Understanding Conext AGS + state of charge triggers

ThirstyRoss

Hey all,

I've got a Conext system here - the inverter is an older XW6048 (before the XW+ and XW Pro), and i've got the other associated hardware like MPPT, SCP, AGS, InsightHome, etc.

I've somewhat recently upgraded to lithium batteries and have the BMS integrated with the InsightHome so I can see the battery state of charge and everything looks great.

I want to auto-start and stop my generator based on BMS state of charge - in the insighthome trigger configuration I do see the state of charge options, but if I use the SCP to program the AGS - the state of charge options are not present.

Do I just need an XW Pro to have state of charge auto-start working?  Is my XW just too old for this?  Or do I need to get a new AGS as well?

This is my hardware and firmware versions (see attached image)

Thanks!

ThirstyRoss

Oh - one other question semi-related to this - since my lithium batteries have a BMS and communicate with the system, there's no reason for me to connect my Conext Battery Monitor, right?   I can just get rid of it now that I'm off lead-acid?

Graham Parkinson

What kind of batteries and BMS do you have that that are communicating SOC with the system? Sounds like they are connected to the RS-485 Modbus port correctly if you see SOC on the Insight.

If SOC isn't showing up in the AGS, It might be the case that the XW-AGS can't communicate SOC based actions on Xanbus due to the older XW firmware available in the older XW units.

The XWPro firmware does include SOC and closed loop inverter charging and AGS control but probably only on the XWPro hardware.  I don't know what SOC based functionality you'd get with the older XW's even with a communicating BMS.

If the BMS has an accurate shunt and good SOC accounting, you don't really necessarily need the Battery Monitor, but many folks find it useful anyways even with a BMS.   I don't have a Conext Battery Monitor so don't fully know it's capabilities,  but I'd think you might be able to add it to to your system, set it up it to estimate SOC independently of the BMS, and use it to control your AGS that way?

JRHill

"...set it up it to estimate SOC independently of the BMS..."

Boy isn't that the truth. In all the years of using a battery monitor with lead and now with LFP04 I can say that SOC is always an estimate.

Graham Parkinson

Another question, to clarify what the OP is seeing on his system:

You say that the SCP doesn't show SOC trigger values for the AGS.  Can you see/set trigger value options on the Insight Local Configuration page for the AGS?

ThirstyRoss

Graham Parkinson said:

What kind of batteries and BMS do you have that that are communicating SOC with the system? Sounds like they are connected to the RS-485 Modbus port correctly if you see SOC on the Insight.

If SOC isn't showing up in the AGS, It might be the case that the XW-AGS can't communicate SOC based actions on Xanbus due to the older XW firmware available in the older XW units.

I'm using EVE280Ah LFP batteries with a Seplos 200A BMS.  There are four BMS's - they are all connected via RS-485 to synchronize and then the "main" BMS is connected to my InsightHome via CANbus.  The Seplos BMS uses the Pylontech protocol and is recognized automatically by my InsightHome without any configuration.

The XWPro firmware does include SOC and closed loop inverter charging and AGS control but probably only on the XWPro hardware.  I don't know what SOC based functionality you'd get with the older XW's even with a communicating BMS.

I mean apparently no functionality at all

You say that the SCP doesn't show SOC trigger values for the AGS.  Can you see/set trigger value options on the Insight Local Configuration page for the AGS?

I see the SOC triggers in the trigger configuration section of insighthome but they dont work if i program them

Dave Angelini

Not gonna work! Xwp is voltage and Soc designed. Previous versions are only voltage. They are out of memory.

You can use the bat mon for very ballpark like data. It will take some time to get in the ballpark. Many cycles from low to full

I would search the forum for what xw you have and what FW to use on Insight!!!!

Also look at release notes for Insight.

 Winter is not a good time to play around with a working offgrid system.
Just saying this as I drove in a storm to help an xw that was not treated well last week. Good Luck

ThirstyRoss

Dave Angelini said:

Not gonna work! Xwp is voltage and Soc designed. Previous versions are only voltage. They are out of memory.

Thanks Dave - we are going to upgrade to an XW Pro shortly, before they are discontinued, so I guess it will all come together at that point!  The important thing I had to know was if I needed a new AGS along with the new XW Pro, and it sounds like I do not.

I would search the forum for what xw you have and what FW to use on Insight!!!!

Also look at release notes for Insight.

 Winter is not a good time to play around with a working offgrid system.

Not sure I'm getting the right read on this, but I take it to mean that the old XW6048 and Insight aren't intended to work together and that I'm a fool for being in this situation?

I know this already, I use my combox to program my XW, I was just trying to implement SOC triggers in the AGS in case they'd work.  TBH I mostly have the Insight so i can connect with CAN to the BMS.  The combox graphs are much nicer at telling me what I need to know (and have years of historical data), the Insight is kinda lame by comparison.

Dave Angelini

Follow the release notes !   Be very careful with the security flaws in COMBOX.

Become a client and I will specifically get you through this, along with a year of support!