Same old story, new router, inverter won't connect

Only way I can get my inverter to connect to my new TP-Link router is to turn off security, no key. Someone please tell me there is new firmware or even better a dongle that uses an ethernet cable!

chris_p did you try disabling the 5GHz network on your Wi-Fi? That causes a lot of connection issues

If you have a gen 2 or 3 inverter or AIO these have Ethernet ports on them. Or you could setup a powerline network just for the inverter if it doesn’t like your Wi-Fi.

Does seem the GivEnergy dongles are fussy, maybe older tech ?

geoffreycoan Thanks for the suggestion but I think because it connects with the security off it suggests it isn't a 5GHz issue. It's a Gen 1 Hybrid.

I have a work around in place, an Tekna Mesh box that I had from a while ago has allowed the inverter to connect with security so that will do for now until a long term solution can be found.

Gen 1 can struggle to connect if 5Ghz is on. Switch it off, connect and then re-enable it. Even more so if it is a BT router.

I changed to a new BT router and had to use two Mesh extenders to get the house Wi-Fi to the Inverter. Someone on this forum suggested logging in to the new router and changing its SSID and password key to the old router’s identity. Bingo ! It works. I’m just mad that the installer didn’t ask me to lay an extra CAT 5 cable when I laid the power cable and the CAT 5 cable linking Em115 to theInverter. I believe there’s enough wires in a CAT 5 cable to carry two separate signals but could not persuade him to help me do that . Anyone else tried that ? Nor could I persuade him to enable the limited EPS ability of the 3.6 HY Inverter to feed a couple of sockets in the house even though I’ve got all the power cable laid and the twin socket allocated ( for fridge/ freezer and USB) . Not sure if this needs anything done other than 20 mins wiring up plugs?

I had issues with mine, setup a powerline adapter & wifi extender with it's own SSID just for the inverter.

I think you need a separate earth ground spike before you can connect the EPS. The reason is if there is a power cut the main earth connection to your home might be disconnected.

billG
Yes it is possible to use two 10/100 Megabit connections over a single Cat5 cable (Gigabit needs all 4 pairs). Cat5 cable economiser/splitters are available for this purpose (need 1 at each end of the cable).

Managed to find this explanation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdw8o95FuKU

nophead It's a bit more than that. For an eps, the earth has to be disconnected otherwise you could potentially pass a fault current back down the line to people woking on the equipment.

Pandorian I was only going to power two quite independent sockets dedicated to the fridge and freezer during any power cut. Ie physically re-plugging these two household items into an emergency only socket, fed from a dedicated eps sicker on the inverter. Most installers don’t want to know though.

billG still need a separate earth. Quantity of sockets/circuits is irrelevant.

anglefire yes I knew I needed a separate Earth rod. I believe that this EPS supply is always live at the socket in the inverter ? Or does it only activate when main grid power cuts out? Question is is do I need any electrician to help me do this mod or do I need to get a GE installer? I presume it’s nothing to do with the computer linked cloud system as that will go off? When there is a power cut? And also disables the app mechanisms for monitoring and control?

billG I would suggest you need an electrician at the very least (so you can get the relevant test certificates if nothing else) though not necessarily a GIv approved one - unless you want to change the changeover settings to make the switch faster. Though I’m not even sure that is not something done by support.

The EPS supply is live at all times, except during a power outage when I believe it drops out when the incoming supply dies and then switches back in after a short delay. This delay is quite significant as standard, certainly would drop any computers or network switches powered from it.

anglefire oh and if you powered your router and WiFi network and the outage wasn’t affecting the local network, then the cloud and app would still work. Just depends how big an outage it is.

anglefire Thanks for these useful comments . We had an outage of 3 days last winter, NB we are on higher ground. Just a mile from the East Coast above Berwick. I’d thought about laying an extra temporary cable with extensions to reach the Router and TV sockets😊We also have a log burner and a coal fire , plus a dual burner Camping Gaz + lamps in our emergency portfolio! One year the village was cut off for 2-3 days with drifting snow.

anglefire
I have run with my EPS permanently live for a year.
In a powercut the EPS drops for about 5 seconds and comes back on.
GivEnergy can change this so it acts as a UPS. (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
My EPS powers a separate consumer unit with circuits for lounge power (tv sky box), boiler, fridge, freezer, smoke alarms, router and burglar alarm. and lounge lights.
We can sit in a warm room with cool beer and watch TV until grid comes back. If we need to boil water we have to use a pan on the gas hob.
I posted drawing here https://community.givenergy.cloud/d/1551-eps-changeover-switch-hardware/20

billG However I’d need to power the Mesh transponders as well, so the Cat 5 idea should be followed up, but involves breaking in to the existing cable at two points . I did lay a duct but once the heavy power cable and first cat 5 were pulled not sure if there enough clearance internally to suck a thin pull cord through and then maybe a very thin new cat5?

billG I have a single CAT5 cable to my garage and use pairs 1 and 2 (wires 1,2, 3 &6) to carry the ethernet (runs at 100Mbs which is fine), then I use pair 3 (wires 4&5) to carry the EM115 signal for my first inverter and pair 4 (wires 6&7) for the second. The ethernet goes to a small 4 port ethernet switch from which I ran a standard utp patch lead to each of my two inverters. Works fine. I've got a pdf showing it all if you want it?

BarryForde hi Barry

That sounds just the ticket. Can you please forward the pdf to btrgardner@gmail.com? Are the numbered wires colour coded?

billG on its way. And yes they are colour coded.

BarryForde Thanks Barry!