Monitor CMS2000 inverter via TCP/IP with USR-TCP232-E4 RS232/IP convertor

After months of waiting on hardware to arrive and playing around with different configurations, I have finally got my CMS2000 inverter to work through TCP/IP with POE.

RS232 to USB converter

The CMS2000 is a 2kW inverter with an RS232 connection for communications. If you simply want to view the data locally via a laptop, you will need a RS232 to USB adapter, specifically the Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port. Have a look at my review of RS232 to USB adapters for more info on the suitability of the converter.

RS232 to TCP/IP converter

Now, if you would rather run Ethernet to from the inverter and being able to read the values from any computer in your LAN, it is a little more complicated, but here is how.

The first thing you will need is a RS232 to TCP/IP converter, these can be purchased on eBay for about $25. Make sure you don’t simply get a serial to RJ45 cable, which are commonly used to configure managed switches. The model I received was the USR-TCP232-E45 by Jinan USR IOT Company China. The unit requires 5V power which I will discuss later.

The manual can be a little confusing, there is a test you can do if you have a com port or RS232 to USB adapter, where you basically create a loop and confirm it is all working. To get it talking to the CMS2000, configure the parameters of Port 0 (the RS232 port) as below. The main thing is to set it in TCP Server model. Configure the IP address and subnet as appropriate for your LAN.

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Power

The RS232 to TCP/IP converter takes 5V DC, now you can run a separate 5V line to the inverter which isn’t ideal or use a passive injector to inject 5V into the line and split it out at the inverter, this is not IEEE 802.3af compliant though. If your switch supports PoE you can split the power out directly at the inverter with a TP-LINK PoE splitter model TL-POE10R. This can be purchased for $14, and even includes the power and Ethernet cables needed to connect to the USR-TCP232-E45.

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Software

To check the communications the CMS software ProControl can be used to check the communications prior to use with PVBeanCounter. Now, for some reason ProControl can’t connect directly via IP to the USR-TCP232-E45, fortunately I found a free virtual comm port software, which emulates a serial port connected to an IP address, the software is called VSP3 – Virtual Serial Port, developed by the HW group. Fairly easy to configure as below.

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Final product

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Posted

16 February 2014

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MECTILE

Tags:

CMS2000, erial ProControl, inverter, PVBeanCounter, RS232, solar, TCP/IP

Comments

2 responses to “Monitor CMS2000 inverter via TCP/IP with USR-TCP232-E4 RS232/IP convertor”

Arturo

29 January 2015

Travis.,
I want to do something similar of what you did. I just purchased the RS485 to Ethernet USR-TCP232-T24. I would like to use this interface to collect RS485 traffic data from my home alarm communication system. I was wondering how can I emulate the serial port so i can continue use the serial HMI software on my PC now using internet, looks like you solved this issue by using a VSP. Question for you:
how does the software CMS2000 know that you have a virtual serial port installed so the data can be routed through here? does this take the form of another COMX where X can be 1-9 and you just to re-select it? any comments you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

also the VSP you used does not have a version for windows 7. Do you know if any other free VSP that can successfully work with win7?

Thank you for your comments.

Reply
1. MECTILE
  
  29 January 2015
  
  Arturo,
  
  Simply download VSP3 – Virtual Serial Port to emulate a serial port, it will look (and behave) exactly like a physical port.
  http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
  
  It will work on Windows 7, I have used it on Windows 8 myself.
  
  Travis
  
  Reply