How to connect SolarEdge inverter (serial connection) with Reduxi controller
Reduxi and SolarEdge plants let you optimize power production, increase flexibility, lower costs and improve sustainability.
1 Connect the Reduxi Controller to the inverter
1.1 SolarEdge documentation
SolarEdge describes in detail how to connect several inverters with different communication options. See the application note: SolarEdge communication options (PDF).
1.2 Physical connection between Reduxi and the inverter
Connect the Reduxi Controller to the contacts on the circuit board of the inverter as shown in the image.
Text description of this image
Photo of the inside of an opened inverter on a tiled wall. A green circuit board with the printed text "solaredge D1186BD" carries marked areas: USB, Ethernet, Cellular, WiFi, Wireless, SW1 to SW3 switches, CAN. At the bottom edge of the board are two green plug-in terminal blocks. The left block sits under the printed labels "RS485-1", "RS485-2", "VOUT" and "G" and is surrounded by a thick blue rectangle. Thin wires enter this block from below: blue and white twisted wires, a white wire, and a black wire with a red wire. A blue marking is on the block. The right block has the printed labels "CDO", "GEN", "L1", "L2", "L3", "L4", "G", "V" under the heading "Control" and has a blue mark. Also visible: a grey ribbon cable at the top, copper coils, three-pole green terminal blocks at the left and right, red and black thick cables at the lower left, a white cable loop, a coaxial antenna cable with a gold connector, and blue, brown, grey and green-yellow wires at the lower right. In the lower part of the second view: cable glands under the housing, labels "Do not disconnect under load" on DC connectors, a white tag with the text "P 1 0.", and a green light. A brass fitting and nut lie on the floor at the right.
2 BUS (serial) connection of master and slave inverters
This example shows how to create a serial connection between several inverters. One inverter works as master, the others as slaves.
The image shows one RS485 BUS connection from the slaves to a master. The master is connected to the internet.
Text description of this image
Diagram on a white background with the heading "Multiple Devices, RS485 Bus, Wired Ethernet (LAN) Connection". Four white inverters stand in a row, labelled from left to right: Slave, Slave, Slave, Master. Lines labelled "RS485" connect the first to the second, the second to the third and the third to the master inverter. A line labelled "ETH" runs from the master inverter to a grey device labelled "Ethernet Router", which has a small globe icon with the letters www next to it. Caption: "Figure 8: Multiple devices, RS485 bus, wired Ethernet connection."
2.1 Settings for slave devices
After the physical connections are made, define the address of each slave. Follow these steps on each slave inverter:
Text description of this image
Screenshot of a smartphone app screen (inverter commissioning app) with status bar showing time 14:18, LTE signal and battery 54. Top bar is dark blue with a blue rectangle hiding the title and a three-dot menu icon. Screen title: "Commissioning". Menu entries, each with an icon and a right arrow: Country & Grid; Pairing; Monitoring Communication; Site Communication; Power Control; Grid Protection; Central Commissioning; Device Manager; Maintenance; Information; Status (partly cut off at the bottom). At the bottom: a grey bar with the red text "Disconnect from device" and a PDF download icon.
Text description of this image
Screenshot of a smartphone app screen (inverter commissioning app) with status bar showing time 14:18, LTE signal and battery 54. Top bar is dark blue with a back arrow, a blue oval hiding the title and a three-dot menu icon. Screen title: "Site Communication". List rows (label, value, right arrow): Ethernet: DHCP; Wi-Fi: Not Connected; RS485-1: Modbus (Multi-Device); RS485-2: None; GPIO: Power Reduction Interface (RRCR); Modbus TCP port: Disabled. At the bottom of the screen: a grey bar with the red text "Disconnect from device" and a PDF download icon.
Text description of this image
Screenshot of a smartphone app screen (inverter commissioning app) with status bar showing time 14:19, LTE signal and battery 54. Top bar is dark blue with a back arrow, a blue filled rectangle hiding the title and a three-dot menu icon. Screen title: "RS485-2". One list row: "Protocol" with the value "None" in bold and a right arrow. At the bottom of the screen: a grey bar with the red text "Disconnect from device" and a PDF download icon.
Text description of this image
Screenshot of a smartphone app screen (inverter commissioning app) with status bar showing time 14:19, LTE signal and battery 54. Top bar is dark blue with a back arrow, a blue filled rectangle hiding the title and a three-dot menu icon. Screen title: "RS485-2 Protocol". List of options: "SolarEdge" (with a right arrow), "Modbus (Multi-Device)", "SunSpec (Non-SE Logger)", "None" (selected, blue tick at the left). At the bottom of the screen: a grey bar with the red text "Disconnect from device" and a PDF download icon.
Text description of this image
Screenshot of a smartphone app screen (inverter commissioning app) with status bar showing time 14:19, LTE signal and battery 54. Top bar is dark blue with a back arrow, a blue rectangle hiding the title and a three-dot menu icon. Screen title: "RS485-2". List rows (label, value, right arrow): Protocol: SunSpec (Non-SE Logger); Device ID: 1; Baud Rate: 115200. At the bottom of the screen: a grey bar with the red text "Disconnect from device" and a PDF download icon.
3 Connect the master inverter to the Reduxi Controller via Modbus TCP
To connect the master inverter via Modbus TCP with a defined IP address, follow SolarEdge Master Configuration.
The image shows an example of the Modbus TCP settings on the Reduxi Controller side.
Text description of this image
Screenshot of two form panels in the Reduxi Configurator on a light grey background. Left panel "Communication channel": Connection *: TCP/IP (dropdown); IP *: 172.30.16.50; Port *: 1502. Right panel "Device configuration": Modbus unit ID *: 1.
4 Connect the master inverter to the Reduxi Controller via Modbus RTU
You can also connect the master inverter to the Reduxi Controller via a serial connection (Modbus RTU).
Text description of this image
Diagram on a white background with the heading "Multiple Inverters, RS485 Bus, Non-SolarEdge Logger". Four white inverters stand in a row on the left. Lines labelled "RS485" connect inverter 1 to inverter 2, inverter 2 to inverter 3 and inverter 3 to inverter 4 (three short RS485 links). A fourth line labelled "RS485" runs from inverter 4 to a black Reduxi controller on the right, which has the printed name "reduxi" on top. The front of the controller shows a round port, an Ethernet port and a small green display. Caption under the diagram: "Figure 20: Multiple inverters, RS485 bus, non-SolarEdge logger".
Configure the slave inverters in the same way as in Point 2, section 2.1 Settings for slave devices.
The image shows an example of the Modbus RTU settings on the Reduxi Controller side.
Text description of this image
Screenshot of two form panels in the Reduxi Configurator on a light grey background. Left panel "Communication channel": Connection *: Local serial port; Port *: Port 2; Baud rate *: 115200 bits/s; Data bits *: 8; Stop bits *: 1; Parity *: None. Right panel "Device configuration": Modbus unit ID *: 1.
For more information on how to configure the device in Reduxi, see the Reduxi Configurator guide. For the Reduxi Cloud application, see Reduxi Cloud.
✓ Summary
Connection (Point 1): Connect the controller to the inverter contacts as shown in the image. The SolarEdge application note describes all communication options.
Slave inverters (Point 2): Connect slaves to the master via RS485. Set protocol SunSpec (Non-SE logger) and a Device ID on each slave.
Master via Modbus TCP (Point 3): Connect the master with a defined IP address. Follow the SolarEdge Master Configuration guide.
Master via Modbus RTU (Point 4): Alternatively connect the master via a serial connection. Slave settings stay the same as in Point 2.
→ Common issues
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Slave inverter is not read | Check that every slave has its own Device ID and the protocol SunSpec (Non-SE logger) under Site communication – RS485-2 (see Point 2). |
| Master inverter is not reachable via Modbus TCP | Check the IP address of the master. Follow the SolarEdge Master Configuration guide (see Point 3). |