Local Application software by MidNite Solar 1|Page
Table of Contents Using the MidNite Solar Local App .......................................................................................................................... 3 About the MidNite Solar Local App ............................................................................................................. 3 Local App log on screen ................................................................................................................................ 4 Main Status Panel.
About the MidNite Solar Local App The MidNite Solar Local App was designed to run on a computer that is on the same network as the Classics you intend to interface with. When used on the LAN “Local area network” the Local App and Classic do not require any set up unless you change the TCP Port of the Classic. The Local App can be used to interface with a Classic over the Internet but this is an advanced function and requires adjustments to your router and possibly an account with DynDNS.org.
Local App log on screen When you open the Local App software it will automatically detect every Classic on your local network. There will be a main screen with each Classic listed. See the picture below for reference. Each Classic will have KWH “Energy” and Power “Watts” displayed on this screen as well as a radio button labeled Status Panel you can click on. When you click on a Status Panel button for a particular Classic it will take you to the Status Panel for that Classic.
Main Status Panel Here you will see the gauges and dashboard LED’s. The Gauges are labeled and some of them range based on the Classic settings. The Power meter allows the user to scale it from 1-5kw in 1kw steps. There are LED’s on each side of the Power meter. The left LED is Aux 1 and the right LED is Aux 2. There is a Minimize button above the Power meter that will take you back to the main log on screen.
Configuration Screens There are 2 main configuration screens in the dashboard view. The Settings menu under Configuration will allow you to set the units of measure to US or Metric as well as a few other items. This Settings screen can be seen in the picture below. To access this screen Click Config and then click Settings. You can see there is a radio button to manually check for updates to the Local App as well as a drop down box to set the interval at which the App will check for updates automatically.
This is the second configuration screen this is accessed by Clicking Config then Classic. There are three settings for you to adjust here. The first is the Power meter scale. This lets you select a 1,2,3,4 or 5kw scale for the Power meter. The second box allows you to name your Classic. After you enter the name you have given your Classic click the enter button to the right to save it to the Classic. This is stored in the Classic’s memory and will be remembered even if the Classic is power cycled.
Alert Icons There are several Alert Icons that may show up. They will be displayed in the Power Meter as seen above. We have 3 levels of Alert’s an Informational Alert will be Blue in color and is just informational. A Warning Alert will be yellow and may not need any attention. An Error Alert will be red and signifies there is a problem and the Classic has stopped charging. Below is a list of the Alert Icons and a brief description of what they mean.
” Classic over-temperature or FETs over-temperature” The Classic is over-temperature and has gone to Resting to protect itself. ”Arc Fault” The Classic detected an Arc Fault and stopped charging. ”Ground Fault” The Classic detected a Ground Fault and stopped charging. ”Battery Voltage too high” The battery voltage is above the set point. ”Input voltage too high” The input voltage is above the Classics rating. ”DEFCON 3” Not Implemented yet ”DEFCON 4” Indicates a Processor or software issue.
”Hyper VOC” The input voltage is above the operational limit. ”Current Limit reached” The current limit set point has been reached and the Classic is current limiting. “Partial shade” The Classic is detecting the MPPT voltage to be lower than normal indicating partial shading. ”Temperature sensor shorted” Indicates a short in the battery temperature sensor cable. ”Low Light” The Classic has determined there is not enough sunlight to continue to charge.
Connecting the Local App to a Classic directly You may desire to connect the Computer that is running the Local App directly to the Classic either with a crossover cable or through a switch on a dedicated network/subnet. (Note that if you use a ROUTER with DHCP capabilities on this private network then you can skip the rest of this). The Classic has DHCP enabled by default. If you plug it straight into your PC chances are it will NOT work unless you are running a Linux or Windows server on your machine.
Setting up the Classic to work with the Local App over the Internet The Classic needs to be connected to the Local Network and have battery voltage applied to it to continue. Please refer to the Classic Owner’s Manual for information on connecting the Classic to the Local Network. The Classic will be assigned an IP address by your router when it is connected into the router and powered. You need to set the Classic up to use a static IP address so the router will know where to forward the ports to.
DynDNS.org set up If you have a Static IP address please skip this section and proceed to “Setting up your Router”. This is only required if you have a Dynamic IP address. To determine if you have a static or dynamic IP address please contact your internet service provider. DynDNS.org is a service that keeps track of the ever changing IP address you have been given by your internet provider. Your router will update DynDNS anytime this IP address changes.
You will need to enter a little info on this page in order to create your account. First you need to pick a Host Name and enter it in the box. Then you need to select the remainder of the URL from the drop down box. This can be seen in the photo above. The only other parameter you need to enter is the IP address of the system the Classic is hooked to. If you are creating this account from a computer on that same network DynDNS shows you that IP address right below the text box.
Setting up the local app to find the Classic on the internet You will need to add a little info to the Local App in order for it to go out over the Internet and find your Classic. Please refer to the picture below. When you open the Local App click on Application and click on Configuration as seen in the photo Above.
On the Configuration screen you will need to enter an IP address or URL. If you determined you had a static IP address from your Internet provider then you need to enter that address in the IP/URL field. You documented this IP address earlier in the set up process. Make sure you enter the port number you assigned this Classic and then click Add. If you have multiple Classics enter them all here now.
Belkin N150 The Belkin N150 has a default IP address of 192.168.2.1 The default password is blank. You will need to access 2 portions of the routers programming, Port forwarding under Firewall > Virtual Servers. And DDNS under Firewall > DDNS. Click on Virtual Servers under Firewall this will bring you to the Port Forwarding screen as seen above. Check the Enable box and fill in a Description for this port. Enter the port number assigned to the Classic in the 2 inbound boxes as well as the 2 private ports.
DDNS setup (you only need this part if you have a dynamic ip address) Click on DDNS under Firewall as seen above. Select DynDNS in the drop down box. Fill in your username, password and URL or Domain Name. This data would have been documented in the section of the manual on Setting up a DynDNS account. Leave all the other fields in default setting. When you are done click “Update Dynamic DNS”.
Belkin N300 The Belkin N300 has a default IP address of 192.168.2.1 The default password is blank. You will need to access 2 portions of the routers programming, Port forwarding under Firewall > Virtual Servers. And DDNS under Firewall > DDNS. Click on Virtual Servers under Firewall this will bring you to the Port Forwarding screen as seen above. Check the Enable box and fill in a Description for this port. Enter the port number assigned to the Classic in the 2 inbound boxes as well as the 2 private ports.
DDNS setup (you only need this part if you have a dynamic ip address) Click on DDNS under Firewall as seen above. Select DynDNS in the drop down box. Fill in your username, password and URL or Domain Name. This data would have been documented in the section of the manual on Setting up a DynDNS account. Leave all the other fields in default setting. When you are done click “Update Dynamic DNS”.
Linksys WRT54GS The Linksys WRT45GS has a default IP address of 192.168.1.1 The default username and password is admin for both. You will need to access 2 portions of the routers programming, Port Range forwarding under Applications and Gaming and DDNS under Setup. Follow the steps below to complete setup. You will need to set port forwarding for each Classic. Click Application & Gaming and then click Port Range forward.
DDNS setup (you only need this part if you have a dynamic ip address) Select DynDNS.org in the drop down box. Fill in your username and password as well as the host name in the fields. This data would have been documented in the section of the manual on Setting up a DynDNS account. When you are done click save settings and make sure the router comes back and tells you Update success in red under Status.
Linksys WRT120N The Linksys WRT120N has a default IP address of 192.168.1.1 The default username and password is admin for both. You will need to access 2 portions of the routers programming, Port Range forwarding under Applications and Gaming and DDNS under Setup. Follow the steps below to complete setup. You will need to set port forwarding for each Classic. Click Application & Gaming and then click Port Range forward.
DDNS setup (you only need this part if you have a dynamic ip address) Select DynDNS.org in the drop down box. Fill in your username and password as well as the host name in the fields. This data would have been documented in the section of the manual on Setting up a DynDNS account. Leave all the other fields in default setting. When you are done click save settings and make sure the router comes back and tells you Update success under Status.
Linksys E1200 The Linksys E1200 has a default IP address of 192.168.1.1 The default username and password is admin for both. You will need to access 2 portions of the routers programming, Port Range forwarding under Applications and Gaming and DDNS under Setup. Follow the steps below to complete setup. You will need to set port forwarding for each Classic. Click Application & Gaming and then click Port Range forward.
DDNS setup (you only need this part if you have a dynamic ip address) Select DynDNS.org in the drop down box. Fill in your username and password as well as the host name in the fields. This data would have been documented in the section of the manual on Setting up a DynDNS account. Leave all the other fields in default setting. When you are done click save settings and make sure the router comes back and tells you Update success under Status.
NetGear N150-WNR1000 The NetGear N150-WNR1000 has a default IP address of 192.168.1.1 The default username is admin and the password is password. You will need to access 2 portions of the routers programming, Port Range forwarding under Applications and Gaming and DDNS under Setup. Follow the steps below to complete setup. Click on port forwarding in the advanced menu on the left side of the screen. On the screen that comes up (See Picture above) check port forwarding and then click “Add Custom Service”.
You will need to give each forwarded port a name in the box named “Service Name”. This name is not important to the router it is there for your reference. You could use Classic or a name like Wind or Solar for this. Enter the port number assigned to the Classic in the “Starting Port” and “Ending Port” boxes. Enter the Static IP address of the Classic this would have been documented in the section on Setting up the Classic for the Network. Click Apply.
DDNS setup (you only need this part if you have a dynamic ip address) In the Advanced Menu on the left side of the screen click “Dynamic DNS”. On the screen that opens check the box labeled “Use a Dynamic DNS Service”. Select DynDNS from the drop down box labeled “Service Provider”. Fill in the Host Name, User Name and Password that you have from DynDNS. You documented this earlier in the section on setting up a DynDNS account. Click apply to save these settings.
NetGear N300-WNR2000 The NetGear N300-WNR2000 has a default IP address of 192.168.1.1 The default username is admin and the password is password. You will need to access 2 portions of the routers programming, Port Range forwarding under Applications and Gaming and DDNS under Setup. Follow the steps below to complete setup. Click on port forwarding in the advanced menu on the left side of the screen. On the screen that comes up (See Picture above) check port forwarding and then click “Add Custom Service”.
You will need to give each forwarded port a name in the box named “Service Name”. This name is not important to the router it is there for your reference. You could use Classic or a name like Wind or Solar for this. Enter the port number assigned to the Classic in the “Starting Port” and “Ending Port” boxes. Enter the Static IP address of the Classic this would have been documented in the section on Setting up the Classic for the Network. Click Apply.
DDNS setup (you only need this part if you have a dynamic ip address) In the Advanced Menu on the left side of the screen click “Dynamic DNS”. On the screen that opens check the box labeled “Use a Dynamic DNS Service”. Select DynDNS from the drop down box labeled “Service Provider”. Fill in the Host Name, User Name and Password that you have from DynDNS. You documented this earlier in the section on setting up a DynDNS account. Click apply to save these settings.
NetGear N600-WNDR3700 The NetGear N600-WNDR3700 has a default IP address of 192.168.1.1 The default username is admin and the password is password. You will need to access 2 portions of the routers programming, Port Range forwarding under Applications and Gaming and DDNS under Setup. Follow the steps below to complete setup. Click on port forwarding in the advanced menu on the left side of the screen. On the screen that comes up (See Picture above) check port forwarding and then click “Add Custom Service”.
You will need to give each forwarded port a name in the box named “Service Name”. This name is not important to the router it is there for your reference. You could use Classic or a name like Wind or Solar for this. Enter the port number assigned to the Classic in the “Starting Port” and “Ending Port” boxes. Enter the Static IP address of the Classic this would have been documented in the section on Setting up the Classic for the Network. Click Apply.
DDNS setup (you only need this part if you have a dynamic ip address) In the Advanced Menu on the left side of the screen click “Dynamic DNS”. On the screen that opens check the box labeled “Use a Dynamic DNS Service”. Select DynDNS from the drop down box labeled “Service Provider”. Fill in the Host Name, User Name and Password that you have from DynDNS. You documented this earlier in the section on setting up a DynDNS account. Click apply to save these settings.
NetGear G54-WGR614 The NetGear G54-WGR614 has a default IP address of 192.168.1.1 The default username is admin and the password is password. You will need to access 2 portions of the routers programming, Port Range forwarding under Applications and Gaming and DDNS under Setup. Follow the steps below to complete setup. Click on port forwarding in the advanced menu on the left side of the screen. On the screen that comes up (See Picture above) check port forwarding and then click “Add Custom Service”.
You will need to give each forwarded port a name in the box named “Service Name”. This name is not important to the router it is there for your reference. You could use Classic or a name like Wind or Solar for this. Enter the port number assigned to the Classic in the “Starting Port” and “Ending Port” boxes. Enter the Static IP address of the Classic this would have been documented in the section on Setting up the Classic for the Network. Click Apply.
DDNS setup (you only need this part if you have a dynamic ip address) In the Advanced Menu on the left side of the screen click “Dynamic DNS”. On the screen that opens check the box labeled “Use a Dynamic DNS Service”. Select DynDNS from the drop down box labeled “Service Provider”. Fill in the Host Name, User Name and Password that you have from DynDNS. You documented this earlier in the section on setting up a DynDNS account. Click apply to save these settings.
