Installation · SolaX

Install GridZeno on SolaX X1-VAST.

X1-VAST is SolaX's single-phase hybrid inverter with battery. RS485 for external control is on pins 7 and 8 of the RJ45 port EVC/RTU485, and GND on pin 6. Pins 4 and 5 in the same port are for SolaX's own accessories. A and B are the other way round from the dongle's, so the cable must be made with only the three wires that are used.

Applies to: X1-VAST-5K to 10K
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-VAST

How the dongle recognises it: The serial number starts with 10M: SolaX' sixth generation, single-phase.

GridZeno Dongle for SolaX X1-VAST

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

Among the six RJ45 ports on the underside: METER/CT, EVC/RTU485, BMS1, BMS2, V2X and HEATPUMP.

Port: EVC/RTU485

The EVC/RTU485 port, as SolaX numbers the pins. Pins 7 and 8 are for external control, pins 4 and 5 for SolaX's own accessories. The plug shown with the contacts facing you and the locking tab at the back: pin 1 is furthest to the left.

Pin 7 A, 485A_remote
Pin 8 B, 485B_remote
Pin 6 GND, GND_COM

The cable

A network cable where the inverter end is crimped with only three wires: the dongle's A on pin 7, B on pin 8 and GND on pin 6. The rest of the positions in the plug are empty. An ordinary straight cable doesn't work here.

From the dongle to the inverter
Dongle end	Inverter end
Dongle pin 4, blue (A)	SolaX pin 7, 485A_remote
Dongle pin 5, white/blue (B)	SolaX pin 8, 485B_remote
Dongle pin 3, white/green (GND)	SolaX pin 6, GND_COM
The other wires	Cut off and insulated

Settings

On the inverter

Menu > Setting > Advanced Settings > Peripheral Settings > Modbus: Read off Baud Rate and Address. The dongle must have the same. From the factory they are 19200 and 1. Advanced Settings requires the installer code.
Solax485: Don't touch it. It's for SolaX's own accessories on pins 4 and 5.

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-VAST
Connection: By cable (RS485)
RS485 settings: The same baud rate and address as the inverter, 8N1. If the inverter is set to 19200, set 19200 on the dongle.

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, Advanced Settings, Peripheral Settings, Modbus. Advanced Settings requires the installer code. Note down Baud Rate and Address: the dongle must have the same.
2
Crimp the inverter end with three wires
Switch off the inverter first: switch it off on the display, switch off the AC and EPS breakers, set the DC switch to OFF, and switch off the battery. Cut off the plug at the inverter end, and pass the cable through the port's cable gland. Crimp on a new plug with blue (A) on pin 7, white/blue (B) on pin 8 and white/green (GND) on pin 6. The other wires are cut off and insulated.
3
Insert the plug in EVC/RTU485
Push the plug into the EVC/RTU485 port until it clicks, and tighten the cable gland so the port is sealed.
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-VAST, 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

Use pins 7 and 8. Pins 4 and 5 in the same port are for SolaX's EV charger and DataHub. If there's already a cable in the port, write to us before you connect the dongle.

SolaX doesn't say directly which pins the Modbus menu belongs to. If the dongle gets no response, write to us with the inverter's software version.

Use only EVC/RTU485. METER/CT is the energy meter's port, BMS1 and BMS2 the battery's, and V2X and HEATPUMP are for other accessories.

EVC/RTU485 isn't a network port. Never plug it into a router or switch.

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

Source

Ports, pins and menus are from the manufacturer's own manual: SolaX X1-VAST User Manual (EN), The pin table for EVC/RTU485 and Advanced Settings, Peripheral Settings, Modbus.