Configuring ABB Inverters
Configuring ABB VSN700 Loggers
PLEASE OBSERVE ALL MANUFACTURER SAFETY AND OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Ensure you have read a copy of the manufacturer operating and safety manual. The latest copy may be obtained from the manufacturer website ABB Document Library (website)
Please review document “Product manual VSN700 Data Logger” which can also be found here. If you are using a different inverter type, then obtain the correct Operating Manual or contact Ardexa. The VSN700 logger will collect data from ABB inverters configured for either the Aurora or Modbus protocol. Please be aware that only the "VSN700-05-XX" model includes a Modbus TCP server that converts proprietary Aurora protocol into SunSpec compliant Modbus data map. It will also convert Modbus RTU to Modbus TCP for those inverters configured for Modbus RTU.
2. Follow the inverter connection as per Page 8 of the “Product manual VSN700 Data Logger”. IMPORTANT: Take note of the comment on Page 11 "....ABB (and legacy Power-One) PVI and UNO inverter models use a proprietary communication protocol called Aurora Protocol. To monitor these inverters with a VSN700-01 (Residential) or VSN700-03 (Commercial) Data Logger model, they must be attached to the Secondary RS-485 port on the data logger. ABB PRO inverter models use Modbus RTU protocol and must be attached to the Primary RS-485 port VSN700-03 (Commercial) Data Logger model. ...." Make sure you are talking the correct protocol to the inverters AND they are connected to the correct physical port on the VSN700.
3. Configure the VSN as per the VSN700 manual. In order for Ardexa to read the data via Modbus take note of the points below. As per Page 20, you will need an Ethernet cable connected to your laptop to talk to the VSN700. The web server (used for configuration) on the VSN700 is not available on the Ethernet network. Presumably ABB did this for security purposes. Once you have connected to it, then follow the configuration items on Page 20-24 carefully, especially noting the following
a. Use a browser to go to http://172.17.17.1 (Page 13 of the VSN700 manual). Make sure the unit has a static IP address. See Pages 14 and 20 of the user manual.
b. Make sure each serial interface is configured to share out data via Modbus TCP. For Aurora use the "Aurora Protocol (to SunSpec) Adapter", if the inverters have been configured for Aurora. If the inverters have been configured for Modbus RTU, the use "Modbus RTU".
c. "Home" -> "Wrench Icon" (next to the red cross) -> Select "Open Modbus TCP port for ...." all RS485/232 ports in use, regardless of whether the serial lines are configured for Aurora or Modbus. Set each serial lines Modbus TCP port to a number between 502 and 510. Make sure each serial line has a different port, and note down which serial lines are connected to which Modbus TCP Port.
d. Configure data collect every 60 seconds, that is; the "Sampling Interval", for each RS485 line.
e. Please take a screenshot so we can see what protocols are avialable for each device. Like the top of Page 23. Please annotate the screenshot as to which VSN700 (IP address) it belongs to.
f. Reboot the VSN700 logger (see Page 23)
5. Please don't forget to send:
a. Screenshots of the HOME->DEVICES settings. From these screenshots we will be able to ascertain the number, type and addresses of connected inverters.
c. Which Modbus TCP Ports are available for which RS4885 lines, and
d. Confirm the static IP addresses of every VSN700 at the station
e. The name of the site.
Connecting ABB PRO-33 Inverters
PLEASE OBSERVE ALL MANUFACTURER SAFETY AND OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Ensure you have read a copy of the manufacturer operating and safety manual. The latest copy may be obtained from the manufacturer website ABB Document Library (website)
Please review document “Product manual PRO-33.0-TL string inverters” which can also be found here. If you are using a different inverter type, then obtain the correct Operating Manual or contact Ardexa. 2. Refer to “Product manual PRO-33.0-TL string inverters” page 64. If you are using a different inverter type, then obtain the correct Operating Manual or contact Ardexa.
3. Connect each inverter using D+/D-/GND RS485 as per the installation manual. Then connect the RS485 line to the local device. When connecting to the local device; connect the “D+” cable to the “485 +” and the “D-” to the “485 -” and “GND” to ground. Just 3 wires.
4. Terminate the last PRO-33 inverter in the chain by switching switch S1:2 (Terminating Resistor) inside the inverter to ON. The switch is located on the communication board and should be marked “S1”.
NOTE: Some versions of the ABB documentation are incorrect. You DO NOT need a termination resistor (it makes no difference) at the "local device end". And you MUST switch the last inverter S1:2 switch to ON.
If in doubt, turn on both S1 switches to ON.
5. Set the RS485 address in the inverter (see inverter documentation). But make sure all inverters are set to RS485 unique addresses.
6. If Ardexa is completing your plugin configuration, please don't forget to send: a. Clear photographs of both ends of the RS485 cable termination (to the first inverter)
c. The number and models of connected inverters
d. The unique RS485 or IP addresses of the inverters
e. The name of the site.
Connecting ABB Trio and PVI inverters
1. Ensure you have read a copy of the manufacturer operating and safety manual. The latest copy may be obtained from the manufacturer website ABB Document Library (website)
Please review document “ABB POWERONE TRIO-20.0-27.6-TL-OUTD-Product manual EN-RevE(M000001EG)”. If you are using a different inverter type, then obtain the correct Operating Manual or contact Ardexa.
Firmware Configuration
2. The firmware on the Inverter (via the front panel) must be set. On Page 95 of the Product Manual “ABB POWERONE TRIO-20.0-27.6-TL-OUTD-Product manual EN-RevE(M000001EG)” are instructions on how to change the settings of the inverter. There are 3 settings that must be set, as follows:
a. Go to the “Address” section of settings on Page 96. Each inverter must have a unique address. It MUST NOT be set to Auto. Addresses should be in the range 2-63, and they must be unique to all inverters. Note the addresses for each inverter, since Ardexa will need this information.
b. If using Aurora Protocol: Go to the “PMU RS485” section of settings on Page 101. The protocol in “PMU RS485” must be set to “Aurora” and the baud rate must be set to “19200”.
c. If using Modbus RTU Protocol: Go to the “PMU RS485” section of settings on Page 101. The protocol in “PMU RS485” must be set to “ModBus RTU” and the baud rate must be set to “19200”. Note that Modbus RTU can only be used to control the inverter. Aurora cannot be used to control the inverter. If controlling the inverter using Modbus, you must also set "Remote ON/OFF in Settings.
Connecting RS485 Cables
3. Connect all inverters together using T/R+, T/R- and GND using RS485. See the communications card figure on page 65 of the attached manual. Inverters need to be “daisy chained” using either the RJ45 PMU sockets J5 and J6, or via the J4 tag that says “PMU”. If using RJ45 (remember its not Ethernet, but it uses an Ethernet cable), the inverters should be connected together and If you are using Ethernet/RJ45 terminated cables, then take out Pins 3 (+T/R), Pin 5 (-T/R) and Pin 7 (GND COM) as per Page 71 to connect to the local device. Connect +T/R to Data+ on the local device, -T/R to Data – and Ground to GND.
Termination Resistance
4. Make sure the S2 switch (PMU Termination resistance) is set in the OFF position. But for the last inverter in the RS485 daisy chain it must be set to ON. If there is only 1 inverter, it must be set to ON.
5. If Ardexa is completing your plugin configuration, please don't forget to send:
a. Clear photographs of both ends of the RS485 cable termination (to the first inverter)
c. The number and models of connected inverters
d. The unique RS485 or IP addresses of the inverters
e. The name of the site.
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