NOW, leave it for a while (I don't know how long maybe half a day), then try the ethernet without the Smart wifi stick plugged in.

My Suspicions if it only works for one interface at a time:
1. Could it had been at first,  alternating between the two, modbus port (smart Wifi stick thing) and then ethernet.
2. Is stuck to one at present.
3. An update has made it so it sticks to one interface at a time.
4. or disabled ethernet.

[texamicomio]

Hi MrMobodies,

So with DHCP: no IP address is requested from router. Nothing on router logs.

No useful information in router logs.

Static IP: No ping response or modbus port open on port scan.

No ping response.

Can you try removing the "smart wifi stick?", and ethernet, wait for some time and reconnect the ethernet on it's own?

Already done 

Very nice.

Thank you 

Does start means to start the program fully?

It is still a work in progress. When you press Start all the values ​​on the widget refresh. When I can get back to work, I have to activate an automatic timed refresh.
If you have an android smartphone and want to try my widget, I can send you the apk file.

Here is the original firmware version that came with my inverter to compare against yours

I compared the values ​​of the FoxCloud app versions with those on the inverter display and I discovered a very strange thing: they are different!



and



In FoxCloud app (and web portal) there is:
Master 1.54
Slave 1.02
Manager 1.56

On inverter display menu:
Master 1.09
Slave 1.09
Manager 1.09

It seems very vague and hush hush.

The manual is almost useless.

Well lets HOPE that it seems.

It seems a certainty. I don't want to buy a new device to do something I did a week ago. 
Are you sure that this device works then? Has anyone tried this on an H1-6.0-E?

*I'd remove that SMART WIFI stick FOR NOW, leave it for a while (I don't know how long maybe half a day), then try the ethernet without the Smart wifi stick plugged in.

I haven't been half a day without a smart wifi stick, but only about 15 minutes. The behavior has not changed.

My opinion is that if the operating parameters can be modified with the Modbus protocol, the risk of breaking the inverter by unaware users is very high. Just limit the range of memory addresses accessible by modbus to read-only and keep the LAN port working.

[texamicomio]

Are you sure that this device works then? Has anyone tried this on an H1-6.0-E?

I answered myself after finding these reviews:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-reviews/RV3TPY5QS153Y/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B07DNWM62H

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-reviews/R3LRFJQ939DS0V/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B07DNWM62H

[MrMobodies]

I just remembered and forgot to mention (without the wifi plugged in but with ethernet connected)...
To cause the inverter to reboot:

Just cut the power to through the isolator or fuse box, the screen may stay on as I believe it has a built in battery and it will display a fault message and the warning light will come on.

About a couple minutes restore power to it and about 10 to 20 minutes it will reset and all the relays will click and do it's diagnostics and clear the warning. That worked for me unexpectedily.

Inv Ver
Mine:

Master 1.24
*Slave 1.02
Comm 1.25

Yours

Master 1.09
Slave 1.09
Comm 1.09

A bit odd.
This looks more realistic:

In FoxCloud app (and web portal) there is:
Master 1.54
*Slave 1.02
Manager 1.56

* Looks to me like the backup firmware.
Would be interesting to see if there is a way of triggering it into loading the backup firmware.

My thoughts:
Custom firmware for their WIFI stick that eventually installs or custom when you reported the relays clicking.
(The clicking is normal when it reboots and it did this to me often with the LAN issues at first until I connected it directly. I didn't think it was a problem because I was there and knew what it was doing when it eventually restarted or when I cut and reapplied power as a test... almost forgot about that.)

They speak of Firmware version 1.56 here:
https://foxesscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?p=560&sid=fec2b46037c60e197912cb23fe197bb9#p560

Borehamwood wrote: ↑Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:02 pm
Anybody else got manager version 1.56?
Is it newer than 1.54?

Dave Foster Posts: 50  Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:03 am
It is newer but Foxess don’t issue firmware release notes  so the updates/bugs etc.. are not known.

We do know that if you have a home assistant connected via the LAN port it will no longer work as the LAN function has been removed (you have to connect via modbus or cloud)

[So they have removed modbus over ethernet.
Now THAT IS TAKING THE PISS!

Take it as a lesson:
You can see why I don't leave my stuff connected up if I know it is going to update and I refuse updates willy nilly so that manufacturer's can do what they like to it. It is proof that newer update is not equals to always better and may certainly not be in your best interests.

I bet they saw thread like this one and the Youtube videos, decided they didn't like it and made the next update accordingly.

My Paranoia: Wait till they alter their wifi stick and inverter through a firmware update so any modbus converter (not their own) won't work for new users trying it.

[MrMobodies]

Their stupid app, both Apple store and Playstore cloud monitoring don't seem to be doing well according to the reviews.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/foxcloud/id1512581978


https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fox.foxapp&hl=en_GB&gl=US


We haven't got enough users sign into our cloud to leave good feedback.
So what do they do, they disabled or cripple the means for successful private/inhouse data monitoring project and obstruct it through whatever means they can like now for those who have their smart "wifi stick" installed and betray the trust that the customers have installed in them by removing/denying them something that was once shown in the manual at the time of purchase and worked fine before. Making it difficult for those who are against this finite "cloud" only monitoring where they have to start looking at converters when that was all available from the ethernet port or extra equipment with clamps.

This makes Sony Other OS look good as at least they gave a choice as far as I can remember.
Update to continuing to use to the Playstation Network and loose OtherOS.
Don't update and eventually loose access to Playstation Network.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OtherOS

force its customers to choose either to forego installing the software update or to lose access to the other OS feature,

It goes to show that now they don't force customers to choose anymore.
They just take liberties and do what they like when they can through silence like here:

Dave Foster Posts: 50  Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:03 am

We do know that if you have a home assistant connected via the LAN port it will no longer work as the LAN function has been removed (you have to connect via modbus or cloud)

It is newer but Foxess don’t issue firmware release notes so the updates/bugs etc.. are not known.

That means they can do what they like when you connect it up to them through their "smart wifi" stick.
Leaving the customers in the dark and do things behind their back through the firmware updates.

1. Foxess... Lied that it doesn't work when it did as documented in the manual
2. I sent them an email proving them wrong showing that it does work with Homeassistant via addon with no problems.
3. It seems more people start doing it, a Youtube video and other forums detailing how.
4. Foxess later disables the feature.

Now how does that look for Fox-ess? Very dishonest

Joke: Anyone reading this with this inverer or inverter like it fancy throwing away their "smart wifi stick" in protest.
Any new customers refuse such a stick?

I waiting for the day when they start charging subscription fee's for their cloud nonsense for whoever they forced or got trapped into it.

[MrMobodies]

service@fox-ess.com
You
Hello *****,

Modbus TCP is not available after the firmware 1.50.

But customers can still use Modbus RTU with RS485  . *There is no effect that customer can use their own private monitoring appliance.

I like that answer. I asked why but gave the above solution which is good enough.

I would have brought that from the start had they advised.

*Thank you very much Fox-ess for giving us a choice recommending this and taking in account our thoughts on private in house monitoring.

Greatly appreciated.

Going to order it and prepare my installation incase the inverter fails and need to switch on replacement.

I remembered being told before the contract (and before the change to one inverter) that I could void my warranty if anything goes wrong and they find things connected up to that serial port (where the dongles go) that are not approved by the manufacturer but now I got their backing so I am no longer in the dark.

I just checked the manual and it looks like the RS485 connection pins are inside a plug (Item e) that also has pins for other stuff where it needs to be wired into.

There is a CT clamp already connected inside that plug so this will be a job for the contractor when it needs to be done.

[texamicomio]

Hi MrMobodies,
I just saw that the menu on the FoxESS web portal has changed.
A "Meter Management" menu item has been added.
Maybe this news could be related to disabling the modbus TCP port?

PS: How do you post images inline on this forum?   

[MrMobodies]

Unfortunately the image attach feature got broken from an update many years ago where it started to show attached pictures from other threads.

I attach the pictures by post and use Imgur for inline lower resolution pictures which is not ideal.

Meter Management
That looks to me like for joining up power meters like the one on Item E connector.
Maybe they are now supporting more than just two types.

[texamicomio]

After realizing that the LAN port has been disabled with the firmware update to version 1.56, in order to use Modbus TCP communication I buy a RS485 to LAN adapter with Modbus RTU to TCP converter.

https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/RS485_TO_ETH_(B)#Overview

https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B09QMNWYLQ

This adapter is not wifi but it is cheaper than the USR W610 (it costs half).
I connected everything as indicated in the manual and tried to configure the device.
If anyone is interested I attach here the device configuration screens and the code to test that the modbus TCP works the same way as the LAN interface which has been disabled.

[Update]
After a week of use, I tuned up and updated the screenshots with the best configurations to make communications more stable.

[MrMobodies]

For me anything like that I'd want cabled up.

I am still awaiting from a response from the manufacturer whether the WIFI radio module can be disabled on the one recommend and I did read the manual but couldn't find anything about it.

Out of my own personal paranoia I don't like to leave WIFI radio's on when they are not needed.

I remember this Netgear router many years ago. As soon as certain wifi controllers join it like this one, a Intel 3945ABG for whatever reason (even if the wrong key was inserted on test) it would cause the router gradually come to a halt and stop working and then need power cycling.

That's why I like things separated including the access points so when something goes wrong it does not take out other stuff with it.

[texamicomio]

Hi MrMobodies, all,
I built the widget apk file and shared it at this address:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M1Cf-2NpEJz-w7pBhR2L8-Hidb4M1ejj/view?usp=sharing

To install the apk file, remember to enable unknown sources in your smartphone settings.

[MrMobodies]

That is useful.

Thanks for sharing it directly.

I'll test later.