Firmware Version 1.2r0

Sometimes I wonder if I could be any slower at some things.......it's been MONTHS since the last firmware update release!

But there's a good reason for that: I've made multiple MAJOR overhauls to functionality and accessibility on the firmware.  And there's nothing worse than releasing an update that ends up being a major headache due to issues, etc., etc.

Several customers have been invaluable beta testers, and I am hoping that as a result of said real world testing, everything should be A-OK to go 😉. 

• major improvements/redesigns on the WiFi functionality
  • FINALLY implement revised local server page.  First started on this over a year ago--but shelved it due to extremely serious instabilities.  Came back to it a couple months ago, and wrote things differently...it works really well now!
  • fix issues with the "Configure WiFi" captive portal, now when you connect to to the inverter's AP ("Configure WiFi"), it should automatically pop up a message/window/webpage on almost all phones/tablets/etc.
  • some minor tweaks/adjustments to JSON status data
  • DISABLE WiFi "sleep" mode if local server enabled: increases power usage ~0.25W, but decreases request response time from 800mS to 20mS.
• add "WiFi Settings Delete" and "WiFi Board Reset" functions (WiFi tab)
• complete revamp of WiFi/update mode flags (THESE SETTINGS WILL NOT CARRY OVER FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS!)
  • revamp WiFi function handling, now you can specify "STA", "AP", or "AP+STA" WiFi modes
    • AP "hotspot" mode with WPA2 WiFi security.  Allows connecting a device to the inverter without a WiFi network.  (Wireless remote screen.)  Random password generated once and saved; you can see it on the "Configure WiFi" page.
  • adjustments/improvements to Update functionality
    • add "updater initialize" timeout (avoid infinite lockup on bad connection)
    • add HTTP error code feedback for Update qualification process (diagnostics) [bug report: <a contenteditable="false" data-ipshover="" data-ipshover-target="/profile/20-deeezz/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="20" href="/profile/20-deeezz/" rel="">@deeezz]
    • added audible firmware mismatch alarm [for <a contenteditable="false" data-ipshover="" data-ipshover-target="/profile/1-sean-genetry-solar/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="1" href="/profile/1-sean-genetry-solar/" rel="">@Sean Genetry Solar]
    • add "Firmware Upload" function for remote systems that don't have WiFi Internet access.  Now you can literally update an inverter with just a laptop/smartphone that has a GS firmware file on it.
      • NOTE: Only accessible if MQTT either cannot connect or is disabled.  A bit of security 😉.
• revise TEMP screen display for Rev. C control board temperature sensors to differentiate between sets A / B
  • change ProCool calculation methodology (only affects customers using it!)
  • minor corrections/changes to fan speed control
• STAT screen "peak watts" now reads single-cycle full peak watts (not 1sec averaged value).  May yet need some adjustments...
• add option to display "Total KWH" or just "Inverter KWH" (i.e. not counting pass-thru grid power) on OUT screen
• revise oscilloscope "DAMP" and "DVLT" screens to provide "after-error" info
  • add "SYNC" channel for debug purposes
  • renumber all oscilloscope channels from 1 instead of 0
  • add "ERROR" bar to indicate where inverter tripped
• some adjustments to solve random "Xformer Polarity" errors
• first support for "AC Volt Relay Error" protection (Rev. C2+)
• Charge adjustments:
  • change "UPS" mode behavior (now charge is not "forced"; it is controlled by the charge threshold settings)
  • adjust charge throttle regulation (fix overvoltage on 12v inverters, hopefully prevent oscillations) [bug report: <a contenteditable="false" data-ipshover="" data-ipshover-target="/profile/51-nilao/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="51" href="/profile/51-nilao/" rel="">@Nilao]
  • adjust the charge waveform to increase efficiency, better PFC behavior.  Not perfect yet, but it's a lot better.
• Fix voltage regulation bug for 120v single-phase inverters, should regulate much quicker [bug report: <a contenteditable="false" data-ipshover="" data-ipshover-target="/profile/32-bossrox/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="32" href="/profile/32-bossrox/" rel="">@Bossrox]
• Fix bug in LCD driver causing rare random WiFi board crashes
  • also some LCD GUI implementation adjustments; may "feel" different than before.

Bugs I'm aware of (yeah, I've waited long enough to release this update--I can tweak these later!)

• Power LED alternating between green & cyan.  This is a bit of a leftover from GTM (grid-tie master) charge functionality, as the charge rules have to be applied there as well--but it shouldn't be indicating charge unless there's actual backfeed power.
• "Inverter Cooldown" often doesn't quite work as expected on inverters with Rev. C control boards (depending on internal setup).  To be frank, I find it a completely useless function--and the Rev. C hardware adjustments make it extremely difficult to implement as originally intended.  Letting this one slide for now.

Future Fixes/Features:

• a lot of things involving line-synced power output, including:
  • Hybrid Input Limit, where if the loads exceed the configured max input amperage, it'll pull power from the batteries to make up the difference
  • Zero Export "Grid-Tie"
  • Parallel Mode (yeah, long time coming...I need to get back to it!)
  • Seamless ATS transitions from grid -> battery.  (Currently the battery -> grid transition is seamless, but not the return.)
    • note that "power loss" transitions never will be seamless.  It's not feasibly possible.

The vast majority of the tweaks/changes are to the WiFi board code.  The revised local server is a huge accomplishment...many thanks to <a contenteditable="false" data-ipshover="" data-ipshover-target="/profile/19-kazetsukai/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="19" href="/profile/19-kazetsukai/" rel="">@kazetsukai for rewriting my Hillbilly Javascript into proper JS...and <a contenteditable="false" data-ipshover="" data-ipshover-target="/profile/133-notmario/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="133" href="/profile/133-notmario/" rel="">@NotMario for the custom gauges that have such a beautifully tiny zero-dependency footprint.  After you see that pretty GUI, just remember that the ENTIRE local server webpage totals 41.6KB!  These days a single "JQuery" include will run you nearly TWICE the size--and give you absolutely nothing to show for it without further code!

Local server is considerably different now.  If you try to access "/remote.htm" or "/status.htm", it will instead simply provide "/index.htm" (instead of redirecting, as that's a lot more complicated than simply serving a different file!)

To specify the screen mirror as a bookmark, you would now access "/index.htm#remote".  And now the WiFi setup is right there on another tab...easily accessible.

As of right now, this update is only for GS inverters with Rev. C control boards.  I need to take a moment to update the A.1 / B board inverter code as well to this point.  A lot of the more advanced power handling/monitoring features are only possible due to the added monitoring on the Rev. C control boards--so not all of the functionality will be available on the older boards.  But the fancy local server and GUI stuff will 😉.
And yes, I do know I said this about 1.1r6 too....which obviously didn't happen.

Ah, the joys of firmware updates...the nervousness of hoping that everything's all good and rosy 😉.  (BTW You'll need to set your inverter on "Rev." or "Minor" to see this update.)

As always, any issues / suggestions, let me know.  I can't do anything about bugs I don't know about.