Installation · SolaX

Install GridZeno on SolaX X1/X3 Hybrid G4.

SolaX G4 has RS485 on pins 4 and 5 in the RJ45 port COM (on the X1 it's called COM/LCD). Pin 3 carries power, so the cable must be made with only the three wires that are needed.

Applies to: X1-Hybrid G4 and X3-Hybrid G4 (G4.3 and G4.4, D and M)
Connection: Network cable with RJ45 plug
Time: About 25 minutes

The battery is controlled with SolaX' remote control, which stops by itself if the dongle goes silent. What GridZeno can do on SolaX X1/X3 Hybrid G4

How the dongle recognises it: The start of the serial number in holding 0x00. X1-Hybrid G4: 63150, H43, H44, H450, H460, H475 and H3VC83. X3-Hybrid G4: 63110, H31 and H34.

GridZeno Dongle for SolaX X1/X3 Hybrid G4

What you need

GridZeno Dongle: The device ID is on the label, e.g. GZ-A1B2C3.
Cable: A network cable that's re-crimped at the inverter end with only three wires.
RJ45 plug and crimping tool: For the inverter end.
USB power: A 5 V USB charger and a cable with USB-C.

The port

On the X3, COM is the first on the left of the three round, sealed ports on the underside: COM, BMS and METER/CT. CAN1, CAN2, DRM and OFF are RJ45 ports in a block under a cover below. On the X1, COM/LCD is among the communication ports by BMS and Meter/CT. Each port has its own waterproof cable gland with a dust cap.

Port: COM (X3) or COM/LCD (X1)

SolaX's COM port, as SolaX numbers the pins. Pin 3 carries power and must not be connected. The plug shown with the contacts facing you and the locking tab at the back: pin 1 is furthest to the left.

Pin 4 A, 485A
Pin 5 B, 485B
Pin 6 GND, GND
Pin 3 Must not be connected, +13 V on the X3, ARM_POWER on the X1

The cable

A network cable where the inverter end is crimped with only three wires: the dongle's A on pin 4, B on pin 5 and GND on pin 6. The other positions in the connector are empty. An ordinary straight cable must never be used here: it would put the dongle's GND on pin 3, which carries power.

From the dongle to the inverter
Dongle end	Inverter end
Dongle pin 4, blue (A)	SolaX pin 4, 485A
Dongle pin 5, white/blue (B)	SolaX pin 5, 485B
Dongle pin 3, white/green (GND)	SolaX pin 6, GND
The other wires	Cut off and insulated, especially the one on pin 3

Settings

On the inverter

Menu > Setting > Advance Setting > Modbus: Read the baud rate and address. The dongle must have the same. From the factory, the address is 1 and the baud rate 19200 or 9600, depending on the software. Advance Setting requires the installer code, which is 2014 from the factory.
Function Control (X3 G4.4): If it's set to EV Charger, AdapBoxG2 or DataHub, the inverter itself uses COM for that accessory. Write to us before you connect the dongle.

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: SolaX, X1/X3 Hybrid G4
Connection: By cable (RS485)
RS485 settings: The same baud rate and address as the inverter, 8N1.

Step by step

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

1
Read the baud rate and address
On the display, go to Menu, Setting, Advance Setting, Modbus. Advance Setting requires the installer code, which is 2014 from the factory. Note down the baud rate and address: the dongle must have the same. On the X3 G4.4 there's also Function Control: it's only used for SolaX's own accessories.
2
Crimp the inverter end with three wires
Turn off the inverter first: switch it off under System ON/OFF on the display, switch off the AC breaker, set the DC switch to OFF, and switch off the battery. Cut off the connector at the inverter end, and pass the cable through the port's cable gland. Strip 15 mm, and crimp on a new connector with blue (A) on pin 4, white/blue (B) on pin 5 and white/green (GND) on pin 6. The other wires are cut off and insulated.
3
Plug the connector into COM
On the X3, COM is the first on the left of the three round ports on the underside, before BMS and METER/CT. Press the connector into the COM port (on the X1: COM/LCD) until it clicks, and tighten the cable gland.
4
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.
5
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.
6
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.
7
Log in, and choose your inverter
Log in to GridZeno. Welcome pairs the dongle with its device ID. Then choose your inverter, SolaX X1/X3 Hybrid G4, and the connection By cable (RS485). Set the inverter's baud rate and address under RS485 settings. 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

Pin 3 in COM carries power. An ordinary network cable connects all eight pins, so the inverter end must be crimped with only the three wires.

COM isn't a network port. Never plug it into a router or switch. SolaX states that the inverter doesn't have Modbus TCP itself, so GridZeno uses the cable.

The cable to COM must be no more than 30 metres long.

Pins 1 and 2 can turn off the inverter when the ShutDown function is switched on. Don't connect them.

SolaX DataHub and Adapter Box G2 also use the COM port. If there's already a cable in it, write to us before you connect the dongle.

What GridZeno can control on SolaX X1/X3 Hybrid G4, and how, is on the page about SolaX X1/X3 Hybrid G4. If you're stuck, write to us with the model name.

Source

Ports, pins and menus are from the manufacturer's own manual: SolaX X3-Hybrid G4 User Manual v7, X3-Hybrid G4.3 and G4.4 Installation and User Manuals, X1-Hybrid G4 User Manual V5.0 and X1-Hybrid G4 Installation Manual V3.0, X1: section 8.7.5, the COM/LCD port's pins, and Setting Modbus under Advance Setting; the installation manual: COM interface, Modbus RTU on pins 4 and 5. X3: Table 8-5, Pin assignment of COM terminal.