Question Update/Downdate 6000XP Firmware at Remote Location

@dtbaker61 

Thanks for your interest, but it's a bit more complicated. My existing 6000XP installed 500 miles from home at a location with no available grid power, no landline phone service, and no cell phone service. Hence no available internet, unless I spend more money to get satellite internet. Doable, but why should I have to do that to change the firmware on a 6000XP?

The existing inverter is running the original firmware (ccca-190D0E) just fine, and I am inclined not to upgrade it, because I don't really need any of the newer features and definitely not any of the newer firmware problems. But, if I get a second 6000XP to parallel with the first, I am trying to figure out how to downgrade the firmware of a new inverter to ccca-190D0E at home and then haul the new inverter 500 miles to my site for installation.

At home, I can hook up AC power to the inverter's GRID input to power the inverter and connect it to the internet. Then EG4 could downgrade the firmware remotely via the internet. . But, it also needs power to the PV input in order for any firmware changes to take affect on the MPPT, and I don't have any solar panels at home to connect to the PV input.

@jxnhrpr if you are paralleling from existing..... I *think* the "master" settings are all copied over to the slave... but maybe not the underlying firmware

I am in total agreement on the need for firmware versions to be available as files that can be downloaded, saved, restored via laptop.... preferably with bluetooth thru the dongle..... especially at sites that do not have wifi or cell service

@eg4eric 

I stumbled on the following YouTube video describing installation and set up of a
Luxpower SNA 6K inverter, which is a close relative to the EG4 6000XP.

At 21:20 in the video, the 'DC Source" option is briefly discussed. From this it seems very likely you can connect a bench power supply to the 6000XP's PV input. So, would a 120V DC, 3A power supply be adequate to activate the MPPT and allow the MPPT-related firmware to be updated?

Back to the original topic...

Last week I did a remote firmware update for a 6000xp client that is off-grid, no Grid ac-in available, but does have wifi available w starlink because their local cell service is very weak and no DSL/cable service is available. I did it during the day when power was available from PV -> MPPT to keep the client's wifi modem powered to handles the system reset at the end. The "standard update" worked surprisingly well with the actual upload of all the pieces, including MPPT, uploading in the background, and then re-starting itself.

HOWEVER, this does not obviate the need for update tools available as files that could be loaded on a laptop, and transferred directly for sites that do not have wifi, or even a cell signal. I have plenty of clients still in remote areas that have no cell signal, so I cannot use a phone hotspot as temporary wifi. The only solution as an installer would be for me to buy a whole satellite setup and physically go back to the site myself.... spending a lot on equipment, subscription, and time that could be avoided with update-from-laptop tools.

EG4 really should develop a toolset to enable firmware updates "from files" that can be executed without wifi or cell.

MidniteSolar has such tools, but they have a long history of building equipment for remote off-grid installations. The new AIO they have presumes wifi is available, but "update kits" are available for sites that do not have cell or wifi.

@dtbaker61 

I'm pleased you were able to update with no issues. They don't make it simple. I've read/viewed every scrap of information I can find on EG4 firmware updating and feel I'm ready to do it once I get my power supply issue resolved. Starlink may be inevitable.

@jxnhrpr The remote update was surprisingly simple and automatic IF you have wifi, and "live" MPPT power (100+vDC) and/or grid ac-in to support the reboot/restart.

Conversely, it is not possible if you do not have wifi on site, or with cell hotspot, and MPPT powered up.

So, I would encourage any potential installer of off-grid to request development of a file based updater toolkit so that updates can be done without wifi OR cell service. I'd also encourage the tools to update the MPPT firmware regardless of detection of live MPPT input voltage so that updates *could* be done without a 100vDC power supply before install, or at night at a remote site.

@jxnhrpr 
They are similar; however they are still different in hardware and firmware. I wouldn't recommend doing that; however, I will ask if there is any other solution