EG4 6000XP Battery Communication Update - Fix for Lifepower4 Battery Firmware Boot Info Not Showing

[@APatchworkCanvas]

Let’s get some troughs hung up and tidy up these wires my guy. Holy hell my anxiety

[@rodneyhunt]

Took it down for testing. Will at some point put up conduit and/or a trough

[@APatchworkCanvas]

@@rodneyhunt I know I’m just excited too 😂 what do you think of the 18kpv compared to the 6k’s? I ended up installing the 18kpv.

[@rodneyhunt]

@@APatchworkCanvas They look good to me but since I am only using mine with no grid tie it’s unnecessary. Plus I would need 2 for the AC output requirements I have. So 3 6000xp’s it is now.

[@sophiegrisom]

Great result. I agree that EG4 should have a step-step procedure which always works. Not surprising it you took days, given the matrix of setting combinations you had to try, plus an older cable that apparently didn't work.

[@rodneyhunt]

Thanks. Now they gave a free plug and play option that works. Makes it simple! Gavin has a video about it on his channel. Gavin stone diy homestead

[@jlfrazier100]

Thanks for these videos. I just installed a 6000XP with 2 LP4 batteries and have the same comm problem you had in the previous video. Armed with knowledge from your video I was able to contact SS with precise information. I can use my system using the Lead-acid setting but I know L-Ion Battery comm will be more efficient. Now I just need SS to send me a cable....which was not included. thanks again Rodney.

[@rodneyhunt]

Every battery order should have a cable so not sure how they missed that. But they should get you lined out. 👍

[@springton]

Thank you Rodney for pointing me in the right direction! I knew I would have to think outside the box on this one. I have 7 eg4 LP4's and had the display show only 500 amp hrs. 5 of the batteries had firmware version 3.26 and 2 batteries had firm version 3.10. Those 2 wouldn't add to the overall amp hrs on the display. Trying to update the batteries showed me that the batteries with 3.10 would not show boot info, let alone update to 3.32. I had to hook up the serial cable from my laptop to one of the upgradeable batteries set to I'd 0, and use that battery to daisy chain to battery id's 4 and 5 to upgrade them. Success......all of them are now version 3.32!! This proves that you can get to any battery id, from any battery using id 0. BTW, all of the batteries were connected and discharging at the time. Regards, Rich

[@rodneyhunt]

Hey glad to hear you got those updated! Nice 👍

[@TheJR914]

Okay Rodney I guest that was your Xmas present to you for getting everything working “ Great”.😊 You would think that signature Solar would mention something in their set up procedures on all requirements for a new installation. But I guess that’s why they call it DIY😮. Best of luck and Happy Holidays to you and your family.

[@rodneyhunt]

I’ll take it. You have a good one as well

[@jasperthomas8048]

That is GREAT info Rodney! Thanks.

[@rodneyhunt]

👍 Maybe it can help someone else if they have this problem. Thanks

[@joetripp123]

Hey Rodney, glad you figured that out and great work around. Fingers crossed that my LLs that are coming from SS have the updated firmware so I can just plug them in and be done. Still no shipping information yet on those and my 6000XP. But that's giving me time to prep the area and pick up some of the other wire, crimpers, hardie board, etc.

[@rodneyhunt]

I am going to try the ll-s’s that I have and let you know how they work.

[@ckfab475]

Glad you got it figured out, at least till the next time. Something else to think about is that sometimes your computers USB port won't basically let go of the communications even though you properly closed everything and just won't talk to anything else because it is looking for what it was talking to. I've had the same issue your having with your batteries with things like VFD's and PLC's. I would literally have to restart my laptop to stop the original USB port communications before I could communicate with something else. Wonderful world of technology. Don't know if it's getting better or worse. Personally I am starting to believe worse.

[@rodneyhunt]

Software is worse for sure from what I have seen. I tried shutdowns and different PC’s with the same issue. At least until I started on a known good battery. Just weird stuff but hey its working now

[@bobcole3852]

Glad you figured out the communication!

[@rodneyhunt]

Me too! Thanks

[@marksouthworth4708]

Rodney, I feel your pain. Had an issue with one of my lifepower batteries a few weeks back and tried to download the firmware with no luck after many hours. I was able to resolve the issue on my own. I had a 6000 already on order and later found out I would have to update my batteries to make it work so I canceled the order because I didn't want to deal with the frustration.

[@rodneyhunt]

Glad it’s working now. Will be worth since these inverters are doing really good so far!

[@AdamDeLay07]

Glad you were able to figure out the problem. Kinda disappointing though with all the software capabilities available to us that you have to go through such a janky process to update battery firmware…

[@rodneyhunt]

Yes just weird. Hopefully they can continue to work on the process. Unfortunately sounds like this is becoming industry wide for many people

[@AdamDeLay07]

@@rodneyhunt agreed

[@tjmooney4181]

awesome thanks for the update

[@rodneyhunt]

You bet

[@PWoods-cd6tk]

Good job being persistent. Hopefully you don't have to keep updating these things. This makes me want to lean as low-tech, analog as possible.

[@rodneyhunt]

Well it works with lead acid settings from the beginning. I just want to see the battery SOC from the app. Your choice for sure!

[@ronaldmathieu2199]

Hi Rodney: I am a new subscriber and love your videos and content. I too amabout to install the EG4 6000XP over the next few days, but I am curious if the AC breakers for grid, load and generator can accomodate 6AWG wire sizes. I am asking because I have quite a bit of that rom my old Growatt 12K inverter that went bad, and I would like to resue that wire. Thanks! Ron M.

[@rodneyhunt]

I do not have any to test but I think it will.

[@ronaldmathieu2199]

@@rodneyhunt Thank you!!

[@sammyboyde6489]

So, to update 6 batteries, you need to do them one at a time with no other batteries daisy chained in, and set each batteries dips to address zero. Then go back after the 6 updates are complete and reset the all dip switches for coms.?

[@rodneyhunt]

Yes. Exactly 👍

[@sammyboyde6489]

Thank You sir.@@rodneyhunt

[@KoiAquaponics]

Since you're using all recommended components, putting the system together seems easier and more logical. But how exactly does this system deal with 6 separate battiries when there's only 1 RS485 port. Does the rack have a splitter or combiner for the RS485 ports? I have 8 diy batteries and I'm still researching how to tie them into the 3 inverters, it's a little confusing.

[@rodneyhunt]

So I just have a victron lynx busbar. You can tie all batteries together and then run a cable to your inverter or each inverter if you have several. Unless you are only talking bms communications then I am not sure it will work with DIY battery packs. You may need to use the lead acid (user) setting and just set your charge and discharge parameters

[@rodneyhunt]

Each battery rs485 is tied together in series with the host battery going to the host inverter

[@KoiAquaponics]

So all your batteries are connected to 3 inverters through the victron? Do all 3 of your inverters treat the whole bank as one? Or do each inverter only treat and deal with 2-3 batteries connected to it?

[@dannydang74]

Hi Rodney, I am new to Solar, I curent have a 6K Growatt Inverter set up eith 6 batteires, But want to upgrade mine to Dual EG4 6000Xp's , i see vdeos on the internet showing the AC connections, I dont see anything specific on how to hook up the PV. @ current i only have 1 PV array which wotks great for the Single Growatt. But if i swich it out to Dual 6K Xp's, does, Does that array only get hooked up to 1 of the EG4's or do they go into a combiner and parallel with each Inverter?

[@rodneyhunt]

Each inverter has two MPPT’s so it depends on you panel volts open circuit and amps. I just have my main array with 7 panels into each Mppt on two inverters. Then i have 12 from tilt array into last inveter on 1 mppt. Those are 6 In series then paralleled together. So depends on your panels but I just went straight to inventors with a in line fuse on each panel series.

[@nnagreg]

What cable did you order? I'm not finding the cable that you shared on the video.

[@rodneyhunt]

Just the cable that came with some of the batteries I ordered. I had several different battery orders and you get cables to update with each. Eventually just got one to work

[@rodneyhunt]

This one here signaturesolar.com/eg4-usb-read-write-cable/?ref=rodneyhunt

[@ronaldmathieu2199]

I am having a communication problem as well. Do you have any EG4 LlLV1 batteries in your communication string or do you only have Life Power 4 batteries? I cannot get the system to communicate with the LlL-V1 and Life Power 4 batteries to communicate with each other. Help!!

[@rodneyhunt]

Only using the lifepower4 in mine. Have not tried to hookup the ll batteries but they should work after setting them up easier than the lifepower4 from what I have been told. If the lifepower4’s are working then just make sure the LL and setup by the procedure. They won’t work until setup from what I have seen

[@rodneyhunt]

My LL-S setup is on page 17 of manual. I think yours would be on 16-17 of your manual

[@ronaldmathieu2199]

Thanks!! Ron M. @@rodneyhunt

[@rodneyhunt]

@@ronaldmathieu2199 Did you get them working?

[@Just_An_Idea_For_Consideration]

Would you please, type out a step by step process, so we can follow your example. thx

[@rodneyhunt]

I need to have somewhere to post stuff like that. Will look into it

[@5slabs]

I've tried everything I can think of, and I still can't get boot info on the Eg4 batteries. I can connect and get battery info, but when I try to get boot info, it always fails. So I can't update the firmware.

[@rodneyhunt]

Lifepower4 batteries?

[@5slabs]

yes same as yours.@@rodneyhunt

[@5slabs]

@@rodneyhunt I just sent an email to Signature Solar about it, and I'll see if they have any ideas. I have tried 4 of my batteries using different sequences, such as plugging in the cable before and after turning on the battery, and closing and opening the BMS software before and after turning on the battery or plugging in the cable, and I still can't get the software to get the boot info, though it will read the battery info. I need the boot info to install the correct firmware. And it won't install either firmware if it can't get the boot info. I don't know what else to do. I want to do this update to see if it helps with my batteries getting out of sync with charge percentages that may cause my Growatt 5000 to sometimes keep discharging the batteries way below their back to Grid setting and putting the batteries in an alarm state.

[@rodneyhunt]

@@5slabs Just make sure all other communications cables are unplugged, that you are not charging or discharging battery, and keep trying if you get one to work. How many batteries do you have?

[@5slabs]

@@rodneyhunt I have 5. I removed the communication cables, and they aren't charging or discharging.

[@BLEACH500]

Im having a problem with the dongle it was working fine then i set the s/n and pin on another page like it asked then it stopped working 😵‍💫

[@rodneyhunt]

What other page? May need to delete back to the point where it worked.

[@BLEACH500]

@@rodneyhunt i had to input max amp hours of lipo and it wouldnt let me on the inverter itself it only went to 900 amp hours i have 304ah and had to input 4864 total amp hours so i used online version and at the bottom it had set dongle s/n and pin so i set it once i did it stopped working

[@BLEACH500]

@@rodneyhunt what does the button on the dongle do

[@rodneyhunt]

It will restart dongle

[@BLEACH500]

@@rodneyhunt i think mine is faulty because it doesn’t do that on mine it doesn’t seem to do anything

[@opennrgdotcom]

"BAM!!!" Look forward to your videos. thanks

[@rodneyhunt]

You bet! 👍