Compatible RS485 Adaptors
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RS485 - USB
Generic RS485 - USB
Amazon UK Link1, Berrybase Link1
Waveshare USB to RS485 FT232RL
This USB adaptor is one of the best and most reliable USB adaptors.
Note that there are two versions with two different chipsets available. Make sure that you get the one with the FT232 RL chipset. Do not buy the adaptor with the CH343G chipset, which looks exactly the same.
FTDI USB-RS485-WE-1800
A USB-A to RS485 cable with bare wire ends and an integrated FTDI chipset. Easily available from Mouser, Farnell etc. Recognised out-of-the-box on Linux as /dev/ttyUSB*.
| Wire colour | Signal |
|---|---|
| Orange | A (+) |
| Yellow | B (−) |
| All others | Leave disconnected (N/C) |
Tested with: Growatt MIN3600TL-XH — Orange → COM connector pin 3 (A+), Yellow → pin 4 (B−)
RS485 - Ethernet
Whatever adapter you buy, make sure it supports Modbus transmission. Transparent adapters that do not look into the Modbus protocol cannot send the packages to the correct Modbus slave.
USR-N510 RS232/RS485/RS422 to Ethernet
Older version of the USR-N510 with DB9 connector supporting RS232/RS485/RS422
USR-W610 RS232/RS485 to Wifi & Ethernet
Only Ethernet mode tested so far.
Waveshare RS485 to RJ45 Ethernet DIN Rail Mount - RS485 TO ETH (B) / RS485 TO POE ETH (B)
Amazon UK Link1 , Amazon UK Link2 , Amazon UK Link3
ZLAN5843A 8-port RS232/485 serial port to Ethernet
For Sofar Solar
WiFi Stick Logger LSW-3
The standard LSW-3 Wifi logger that comes with the inverter.
Please see the Sofar Installation for more information.
LAN Stick Logger LSE-3
Replace the LSW-3 Wifi logger that comes with the inverter by the LSE-3 ethernet logger.
Please see the Sofar Installation for more information.
SolaX PocketWiFi 3.0
- Pocket WiFi 3.0 with Firmware V3.004.03 and above is only officially supported.
- SolaX only mentions Gen4 Hybrid, other inverters may work?
Wifi - RS485
Tasmota modbus bridge on ESP8266
An ESP8266 dongle with Tasmota installed and setup as a modbus bridge works great. Use a RS485 module to convert the modbus serial interface to RS485. This works flawless for my Solis hybrid inverter.
ESPHome Modbus Bridge on ESP8266/ESP32 (Wi-Fi/Ethernet)
Running ESPHome as a Modbus TCP to RTU bridge, the setup provides stable and reliable communication through an ESP8266 or ESP32. An RS485 transceiver manages the UART-to-RS485 conversion, enabling data exchange. This setup has been successfully tested with a SolaX hybrid inverter and runs reliably when powered from the inverter’s 12V output, using a 12V-to-5V step-down converter. For Ethernet connectivity, an ESP32 module such as the WT32-ETH01 can be used.
Untested but should work according to the specs...
USR-N510 RS485 to Ethernet
Newer version of the USR-N510 without DB9 connector supporting RS485 (Specs mention RS232/RS485/RS422 Optional)
Should perform the same as the older version, although untested!
USR-TCP232-410S RS232 / RS485 Serial to Ethernet Adapter
Might work but potentially more hassle...
USR-TCP232-304 only supports a Virtual Com Port?
As this Model appears to only gives you a Virtual Com Port it might prove difficult to pass into Home Assistant running in a VM or Home Assistant OS?
- You can use Modbus RTU over TCP
Non Working / Troublesome RS485 Adaptors
SolaX PocketLAN
This adaptor does not provide a Modbus connection
SolaX PocketWiFI 2
- This adaptor provides a very unreliable Modbus connection, if any connectivity at all.
- No support for this adaptor will be provided.
Waveshare RS485 to WIFI/ETH
This RS485 adaptor is very problematic: - There seems to be delayed communications, - Struggles to read more than 7 registers at a time, - Modbus Error: [Input/Output] Unable to decode request, - No ability to set "Auto query storage type" for Sofar Inverters.
Waveshare RS485 to ETH
Not to be confused with the DIN Rail mounted Waveshare RS485 TO ETH (B) mentioned above. - This adaptor does not support "Modbus Transmission" it is a passive device. - You can't submit requests to the Inverter. - It does not work!