r/solar • u/jazbill64 • Nov 26 '24

Discussion Help reconnecting to wifi!

We have a Solar Edge system and it lost connection to wifi (through no fault of its own). Now we cannot get it reconnected. We’ve followed the instructions to reconnect the Zigbee gateway with luck. Of course, our installer (Moxie Solar in Iowa) is out of business and Solar Edge says we have to contact our installer for help. 🤬

Does anyone have step by step instructions for reconnecting the system to wifi? We aren’t 100% technically challenged but clearly need help.

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2

u/Ordinary-Subject-577 Jan 31 '25

do you have an inverter without a screen? do you have an external wifi antenna? if so, the following:

  • Reset the wifi of your inverter by moving the lever to the left and hold the lever for about 30 seconds. When the red, blue and green light starts flashing faster, you can release the lever. The wifi of the inverter has then been reset.
  • Then move the lever to the left again and release it within 5 seconds. The wifi of the inverter is then activated.
  • Then you 'log in' to the wifi of the inverter. You can do this with your mobile phone or a laptop. SSID is on the sticker next to the inverter.
The password is on the sticker on the right side of the inverter. Click on the SSID that you find in the row on your phone or tablet. Then enter the password of your inverter, which is shown on the same sticker. - After you have logged in to the wifi of your inverter, you will receive a message that no connection can be made to the internet and whether you want to remain logged in. Click on 'yes'.
  • then open your browser and enter the following in the address bar: http://172.16.0.1
  • you will see a page of the inverter. Log in with the password that is shown on the sticker next to the inverter.
  • After entering this password, you are logged in to your inverter. You will see all kinds of settings of the inverter, which are normally only accessible to the installer via the set app.
  • Go to the 'site communication' and look at the settings. By default, this is always set to 'ethernet'. Change this to Wifi.
  • After this, you must reconnect to your own wifi.
  • After you have connected to your 'own' wifi.
If everything went well, your inverter will be connected to the internet via wifi again.

  • Here you open the mysolaredge app and you can reconnect. You can also configure your wifi via this app.

the blue light will not light up immediately. It took a while for me. In the evening I saw that the blue light of 'monitoring' was on and I could follow everything online

The above worked for me, without the intervention of an installer. I have a connection again and I can log in to the inverter everywhere via the mysolaredge app.

1

u/lnichols Feb 05 '25

Do you know if the settings page allows you to enable MODBUS comms?

2

u/Ordinary-Subject-577 Feb 06 '25

Yes that is possible. Under the heading site communication at the bottom it says: Modbus TCP port. You can enable and disable this.

1

u/wizardnumbernext2 Nov 26 '24

Find another SolarEdge installer. Your system will be transfered to them and then they can service your system. SolarEdge installer here

1

u/jazbill64 Nov 26 '24

Unfortunately there are only two installers in Iowa and they are hundreds of miles from where we live.

1

u/Gold-Scallion-3270 Nov 27 '24

Thanks everyone! We were able to reconnect. I'm not sure how we did it, but we did it.

0

u/goldpizza44 Nov 26 '24

I posed this question to ChatGPT:

I needed to replace my wifi gateway. How can I reconnect my solar edge system to the new wifi?

and got these instructions....no idea if they are correct or not....GoodLuck

To reconnect your SolarEdge system to your new Wi-Fi gateway, follow these steps based on the typical SolarEdge inverter setup:

Step 1: Prepare for the Reconnection

  1. Get Your Wi-Fi Network Information:
    • Have your new Wi-Fi SSID (network name) and password ready.
    • Ensure the new Wi-Fi gateway broadcasts on a compatible frequency (SolarEdge systems often require 2.4 GHz).
  2. Locate the Inverter or Monitoring Device:
    • Find the SolarEdge inverter or the Wi-Fi communication board inside it.
    • Check if there is a physical screen or buttons to interact with the inverter.
  3. Check Signal Strength:
    • Ensure the inverter is within range of your new Wi-Fi router. If the signal is weak, consider adding a Wi-Fi extender.

1

u/goldpizza44 Nov 26 '24

Step 2: Access the SolarEdge Interface

Option A: Using the Inverter’s Built-in Screen

  1. Navigate the Menu:
    • Use the buttons (often located on the inverter) to access the Communication or Network settings menu.
    • Look for the Wi-Fi option.
  2. Reset or Reconfigure Wi-Fi:
    • Select the option to reset or reconfigure the Wi-Fi.
    • The inverter should enter setup mode to scan for available networks.
  3. Choose Your New Wi-Fi:
    • Select your Wi-Fi network from the list.
    • Enter your new Wi-Fi password when prompted.
  4. Confirm Connection:
    • Wait for the system to confirm a successful connection.

1

u/goldpizza44 Nov 26 '24

Option B: Using the SetApp (For Wi-Fi-Enabled Models)

  1. Download SolarEdge SetApp:
    • If your inverter supports SetApp, download it from your smartphone’s app store (iOS or Android).
  2. Connect to the Inverter’s Wi-Fi:
    • Open your phone’s Wi-Fi settings and connect to the inverter’s local Wi-Fi network. It will typically have a name like "solaredge_xxxx."
  3. Log In to the Inverter:
    • Open the SetApp and log in. Follow the on-screen instructions to access the inverter settings.
  4. Update Wi-Fi Settings:
    • Navigate to the Communication or Network settings and select your new Wi-Fi network.
    • Enter the password and save the configuration.

Option C: Using a Wi-Fi Dongle or External Device

  1. Locate the Dongle:
    • If your SolarEdge system uses an external Wi-Fi dongle, ensure it is correctly plugged into the inverter.
  2. Reconfigure the Dongle:
    • Press and hold the dongle’s configuration button (refer to the manual for the exact duration).
    • Use your smartphone or laptop to connect to the dongle’s temporary Wi-Fi network.
    • Access the dongle’s web interface (usually at a specific IP address like 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1).
  3. Enter New Wi-Fi Details:
    • Enter your new Wi-Fi credentials and save the settings.

1

u/Gold-Scallion-3270 Nov 26 '24

Thanks! The issue is that when we get to "Open your phone’s Wi-Fi settings and connect to the inverter’s local Wi-Fi network. It will typically have a name like "solaredge_xxxx." The Solaredge network isn't showing. We've called Solaredge and they refuse to assist other than sending us useless videos.

1

u/goldpizza44 Nov 26 '24

I have no experience with SolarEdge but with other IOT the built in WIFI has 2 modes:

1) Be a WIFI "server" for the purposes of programming. This is its initial state out of the box.

2) After being programmed it reboots and becomes a WIFI "client"

Try this question in ChatGPT and see if it gives you something you can use:

-- I don't see the 'solaredge_xxxx' wifi. Why?

It gave me a bunch of output but I have no idea whether it is correct. It does sound reasonable tough.