Generac H-100 Device Sensors Not Working

[DCIM_Support]

Hi,

I am able to successfully connect to our Modbus RTU over TCP server which is connected via RS484 to our Generac H-100 generator controller.  However, when I view the device senors they seem to all be in a default state or not working.  I suspect there may be a problem between the Modbus TCP device and the H-100, but I am unsure how to verify.  Or perhaps the device template I am using is incorrect?  I am selecting the "Generac Generator Genset" option.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

(CID:133373048)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Jeff Bollinger,

From your question:

...However, when I view the device senors they seem to all be in a default state or not working.

Show us, please, a couple of screenshots where your problem is clearly visible.

...I suspect there may be a problem between the Modbus TCP device and the H-100, but I am unsure how to verify.

To start solving the problem, do you have a Modbus register table for your generator? If so, you can easily check the quality of the communication between the TCP/IP Modbus gateway and the generator in one of two ways.

First, if your TCP/IP Modbus gateway is Scnheider Electric ConneXium series, then there is a special page Read Device Registers in the gateway's web-GUI for reading information from the registers. In addition, there is also another page Statistics on which you can see the real quality of the Modbus serial line, are there any CRC errors and connection timeouts (see, for example topic 😞

Secondly, if your TCP/IP Modbus gateway does not have such functionality, then you need to use a small utility Modpoll Modbus Master Simulator. In order to clarify the situation, you need to connect your laptop, for example, directly or through a switch to the TCP/IP Modbus gateway. And then, execute the following command below to find out, for example, the Battery Volts for device with Slave ID 1 (for your generator):

bashFieldTalk(tm) Modbus(R) Master Simulatormodpoll -1 -0 -o5 -r157 -t3 -a1 192.168.1.245 modpoll 3.4 - FieldTalk(tm) Modbus(R) Master Simulator Copyright (c) 2002-2013 proconX Pty Ltd Visit http://www.modbusdriver.com forModbus libraries and tools. Protocol configuration: MODBUS/TCP Slave configuration...: address = 1, start reference = 157, count = 1 Communication.........: 192.168.1.245, port 502, t/o5.00 s, poll rate 1000 ms Data type.............: 16-bit register, input register table -- Polling slave...

For example, in this case, we connected to IP 192.168.1.245 to the default port 502 to the device with Slave ID 1 (-a1) and found out the Battery Volts value (-r157 -t3). The -o5 parameter specifies a communication wait timeout of 5 seconds. -1 means to print the result only once.

...Or perhaps the device template I am using is incorrect?  I am selecting the "Generac Generator Genset" option.

Search on resource Device Support for the phrase generac allows us to download six DDF-files for this generator model:

Judging from your question, the most suitable for you DDF-file is Generac SD100 H-Panel Generator (generac_sd100_h_panel_generator.xml, v.3). It is this DDF-file for the beginning, I recommend to use and report please the result.

If you have any further questions, please ask.

With respect.

(CID:133373166)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi - Thanks for the prompt response.  I went ahead and applied the Generac SD100 H-Panel DDF-file.  After doing so, it appears I am still not receiving register data correctly.  By way of example, in the below device sensors screenshot, battery volts are 0, coolant temp is readying 32 degrees F and the Current B phase shows 503 amps.  All of these values don't make sense and don't match what is reported on the generator controller itself.  

I installed the modpoll command line tool and queried the battery voltage register and it is returning 0.

So it seems that for some reason the registers are empty or are not being picked up correctly.  We are using the following TCP / RS484 gateway: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SX6KB7K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We are using the 21 light Generac announciator panel which uses RS484 and it is working properly.  T...

Lastly, below are photos of the genset screen itself:

Firmware:

Modbus Status:

Water temp / battery volts:

 

(CID:133373648)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Jeff Bollinger,

Thank you for the good amount of useful information - I appreciate it 😀.

First, please show the screenshot of the Home web-page from your TCP/IP Modbus gateway manufactured by ICP DAS, for example:

I need this to compare the settings TCP/IP Modbus gateway with the RS-485 settings genset control panel by your photo.

Secondly, try using the utility modpoll to execute the query of register 173 with parameters (-c2 -r173 -t3), i.e. query two registers in a row 173-174. What do you get in return? Maybe this will be Battery Volts.

If, nevertheless, everything is fine, works correctly, but you can not get the correct sensor readings in DCE for your generator, then you can conclude, that your generator is not yet supported by DCE software. ☹️

For example, if you go to the Device Support page of your generator, you can see that it is supported by DCE software:

When I press the I WANT IT TOO button, I get this opposite response:

I.e., it turns out that there is still no suitable DDF-file for this generator :-/. And simply proposed to create a new device request support for this generator. And then you need to have a Modbus register table for your generator, which I asked you about at the beginning of this topic.

Try and report the result, please.

With respect.

(CID:133373768)

[DCIM_Support]

Here is a screenshot of the gateway:

I did a little exploration and it appears that register values are coming back using modpoll, but not in the registers that the DDF is expecting or I have seen document on the web.

(CID:133374002)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Jeff Bollinger,

Thanks for the screenshot of TCP/IP Modbus Gateway: everything looks good.

I also see that just at the moment DCE software does not yet support your generator. Try experimentally to find the register that is responsible for the battery voltage.

In addition, get the Modbus table from the vendor of your generator - it is very necessary for you.

With respect.

(CID:133374013)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Jeff Bollinger,

Tell us, please, have you solved this problem or not?

With respect.

(CID:134026490)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi - I sent a request to Generac last week to obtain the register mapping for the H100 panel.  I have not heard back yet.  

(CID:134026611)

[DCIM_Support]

In any case, thanks for the feedback.

(CID:134026614)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi - I attempted to submit a device request both yesterday and today and I receive a message "Unknown error has occurred". 

I've attached the specs we have received from Generac to this message.  Could you assist us by submitting this as a device request?

Generac 250kW (NG) Model:17663820100

PM_DCP_Modbus_HPanel.pdf

(CID:134028291)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Jeff Bollinger,

This is because you have attached a file with a possibly improper extension. Try to archive your pdf-file, for example in zip and try again.

Can I ask you to send me the above pdf-file to my private e-mail?

With respect.

(CID:134028311)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Jeff Bollinger,

Thank you very much for pdf-file documentation 😀.

I'll ask you to check for sure: try using modpoll to poll register 156 with count 2 (-r156 -c2) - this is Battery Voltage:

I wonder what you will get as a result?

With respect.

(CID:134028383)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi - I am getting back a value of 0 when using -r156 -c2 -t3.  

(CID:134028420)

[DCIM_Support]

It's very strange, it seems you are faced with a non-trivial case... And what result will you get for registers with numbers, for example 100-200? Is it also all zeros?

Please specify, do you have only one generator and only one TCP/IP Modbus gateway on the RS-485 serial line?

With respect.

(CID:134028525)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Jeff Bollinger,

From your comments:

We are using the 21 light Generac announciator panel which uses RS484 and it is working properly.  The TCP / RS484 gateway is daisy chained from the 2 wire RS484 terminal on the announciator panel.

That is, on the same serial line RS-485 you have three devices connected: TCP/IP Modbus gateway (acts as Master) + H-Panel (acts as Slave ID?) + remote annunciator (acts as Slave ID?). It is right?

Then please tell us what Slave ID is in the H-Panel and what is the Slave ID of the remote annunciator? When installing the generator, both these Slave IDs should have been properly configured.

I suspect, that you polled with modpoll not the H-Panel, but a remote annunciator 😀.

With respect.

(CID:134028537)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Jeff Bollinger,

All of the above is confirmed by the instructions below for your generator. For example, here's what is written in instruction PowerManager - Digital Control Platform Modbus Interface (for "H-Panel"):

And most importantly, here's what is written in instruction H-100 Control Panel Technical Manual:

The same is confirmed by the photos of your generator above: pay attention to the value of Rx for the RS-485 port - you have it equal to 0. I.e., on the RS-485 port your generator never received the information, but only sent it to remote annunciator.

Can you clarify the details of this question from the personnel who performed the installation of your generator?

With respect.

(CID:134028907)

[DCIM_Support]

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