Hi, there’s currently an issue with the integration, you can find the updates here: Error while setting up growatt_server platform for sensor · Issue #84600 · home-assistant/core · GitHub
I had the same problem, so my Xmas project has been to build a Raspberry Pi Zero W based interface between my SPH3000 and Home Assistant using MQTT and a cheap RS485 serial to USB dongle from Amazon.
I now have this code in testing and am enjoying 60 second updates flawlessly from my PV and battery.
My project doesn’t interfere with the Growatt WiFi dongle, and can be adapted to other inverters that use Modbus RTU (definitely other Growatts).
I’ll publish the code when I’ve written a readme doc if anyone’s interested.
David
3 Likes
looking forward to this alternate solution
Awesome! I have been searching for a way to avoid the Growatt API solution, as the data is available just a few meters away. Looking forward to see your solution.
Ok, here goes: I’ve published what I have built. I’ve used a Raspberry Pi Zero W with an RS485-USB adapter connected to the RS485 spare port on the bottom of my Growatt SPH3000. On the Raspberry Pi I run Raspberry Pi OS, Node.js and code that I have written. The code polls the Growatt inverter and publishes via MQTT all the values I want. These values are used in Home Assistant to populate a Lovelace dashboard and to trigger automations. In the future, I will update the code to allow Home Assistant to publish commands via MQTT to my code and to control the inverter (e.g. to change battery charging time etc.).
The code and instructions can be found at: GitHub - 666djb/solarpi: Solar inverter to MQTT bridge for inverter values
This works for me with a Growatt SPH3000, Raspberry Pi Zero W and an RS485-USB adapter bought from Amazon. It should work with other SPH inverter models and can be adapted for others still. The code is not a Home Assistant Add-on or Integration, it runs separately on another Pi.
David
2 Likes
Hi David, this looks fantastic. Thank you so much. I will be giving this a go in the coming weeks.
Curious if you know whether this should work “out the box” for the Growatt SPH6000 as well?
Also, did you encounter any performance bottlenecks preventing a faster refresh rate than 60 seconds? I was thinking for example 10 seconds.
Hi,
From my reading of the Growatt protocol doc, it should just work the same with any SPH inverter - they use the same registers. What I don’t know is whether any SPH inverters support more than two strings of solar panels, I only read strings 1 and 2.
Also, I have only tried updates at 60 and 20 seconds. I reckon 10 should be just fine too. I just didn’t want too much history being stored in Home Assistant as I have that running on a Pi3 until maybe later today when I move HA to a Proxmox VM 
Hi Everyone, for those of you still using the Growatt Home Assistant integration (or interested in making use of it in the future):
As discussed in more detail here I have started the process of moving the Growatt Server integration out of Home Assistant Core and into a custom integration. This will allow for much faster responses when there are issues with authenticating against the Growatt Servers as we’ve seen in recent months.
Over the next few weeks I will be removing the Growatt integration from the Core repository of Home Assistant, however, to give people time to switch over to the new integration I have already published it here (new repo) with a comprehensive guide on how to install it (it’s quite straight forward).
Once you have it installed, delete the previous integration and then switch to using the new one, step-by-step with pictures here
IMPORTANT: The new integration is the only place that new fixes & features will be released
Next steps:
- The documentation here (growatt_server) will be updated to recommend using the new integration instead
- The existing bugs against the Growatt integration in Home Assistant will be migrated/copied to the new repository
- New features & fixes will be worked on
I apologise for the inconvenience that this causes, however it’s in the interest of the stability of Home Assistant Core as well as the ability to provide swift responses to issues in the plugin that I’m making this change.
Any questions related to this, please add them as issues on the new repo here (issues) and I’ll respond as fast as I can.
3 Likes
Hi, ive been trying to get my sph3600 into HA for a while now, I got HA installed just after they pulled he plug on the API,.
Ive got Solarpi up and running on a pi zero and its sedind mqtt topic, but no values. When monitor it via ssh with the journal cmd it says Port Not Open Error and connection refused. Ive changed the RS485 to VPP from battery and its saved ok. Reading through the manual it mentions RS485 being displayed on the panel as a sysmbol but mine dosnt show that. Ive tried pins 4&5 and also 1&5 but same error msg. Am I correct to assume the connection is sound as its trying to connect and being refused?
Any pointers what to try next.
Thnaks!
I’ll go out and take some photos of the menu in my SPH3000 to see if that helps.
- Normal display.
- When the RS485 port is being access (yes, it says RS232 on the screen!) - this only flashed up briefly (using SolarPi with a 60 second update period, it shows for about 2 seconds every minute).
- The RS485 setting menu
- Within the RS485 setting menu, the Port setting (VPP)
mine dosnt have the rs232 symbol coming up, only wifi. will watch it for a minuite and check ive just not missed it
thank you so much for the photos, i have checked and rechecked mine and its all connected and configured correctly but still dosnt work. ive tried adding a ground but that didnt help. have done 1&5 and 4&5 but error is always the same.
Ive ordered a new usb to rs485 converter in case mine is faulty, if not it looks like its disabled somehow in the SPH3600.
Below shows my menu, i watched the screen for a few minuites and the rs232/485 never shows, only wifi.
resolved now. Found the service did not have permission to access the USB port. Corrected and now receiving data!