epsolar-tracer

Tools for EPsolar Tracer A and BN solar charge controller

This is the second generation of the EPsolar Tracer solar charge controller. You need RS-485 adapter for communication. The first generation controller used RS-232 and a different protocol. see https://github.com/xxv/tracer.

Product link 1
Product link 2

Windows software & nice pictures

Linux driver for Exar USB UART

In directory there is a Linux driver for Exar based USB RS-485 adapter.
Original source

Protocol

Protocol See for windows capture for some extra commands.

Python module

Uses modbus library (https://github.com/bashwork/pymodbus)
Example output

# python info.py 
Manufacturer: 'EPsolar Tech co., Ltd'
Model: 'Tracer2215BN'
Version: 'V02.05+V07.12'
Charging equipment rated input voltage = 150.0V
Charging equipment rated input voltage = 150.0V
Charging equipment rated input current = 20.0A
...

Raspberry (4) driver building

Building

Readme in xr_usb_serial_common-1a

Raspberry 4 Issues

If your system is missing kernel headers ie. you get this error: make[1]: *** /lib/modules/4.14.50-v7+/build: No such file or directory. Stop.

Reinstall your bootloader, kernel and kernel-headers

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -yy --reinstall raspberrypi-bootloader raspberrypi-kernel
sudo apt install raspberrypi-kernel-headers

Enabling driver

sudo rmmod cdc-acm
sudo modprobe -r cdc-acm
sudo insmod /opt/epsolar-tracer/xr_usb_serial_common-1a/xr_usb_serial_common.ko

Enabling driver on boot

echo blacklist cdc-acm > /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-cdc-acm.conf
update-initramfs -u
echo insmod /opt/epsolar-tracer/xr_usb_serial_common-1a/xr_usb_serial_common.ko >> /etc/rc.local

MQTT

Installation

On a modern Linux system just a few steps are needed to get the daemon working. The following example shows the installation under Debian/Raspbian below the /opt directory:

git clone https://github.com/MichaelErmer/epsolar-tracer.git /opt/epsolar-tracer

cd /opt/epsolar-tracer
sudo pip3 install -r requirements.txt

Configuration

To match personal needs, all operation details can be configured using the file config.ini. The file needs to be created first:

cp /opt/epsolar-tracer/config.{ini.tempalte,ini}

Continuous Daemon/Service

You most probably want to execute the program continuously in the background. This can be done either by using the internal daemon or cron.

Attention: Daemon mode must be enabled in the configuration file (default).

1. Systemd service - on systemd powered systems the recommended option

   sudo cp /opt/epsolar-tracer/template.service /etc/systemd/system/tracer.service
   
   sudo systemctl daemon-reload
   
   sudo systemctl start tracer.service
   sudo systemctl status tracer.service
   
   sudo systemctl enable tracer.service