eBox-WiFi-01 RS485 to WiFi Adapter, Part 1

Let's take a first look at this RS485 to WiFi adapter for the EPSolar/Tracer Solar Charge Controllers.
This is a small serial port server that plugs into the RS485 comm port on the EPSolar charge controllers and provides the serial data via a WiFi (or BluetTooth with the BLE version) connection:
www.epsolarpv.com/en/index.php...
Thanks to Adam Welch, who reviewed this converter:
• EPEver eBox-Wifi-01 RS...
I found a source for these converters on AliExpress:
www.aliexpress.com/item/EPEVE...
The Android app is available here:
www.epsolarpv.com/en/index.php...
To be continued, we'll plug the adapter in to the charge controller and see if the app works next:
• eBox-WiFi-01 RS485 to ...
Be sure to rate, comment and share
And as always, thanks for watching
Intro/Outro:
Louisiana Fairytale by Austin Rogers
web.archive.org/web/201704022...

[@jaredcrandall578]

This no longer works as a wifi client (STAtion), they updated their firmware and did away with the STAtion mode. It will only work in AP mode now, so you can only connect to it by changing your pc's wifi settings to the ebox wifi ssid. Complete garbage move by the company, but a commentor (named St!CK3L ) on Adam Welsh's thread had a clever fix that worked. Before doing this, use the default webpage to setup your wifi settings on the STA page, and take note of the MAC address of the device on the home settings page (you will need this later) " Hey guy's. Its still possible to use station mode. As you already figured out, they have just changed the content of the mode select dropdown. To enable station mode, just save the "Mode Setting" website to your local disc. You will find a file called "select_cn.html". Edit it with np++ or else. Just add the "STA Mode " below the "AP Mode " line and change "var w_wmode = 'AP';" to "var w_wmode = 'STA';". Make sure, the form action link refers to your epever wifi box IP.... action="11.11.11.254/do_cmd_cn.shtml Save the file, and run the edited "select_cn.html" in your browser. Now just select "STA Mode", save, reset and enjoy. " On your wifi router find the devices MAC address. You will be able to connect to the Admin interface using that address in your web browser.

[@AdamWelchUK]

Thank you for the videos and all the mentions and links to my channel in this series of videos. Glad to see you have it all working. The HW VSP software may need to change a setting. In the settings tab untick the NVP setting and create your com port again. It should pull all the parameters then.

[@The4Crawler]

Thanks for finding that TCP server setup. I think I did try the NVP off, at least is seems to have been unticked. So far the NetBurn software is working fine for now.

[@imranganatra3261]

Thank you for the Video. I bought from Aliexpress for $19.50 including free shipping.

[@vicentepena7998]

Thanks for the video. I've got a LS1024B controller with the ebox. When I try to set the battery to user mode I get "please input right value". Did you know what is the problem? Regards EDITED. I've found the problem, so I will write it here in case other people have the same issue. In the battery advanced mode of the app,when I choose user mode, all values change the dot for coma. I've changed again the comas to dots and then send the info and everything works fine.

[@The4Crawler]

Thanks for the update. Had not seen that problem myself yet, so it'll be good to know in case I do.

[@The1980toyota]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of the wifi/Bluetooth version. I will be using it in a remote cabin. I wonder which one will best. Any ideas?

[@The4Crawler]

The answer would probably depend on what you want to do with it and how you want to interact with it. Both have about the same range and for the relatively low data rate of the connection, both are more than sufficient: www.diffen.com/difference/Bluetooth_vs_Wifi BT would let you connect to the controller with a mobile device at the cabin. With WiFi, you could put the controller on your local network and then if you had some sort of external internet access, you could open up port(s) on your router and have access to the controller from anywhere on the Internet.

[@The1980toyota]

R Brown thank you for the info. I use the Bluetooth on my device to connect to a speaker. Since I have never tried, I wonder if my iPhone would operate 2 devices via Bluetooth? Anyone want to weigh in?

[@The4Crawler]

According to the link I posted earlier: "BlueTooth: Fairly simple to use. Can be used to connect up to seven devices at a time. It is easy to switch between devices or find and connect to any device."

[@timothy790110]

from what I gather, the wifi version wont act as a separate wifi point even though it has the ability,, you have to keep hooking it up every time you wan a reading (though that seems to have been hacked by someone on youtube,) but the bluetooth version will not have this problem. The ranges are different, wifi is 50 meters, and bt is 10 meters. I got the bt version coming in the post in a few weeks time.

[@CosimoBisello]

I would like to know how did you get the mode STA mode that by default in my device only the AP mode mode appears?

[@The4Crawler]

As other commenters have noticed, newer models o the device have updated firmware that has eliminated this feature.

[@CosimoBisello]

@@The4Crawler there is no way to reset the STA mode

[@The4Crawler]

I have not heard of any, but then again, I have not spent much time looking either.

[@CosimoBisello]

I would need to remotely monitor an epever regulator

[@The4Crawler]

You might try the following web search for some options: "eBox-WiFi-01 STA mode"

[@karlhattam1525]

Think I could of read the instructions and had it set up quicker than watching this video lol but on a serious note it did help so thanks

[@carlos_sacalul]

can you connect from work to ebox wifi, for example? I managed to connect with my laptop to ebox and now I want to connect from work to see the parameters in real time. Do you think it's possible? Thank you

[@The4Crawler]

Yes, it should be possible. What you'll need to do is to set up "port forwarding" on your router or cable/DSL modem to let that connection be made outside your local network. If your network is set up with a dynamic IP address (DHCP) from your ISP, you'll also need to set up some sort of dynamic DNS (DDNS) service to provide a link to your home network for continued access. You could test things out by just getting your current DHCP public IP address (it usually stays the same for a week or so) and use that until it changes.

[@carlos_sacalul]

R Brown Thanks , it would be interesting a video on it. I think other people would be interested, including me but i dont know how to start.Thanks in advance

[@The4Crawler]

Good idea, I'll see if I can come up with something to put on video.

[@almeida8065]

ola tudo bem!! eu consigo liga no epever hibrido?

[@The4Crawler]

"Hello, how are you!! can I connect to the hybrid epever?" "If that hybrid epever has the RS485 data port, there is a good chance this will work. Might check on the Epever web site and see if the WiFi adapter is compatible with your hybrid." Si ese epever híbrido tiene el puerto de datos RS485, hay una buena probabilidad de que esto funcione. Puede verificar en el sitio web de Epever y ver si el adaptador WiFi es compatible con su híbrido.

[@dmitryradchenko7458]

Pinout cable

[@The4Crawler]

It's likely a standard RS485 RJ45 pinout: tuxotronic.org/wiki/interface/rs485/

[@dmitryradchenko7458]

@@The4Crawler нет братан.не стандартная распиновка...1÷ а 7-

[@The4Crawler]

MT50 manual, page 29: www.epsolarpv.com/downseriesdoc_5.html

[@dmitryradchenko7458]

@@The4Crawler братан,его можно перепрошить и сделать универсальным адаптером Блютуз/RS-485 ?

[@The4Crawler]

"Bro, can I reflash it and make it a universal Bluetooth / RS-485 adapter?" Likely that is possible, assuming the mfg. didn't make the flash read-only. Doing so would require reverse engineering the device and then generating the new program code to upload to the device. Вероятно, это возможно, предполагая, что MFG. не сделал флэш-только для чтения. Для этого потребуется выполнить реинжиниринг устройства, а затем сгенерировать новый программный код для загрузки на устройство.