Interfacing with XW6048

Telemachus

I'm interested in communicating with our XW6048 from Xantrex so that we can monitor and control the unit from a central computer running SCADA software. I'm looking for information regarding the Xanbus protocol, and what I might use for hardware to interface between the XW6048 and the SCADA software.

Here's what I know:
(1) Xanbus is Canbus, i.e. the physical layer is equivalent. What is not equivalent is the communications protocol.
(2) The manual for the "system control panel" has wiring information: http://www.wholesalesolar.com/pdf.folder/inverter%20pdf%20folder/XWSystemControlPanelManual.pdf. Cabling shouldn't be a problem.
(3) There is a configuration tool: http://www.energybay.org/xantrex-xw-configuration-tool-865-1155. If that tool can work through USB, then there must be a hardware solution for networking the XW6048 independent of the system control panel.

I suppose I should list what I hope to achieve. Well, I'll be ambitious: anything that can be monitored / controlled with the system control panel I would like to be able to do with our SCADA software.

Solar Guppy, I'm looking in your direction. However, according to the following thread, everything is proprietary? http://forum.solar-electric.com/showthread.php?5796-a-software-question-about-xw-config-tool. One nice thing that I learned at this thread is that Xanbus is Modbus over CAN. All forms of SCADA software support Modbus. Conceivably, I just need an RS-485 to CAN converter an address list and I'm set.

Maybe this is the best route? http://forum.solar-electric.com/showthread.php?5578-FreeWare-Xantrex-XW-monitoring-software-available

Regards,
Tele

Joe_B

Re: Interfacing with XW6048

I can send you the modbus protocol specification, PM me with an email address.