Communicatio with SMA inverter (Sunny mini central or sunny boy)

[DHNN]

Hi!

I have a school project that I must talk with a SMA Sunny mini central Controller (that controls three Sunny Boy inverters) with a RS485 interface. I'm using Labview 2011 with VISA. The instrument manuals I was refering to is "SMA Data Specification" and it's very complex and don't give any clear example. Another useful document is "YASDI Library". I am wondering if anyone have done it beofre and it's greatly greatly appreciated if can share the VI with me.

Thanks in advance!

I have seen a thread discussing this but the thread is not active already since it was posted 6 year ago: http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/help-with-Sunny-Boy-inverter/m-p/3000333#M859265

Regards,

Jack

[billko]

Usually we request a VI of what you have attempted so far; in a school project, this is pretty much demanded.  Nothing is learned by handing the user a ready-made solution.  🙂

[Dennis_Knutson]

Why don't you attach the manual and any code that you have written? Just saying that it is 'complex' does not mean much.

[DHNN]

Thanks Dannis for the comment. 

I have attached related documents and API... 

The SMA inverter model I am working on is SMC7000TL.

I just not very sure if how to get starte with this. Any help or advice will be great helpful. 

Jack

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

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@DHNN wrote:

Thanks Dannis for the comment. 

I have attached related documents and API... 

The SMA inverter model I am working on is SMC7000TL.

I just not very sure if how to get starte with this. Any help or advice will be great helpful. 

Jack

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So, in a nutshell, you want us to read through all of the documentation and come up with a solution for YOUR school project.

I would call that cheating.

[DHNN]

come on man, do not be so mean. i have read through all documentation and jsut want to get some advices. If you do not want to share then it's fine

[Dennis_Knutson]

I just gave the first document a quick read. The protocol requires hex commands. You can do this a couple of ways. Create an array of U8 set for hex display. Then use byte array to string to convert to something VISA Write can use. You could also use a string control set for hex display.

I would recommend the U8 array approach since I think it's simpler to calculate the crc and append that to the array. There are numerous crc examples on the forum.

This is going to be a bit difficult and tedious. If you have software from the vendor, it might help to capture the low level commands with something like portmon. Then you could compare your code to the vendor's.

[billko]

You will have to tell us what is meant by "talk to" the equipment.  Does that mean "send a command - any command - and get the right response?"  Does it mean, "Successfuly get the equipment to do a certain task?"

Also, what is your experience level with LabVIEW?  With instrument communication?  If you are experienced in at least one of these areas, we might be able to help.  If you have no experience with either, all our advice in the world won't help.

[DHNN]

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for the hints. U8 array is a good idea and i will try to do it this way. A serial protocol snipper as a analysor might help, as you suggested.

I think I just need to communicated with the Inverter with a single word and get its reply, then the rest of work will be much easy.

Thanks for your help.

Jack.

[DHNN]

Hi Bill,

Sorry i did not explain clearly what i want to achieve here. I want to read out inverter reading such as DC voltage, DC current from PV string, and AC voltage, power... There would be some writting action needed as i also want to set some parameter in inverter's register.

I have a CLAD and i did some projects in LabVIEW invoiving VISA, TCP, as well as Modbus communication, with eletric meter and robotic control...

Thanks for advice.

Jack