Unrequested AC inverter remote firmware update.

Following some intermittent issues with my AC inverters discharging whilst being in the timed charge window, on Monday, GivEnergy customer support remotely updated the firmware from D0.535-A0.535 to D0.212-A0.212. However, this effectively made my system completely unusable (no charging, discharging, all power readings implausible). The next day I rang GivEnergy and spoke to another advisor who rolled back the firmware to D0.535-A0.535 and all was operational again.

I’ve just noticed that my system isn’t working properly again and saw I had an email from the 1st customer support agent apologising he’d only just returned to the office today (Friday) and (for some inexplicable reason) changed the firmware to D0.212-A0.212 again! Argghhhh, why? For some reason, it doesn’t work on my system.

Is the only option for me to wait until after the Bank Holiday to contact GivEnergy or is there a way I can roll back the firmware myself? Thanks in advance.

You could try emailing / phoning over the weekend. There might be someone there picking up calls / answering emails.
I used to go in on weekends occasionally (totally different industry!) because it was nice and quiet then and I could get some serious work done (and I had no life outside the office...)

ChrisLav
Thanks. Sent an email but lines are closed. Doesn’t look good.

I have the same issue with that firmware. Going from D0.535-A0.535 to D0.212-A0.212 causes it to crash. Fortunately I have some old .bin files that I can shove onto the dongle to reload it. But it's ridiculous that I have to do this to fix it. OTA firmware should work. Or at least they should offer the .bin files so that you can fix it. I had the .bin files from many back and forths with their very nice Customer support team, but the time to reply and action is pretty unacceptable.

wmr1980 I was in a similar position about 6 weeks ago when the firmware update froze 88% through the process. I finally got my system back using the manual 'dongle upgrade' method. I got the relevant files using this link:
https://givenergy.co.uk/installer-resources/

When the update went through, My BMS was also updated from 3017 to 3020, although I had not requested this.
So I am on D0.212-A0.212 and BMS 3020 and my system is working just fine.
I don't want to upgrade again and would ask GE to do this for me.

From the number of comments, there is something seriously wrong with what should be a smooth upgrade process.

Rob

Rbor and wmr1980 many thanks for your informative replies.
I’m already on BMS 3020 but mine doesn’t work with D0.212-A0.212 or it’s crashed during the update. Thanks for the resource link. Pity GivEnergy doesn’t have older firmware versions for download. Where would the update status be seen if frozen, please? If mine has frozen, I’ll retry with a manual dongle update. Although for mine, it appears a bit coincidental that the D0.212-A0.212 remote update would have failed on both inverters, D0.535-A0.535 remote roll-back on both was ok and then again, and the last D0.212-A0.212 remote update on one inverter failed (the other wasn’t triggered for remote update).

As an aside, GivEnergy really should introduce a policy that any remote firmware changes or initiating calibration can only be started with the explicit consent AND agreed time with the customer. Remote updating on Friday 16:53 and saying ‘monitor over the weekend and let me know’ isn’t great for a customer, especially knowing D0.212-A0.212 didn’t work on both of my inverters. That’s what has given me no opportunity to correct the situation for 3.5 days. If GivEnergy insist on updating firmware without agreement, wmr1980 is right that they should provide the current firmware (with the resources link in the email).

Yes mine crashes during the upgrade just as yours. I've given up and just stuck to 535 instead for now. I've had this MANY times over the years of upgrades and GE told me just not to do the firmware upgrade. However, the whole point of firmware upgrades is to improve compatibility, stability and potentially unlock better options.

I wondered if it's because my inverter is over 3 years old and there's something incompatible. I've sort of given up using GE software now and use predbat and home assistant to manage everything. It's a bit geeky and involved, but hey!

Someone at GivEnergy picked up one of my previous emails a couple of hours ago, replying that my particular installation should not be on the firmware (pushed out by his colleague) it's currently using and will roll the firmware back. Fair play to this latest GivEnergy Tech support for (a) working on Bank Holiday Monday and (b) actually reading, understanding the issue and correcting it.

So I’m back on D0.535-A0.535 for both my AC inverters. The App power values seem all over the place, but hopefully the inverters discharge/charge come sunset.

Thanks to all on this thread.