Sunsynk + Home Assistant

SauRoNZA

SauRoNZA

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So some extra money came in earlier than expected and I don’t need to wait for SARS before getting really serious about my solar setup.

The Sunsynk 8KW seems like one of the best options out there right now and I just wonder about my options for Home Assistant.

I’ve seen mentions of a direct integration but haven’t found this myself.

Then I’ve seen this Solar Assistant which seems like a pretty solid and not too expensive option, I just wonder if it’s got longevity and will it stick around and does it really work.

Anyone with a Sunsynk interested to Home Assistant? How are you doing it and what are the pros/cons?

Also, maybe someone can explain this auxiliary output to me in ages 1-5. I plan to integrate my conventional Geyser with the system and have it run in the day when there is enough capacity and up to a higher temperature so there isn’t really a need for much if any battery, but I’ll also overcompensate there anyway.

My basic understanding is that the auxiliary port could manage this “for me” which is fine when there’s capacity but how so I force it on when I need to make it run off battery?

****

Useful add-ons that have emerged from this thread.

Deye/Sunsynk | Deye/Sunsynk

Take control of your inverter.
kellerza.github.io kellerza.github.io

github.com

GitHub - slipx06/sunsynk-power-flow-card: ⚡A customizable Home Assistant card to emulate the Sunsynk System flow that's displayed on the Inverter screen.

⚡A customizable Home Assistant card to emulate the Sunsynk System flow that's displayed on the Inverter screen. - slipx06/sunsynk-power-flow-card
github.com github.com
 
Last edited:
I have the 5kw and integrated to HA using Solar Assistant, great piece of kit and allows you to also remotely manage some of the inverter settings. Solar Assistant runs on a Pi so that's an additional piece of kit required. It connects to HA using the matt protocol so updates are realtime

Was searching HA HACS integrations the other day and found one that doesn't need the Solar Assistant device - it works off the provided Solarman dongle directly as far as I could see

Screenshot_20220422-205229_Home%20Assistant.jpg
 
For integration with Home Assistant -

github.com

GitHub - kellerza/sunsynk: Deye/Sunsynk Inverter Python library and Home Assistant OS Addon

Deye/Sunsynk Inverter Python library and Home Assistant OS Addon - kellerza/sunsynk
github.com github.com

plus a cheap adaptor from microrobotics. connect that to your PI, via the RS485 port on the inverter (inside top left).

Then configure appropriately.

---

For the aux output - yes, thats exactly how it works.
you set parameters to say turn on the aux output if these conditions are met (solar pv above X, and battery voltage above Y). See my recent post here for a tacit example.

Generator or Inverter for residential use?

That 140amp cap is probably from the bms. Sounds like a pylontech number. My pylontech stack has a similar limit. 140 for discharge and 125 for changing. I only have 4 us3000I don't think it's the pylontech that's limiting it as the BMS charge limit shows 198A.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za
 
Mzezman said:
I have the 5kw and integrated to HA using Solar Assistant, great piece of kit and allows you to also remotely manage some of the inverter settings. Solar Assistant runs on a Pi so that's an additional piece of kit required. It connects to HA using the matt protocol so updates are realtime

Was searching HA HACS integrations the other day and found one that doesn't need the Solar Assistant device - it works off the provided Solarman dongle directly as far as I could see

View attachment 1296822
Click to expand...

Yeah I figured I have loads of Pi’s so the software didn’t seem outrageous.

Would you say it’s more useful than the direct connection? What is this Solarman dongle?

Do you still get all the energy dashboard stuff in HA?
 
itareanlnotani said:
For integration with Home Assistant -

github.com

GitHub - kellerza/sunsynk: Deye/Sunsynk Inverter Python library and Home Assistant OS Addon

Deye/Sunsynk Inverter Python library and Home Assistant OS Addon - kellerza/sunsynk
github.com github.com

plus a cheap adaptor from microrobotics. connect that to your PI, via the RS485 port on the inverter (inside top left).

Then configure appropriately.

---

For the aux output - yes, thats exactly how it works.
you set parameters to say turn on the aux output if these conditions are met (solar pv above X, and battery voltage above Y). See my recent post here for a tacit example.

Generator or Inverter for residential use?

That 140amp cap is probably from the bms. Sounds like a pylontech number. My pylontech stack has a similar limit. 140 for discharge and 125 for changing. I only have 4 us3000I don't think it's the pylontech that's limiting it as the BMS charge limit shows 198A.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za
Click to expand...

When you say Pi do you assume HA is running on a Pi? Or do you mean I need a Pi to run this specifically?

*****

Seems anything USB and needs the same cable as Solar Assistant then.

So it’s really a question of whether Solar Assistant is worth R899 then.

Seems like a more sensible route anyway with the short cable length involved.

Can one power the Pi directly from the inverter? Seems like a stupid question considering it’s a power device.
 
Last edited:
SauRoNZA said:
Yeah I figured I have loads of Pi’s so the software didn’t seem outrageous.

Would you say it’s more useful than the direct connection? What is this Solarman dongle?

Do you still get all the energy dashboard stuff in HA?
Click to expand...
With Solar Assistant you do get the energy dashboard. Any chance you'd be looking to sell one of your Pis?



Screenshot_20220422-233715_Home%20Assistant.jpg
 
Mzezman said:
With Solar Assistant you do get the energy dashboard. Any chance you'd be looking to sell one of your Pis?



View attachment 1296860
Click to expand...

Unfortunately they aren’t mine but test devices from the offices.

Like I have no issue doing whatever with them and just giving them back if need be, but they are asset tracked so can’t just go and sell them off.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Unfortunately they aren’t mine but test devices from the offices.

Like I have no issue doing whatever with them and just giving them back if need be, but they are asset tracked so can’t just go and sell them off.
Click to expand...
Aaah ok understood. They are like hens teeth these days. Was hoping to get one to connect up my alarm (Paradox) to HA
 
Oh I see this Solarman Dongle is a rather expensive add on.

Unless they give that away for free Solar Assistant seems like a far better and more economical option.
 
Mzezman said:
Aaah ok understood. They are like hens teeth these days. Was hoping to get one to connect up my alarm (Paradox) to HA
Click to expand...

I have gone down that exact route with my Paradox/Spectra but had no luck.

Either my serial port is dead or just not compatible.

If you are looking at the same project I was looking at I have some D1 Minis that could work for you. Where are you based?
 
SauRoNZA said:
Oh I see this Solarman Dongle is a rather expensive add on.

Unless they give that away for free Solar Assistant seems like a far better and more economical option.
Click to expand...
Solarman used to come with the inverter as part of the package.. not sure if its still included. I've heard they now ship.with a newer Sunsynk dongle but I have no clue of its functionality.

The challenge with Solarman wa that it wasn't really realtime, it was a 5-15min delay for the dongle to update the server. Solar Assistant is 1-5second update
 
Mzezman said:
Solarman used to come with the inverter as part of the package.. not sure if its still included. I've heard they now ship.with a newer Sunsynk dongle but I have no clue of its functionality.

The challenge with Solarman wa that it wasn't really realtime, it was a 5-15min delay for the dongle to update the server. Solar Assistant is 1-5second update
Click to expand...

Yeah I’ll start getting serious with quotes and such next week and find out.

But it does seem like a bit of prehistoric tech.
 
SauRoNZA said:
I have gone down that exact route with my Paradox/Spectra but had no luck.

Either my serial port is dead or just not compatible.

If you are looking at the same project I was looking at I have some D1 Minis that could work for you. Where are you based?
Click to expand...
PTA East... how easy would it be to get the D1 Mini going? I have 0 soldering skill or tools
 
SauRoNZA said:
When you say Pi do you assume HA is running on a Pi? Or do you mean I need a Pi to run this specifically?

*****

Seems anything USB and needs the same cable as Solar Assistant then.

So it’s really a question of whether Solar Assistant is worth R899 then.

Seems like a more sensible route anyway with the short cable length involved.

Can one power the Pi directly from the inverter? Seems like a stupid question considering it’s a power device.
Click to expand...
You can run HA on a PC if you want. Usually PI's are used, as its low power, and you don't need much to run.

I don't think Solar Assistant is worth it, you can get the same results with a bit of work setting up the various bits yourself. If you don't want to fiddle its probably worth it though.
 
itareanlnotani said:
You can run HA on a PC if you want. Usually PI's are used, as its low power, and you don't need much to run.

I don't think Solar Assistant is worth it, you can get the same results with a bit of work setting up the various bits yourself. If you don't want to fiddle its probably worth it though.
Click to expand...

I run HA on a Google Chromebox hence just confirming where you referred to the Pi.

Will I run into problems with cable length here? Because my rack and where the inverter would go, while in the same garage is on completely opposite sides.

Hence why I figured a Pi at the inverter with Solar Assistant could make a lot of sense.

Considering the cost of this entire adventure the R899 for SA is pretty small.
 
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