Morningstar Tristar Connection to Laptop

[S Cello]

I have a  Morningstar TriStar Charge Controller, TS-MPPT-45. After listening to Jimindenver talk about his unit, I need to find a source for a cable to hook this charge controller to my laptop. The charge controller has a RS232 connection point and I guess I'd like/need to attach it to my laptop's input type thing.

Jim, I'd sure like to come to where you are camped in a month or so when my van is finished so you could help me configure the controller for my Crown battery bank.

I will contact Crown Battery company to find out their optimum charge parameters for their Crown AGM 6CRV220 Sealed Battery 220Ah 6v X 4 battery bank.

 

[S Cello]

Also, I have about 4 or 5 of those telephone type cables in my solar setup. They were shipped a lot longer than I need and the instructions say that they can be shortened. I have just never tried installing one of those little phone connector things. They have them at the little hardware store down the road and the package says something about crimp. The package does not seem to have any instructions with it. Do I need some special tool?
Could someone on here walk me through it or point me at a youtube video?

Thanks

 

[Trebor English]

Jim, I'd sure like to come to where you are camped in a month or so when my van is finished so you could help me configure the controller for my Crown battery bank.

If you already have the batteries you might not want to wait a month to have them well charged.

 

[Weight]

I copied this from my operators manual. that paper thing. You need the free software download on Morningstar site.
7.1 Connection to a Computer
An RS-232 cable with DB9 connectors (9 pins in 2 rows) will be required.
If the computer will be used to change battery charging or load control setpoints,
verify that DIP switches 4, 5, 6 are in the custom position (On,
On, On) before connecting the TriStar to a computer. The custom position
is required to change set-points. See Section 2.3 - Step 3. Disconnect power
before changing DIP switches.
7.2 Using the PC Software
Download the TriStar PC software from Morningstar’s website. Follow the
instructions on the website for installing the software on your computer.
Open the TriStar PC software. This software will make the connection with the
TriStar via the RS-232 cable. The TriStar must be powered by the battery or a
power supply to complete the connection. If there is a conflict between the
TriStar and PC comm ports, the software will provide instructions to

 

[jimindenver]

Basically it is a serial to usb cord, I found mine at Office depot. I think Kat ordered a few before finding one like it and we had to slightly modify that too. The telephone cables can be replaced by shorter, I bought two 6 footers at walmart. We can get in contact in a month but at this point in time I really do not know where I will be.

 

[S Cello]

If you already have the batteries you might not want to wait a month to have them well charged.

I got the batteries 3 months ago. All I have is a dummy indicator to hook onto them ( Midnite MNBCM - Battery Capacity Meter). It reads 100%. I'm pretty close to being able to hook my inverter/charger up to shore power and topping them off.

 

[Weight]

It IS one of these; https://www.amazon.com/rs232-db9-cable/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i:aps,k:rs232 db9 cable

 

[jimindenver]

no it is NOT that one

Kat bought that one, had to remove the lugs and has no screws to hold it in place. The one right below it has the screws to hold it in place, not sure about the chip set thing which several on the page have.

 

[Weight]

There are more than one shown, you have to match the end on the MorningStar, DB-rs232, with the available socket on your lap top. Could be rs232, would be best, or it could be USB if that is all your computer has. NLM

 

[S Cello]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the help.
Weight, it looks like my laptop only has USB, so it will have to be rs232 to USB.
Jim, it sure beats me what that chip-set stuff is about. I just hope it will work for me.
I have all my solar components VERY close together which is why I am wanting to shorten the telephone cord connections.
My laptop will be sitting on my desk 10 inches away from my charge controller, and my inverter components are mere inches away from each other and maybe 2 feet from the battery bank. I hate to hang coils of wire, would rather shorten them. I'm thinking of just buying a package of the ends and learning by experimentation, maybe buy a few feet of cheap telephone cord to experiment on.

Some photos so far:







The battery bank is just behind the plywood that the 12v breaker box is mounted to, there on the left.

 

[Weight]

I missed post2. On my system; My "telephone type" cables are not the ones from the hardware store, or even office supply. They are not the 4 pin ones used on telephone. I don't have access to the part numbers right now. Be sure you get the right ends for what you have.

 

[B and C]

The easy way to find out what you need is to count the individual pins on the end.  They come in various "flavors", 2, 4, 6 pin (all are six pin capable with unused positions for a total of 6 positions) for telephone and 8 pin ones are normally used for computer networking.  By counting the existing pins on the supplied connector plus the unused pin positions (if there are any), the right connectors and tool can be had.  If there is still doubt, take the coiled up cable with you to compare on the spot.

 

[rayrey]

Basic phone cord for voice. The smaller of the types. Hardest thing is finding them to just pick up, I finally found two 6 ft at Walmart for a few bucks each.

 

[jimindenver]

Basic voice cord, nothing special. I have three of the giant rolls of cord you get with the remote panels.

 

[B and C]

Basic voice cord, nothing special. I have three of the giant rolls of cord you get with the remote panels.

A basic telephone cord only has two conductors (tip and ring). How many conductors in the cord?  It is germane if buying connectors and a tool.  I guess 6 conductor connectors could be purchased and be covered, but when I bought (I was a telephone guy in a former life) the connectors, there was a price difference.

 

[jimindenver]

My two Morningstar controllers are connected with two 6 ft basic phone cords from Walmart. I would have gone with better from NAW&S when I was there and was told all I needed was basic phone cords. The remotes work just like they did with the 100 ft cords from Morningstar.

There is always fancier, better and more complicated.

 

[S Cello]

The TriStar phone cable is a shorty and no problem.
The accesories for the inverter all come really long and those are the ones I need to shorten.



This one only needs to be 4 feet long.
I think I just need to look at the wire colors and make sure I get them back in the right order. Is there a tool I need to redo these things? sounds like it from what I hear you guys saying?

 

[John61CT]

It's called RJ-11 UTP, two maybe 3 pair, probably straight through.

AKA regular phone cabling, but can carry 2 or three lines.

Any electronics place will sell the terminators and crimpers but a lot cheaper and easier to buy the cable length you need already made up, probably local hardware, dollar store, wally's home depot.

Just check the straight through vs crossover issue by holding the two ends up to the light that they show same ordering of colours left to right.

If not straight through, then cut and crimp, copying their ordering.

 

[B and C]

The RJ-11 shown is 4 conductors.  See the shiny pins?  Normal telephone cable for going from the wall to the phone is flat and has a ridge on one of the flats to ease identifying which way to put on connectors.  Telephone line cord (their common name) is wired exactly backward, and not straight through.  This arrangement keeps the tip and ring in the order needed.  If you look closely through the clear part of the connector, you can see which color wire is connected to what pin.  If one end is black on one end the other end will be black on the opposite side.  In other words, turn one connector upside down and pointed the same way (side by side), the colors should match.  

I would recommend going to your nearest electronics store and buying a 6 foot, 4 conductor cord.  That is if you can still find them, cell phones and cordless phones seem to be the norm now.  A line cord can be coiled up really small and this would shorten it the two feet needed without having a big, bulky coil.  You can use twist ties from a loaf of bread or ?? to keep the coil from unraveling.  Tie wraps work too but they are single use and have a sharp end when cut to length.  This is the least expensive route to go and easiest because you wouldn't have to buy the special tool, ends or bulk line cord.  If you really have to have it exact length, I would still buy the line cord and look for a telephone man (woman).  Depending on what his job is (residential repairman would be best), he should have the tools and end (you only need one this way and hopefully he can supply it).  You sometimes see them standing outside by a big box with the doors open or maybe find one taking a break somewhere.  He may or may not want compensation.  As quick of a job as it is for a pro with tools wouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes including finding the RJ-11 end in his van.  Probably do it for the good will.

Wish I was there, (anywhere but here and I am stuck until at least the middle of Summer) :s  I would do it for you.  Reminds me I should throw one of those tools and some ends in my van, I have several tools and they are not cheap.  Have to find something to toss.