Installation · Growatt

Install GridZeno on Growatt MIN TL-X.

MIN TL-X, TL-XE and TL-X2 are single-phase grid-tied inverters without a battery. The dongle is connected with two wires in the 8-pin SYS COM connector, pins 3 and 4, which Growatt has set aside for monitoring (ShineBus).

Applies to: MIN 2500-6000TL-X, TL-XE and TL-X2
Connection: Wires in the inverter's terminal plug
Time: About 30 minutes

A grid inverter without a battery. GridZeno shows solar, consumption and grid and lowers the inverter's export limit at negative prices. What GridZeno can do on Growatt MIN TL-X

How the dongle recognises it: The type code 5201, or 5200 when the range from 3000 answers. If it doesn't answer, it's a MIC.

GridZeno Dongle for Growatt MIN TL-X

What you need

GridZeno Dongle: The device ID is on the label, e.g. GZ-A1B2C3.
Cable: GridZeno's Modbus cable with one end cut off, or another network cable with one plug.
Wire strippers and ferrules: Two ferrules for the two wires in the connector.
USB power: A 5 V USB charger and a cable with USB-C.

The port

The round 8-pin connector on the underside between COM and AC. Pins 5 and 6 in the same connector are used for the energy meter, so there may already be wires in it. The connector marked COM is for DRM and must not be used.

Port: SYS COM (8-pin connector)

The SYS COM connector, with Growatt's pin numbering. Pins 3 and 4 are for monitoring, pins 5 and 6 for the energy meter. The numbers are on the plug.

Pin 3 A, 485A2
Pin 4 B, 485B2

The cable

A network cable with an RJ45 plug for the dongle at one end and the other end cut off. At the inverter end, only the two wires from pins 4 and 5 are used, with ferrules on.

From the dongle to the inverter
Dongle end	Inverter end
Pin 4, blue (A)	SYS COM pin 3, 485A2
Pin 5, white/blue (B)	SYS COM pin 4, 485B2
The other wires	Cut off and insulated

Settings

On the inverter

Set Parameter > General > Address: 001, as from the factory
Modbus: Modbus RTU at 9600 baud, 8N1. That's what the dongle uses from the factory, so there's nothing to set.

In GridZeno's Welcome

The inverter is chosen in GridZeno: in Welcome the first time, and later under System, Change inverter. The dongle fetches its setup from there.

Manufacturer and model: Growatt, MIN
Connection: By cable (RS485)
RS485 settings: Keep the default: 9600 baud, 8N1, address 1.

Step by step

Each step has a small drawing that shows what to do.

1
Check the address
Press the touch button once to scroll, and twice to select. Go to Set Parameter, General and Address. It should be set to 001, as from the factory.
2
Unplug the SYS COM connector
Switch off the inverter first: turn off the AC breaker, and set the DC switch to OFF. The round 8-pin connector marked SYS COM is on the underside between COM and AC. Press the catches in, and pull it out, preferably with the removal tool from the accessory bag. If there's no connector, use the SYS COM connector from the accessory bag.
3
Prepare the cable
Pass the cable through the connector's pressure screw, sealing ring and threaded sleeve. Strip the two wires from pin 4 (blue) and pin 5 (white/blue), and fit ferrules. Insulate the other wires.
4
Put the wires in pins 3 and 4
Blue (A) goes in pin 3 and white/blue (B) in pin 4, following the numbers on the connector. Tighten the screws. Don't touch wires in pins 5 and 6: they belong to the energy meter.
5
Plug the connector back in
Push the threaded sleeve into the connector, and tighten the cap. Press the connector into SYS COM until it clicks and sits firmly.
6
Plug the RJ45 end into the dongle
The cable's other end goes into the dongle's RS485 port. Place the dongle somewhere dry and close to the inverter, so the cable doesn't hang from the plug.
7
Connect power to the dongle
Plug the USB-C cable into the dongle and the charger into a socket. The dongle starts by itself. It gets power from the charger, not from the inverter.
8
Connect the dongle to the network
Over Wi-Fi: the first time, the dongle creates its own Wi-Fi, GridZeno-Setup- followed by the last characters of the device ID. Connect your phone to it, choose your own network, enter the password, and press Save and connect. When it says Connection OK, press Go to GridZeno. Over cable (LAN): plug a network cable from the router into the dongle's network port.
9
Log in, and choose your inverter
Log in to GridZeno. Welcome pairs the dongle with its device ID. Then choose your inverter, Growatt MIN, and the connection By cable (RS485). Press Save inverter, and the dongle fetches its setup and reads the inverter.

The dongle's own setup is described with screenshots in The user guide, and the pairing in Getting started.

Take care

Use SYS COM, not COM. COM is for DRM and external disconnection, and it must not get more than 5 V.

Pins 5 and 6 in SYS COM are the energy meter's connection. They must not be moved or connected to anything else.

What GridZeno can control on Growatt MIN TL-X, and how, is on the page about Growatt MIN TL-X. If you're stuck, write to us with the model name.

Source

Ports, pins and menus are from the manufacturer's own manual: Growatt MIN 2.5-6K TL-XE/X User Manual (EU, EN, 2022-06) and MIN 2.5-6K TL-X2 User Manual (GR-UM-293-A-01), Section 3.1, Overview, 6.5, Signal connector, 7.2.2, Set inverter COM address, and 7.4.1, SYS COM Port.