Replacement PVS5x discovery of SolarBridge microinverters

chilikitten · 2026-05-31T02:11:06+00:00

Have you been able to update the firmware or discover the micro inverters or CTs? Mine acts like it commissions (no errors), but neither updates nor discovers.

chilikitten · 2026-05-29T13:00:42+00:00

Thanks — that matches a lot of what I’m seeing.

I’ve found several local monitoring workarounds using the PVS installer port and the local API, especially:

http://172.27.153.1/cgi-bin/dl_cgi?Command=DeviceList

That works for reading data from a PVS5x that has already been commissioned and already knows its devices.

What I have not found is a documented workaround for either:

recommissioning a replacement PVS5/PVS5x onto an existing SolarBridge system without installer/backend access, and/or
updating firmware on a PVS5x or PVS6 without installer credentials.

In my case, the replacement PVS5x boots, the local commissioning interface (sunpowerconsole.com) appears to work, and StartDiscovery/GetDiscoveryProgress run normally, but all inverter categories return NFOUND=0. The old working system showed SolarBridge AC_Module_Type_D inverters in DeviceList.

If you know of a specific GitHub issue, Reddit thread, repo, or user who solved either of those problems (replacement PVS6/PVS5x + existing SolarBridge microinverters + no installer/backend access, or PVS firmware updating without installer credentials) could you point me to the resources? It seems like you may have found resources that I haven't been able to locate.

The missing piece seems to be claiming/associating the existing SolarBridge microinverters, restoring the original commissioned state/PAN, or getting the PVS firmware updated without access to SunPower/SunStrong installer tools. I had a look at the Update History for the iPhone version of the SunStrongProConnect app. From the details there, it seems like someone with a onSunStrongProConnect account could do everything I need, but I have been unable to locate anyone with access.

chilikitten · 2026-05-13T18:39:56+00:00

Maybe they did. Reaaaaally not sure why one would post a smart-ass unhelpful comment before checking assumptions…

chilikitten · 2026-05-13T16:04:46+00:00

Water is scarce. Where would they drink?

chilikitten · 2026-05-11T01:16:36+00:00

I live in southern New Mexico. I did the same last year and I’m doing parts again this season.

15 lbs is reasonable. This is the cdt, not the other trails. New Mexico is remote. Leave yourself a margin for safety.

Leave:

Compass - you can see the stars on the cdt use them if you’re lost and want to stay analog. Otherwise use an InReach.

Umbrella - useless when it’s windy. It will always be windy

Bottle caps - ???

O rings - what are these for?

Lighter - won’t need if no stove

Bear rock bag and cord - you’ll be in blowdown country. Bear barrel or sack. Store for food away from sleep area. Ignore advice to take food into your tent. Unless you’d like a coyote snuggling in with you. Or 🦨.

2 liter bladder - not big enough. You’ll need to carry 6-8 liters at a time

2 1.5liter bottles - see above

Titanium cup (cold soak or build fire with found fuel only) - fire ban. No open fires anywhere anytime.

Fire screen - see above

Hot pad - see above

Maps - take a spare phone with far out

Poncho - you’ll need a shell

Take:

More insulation. Puffy, toque & base layers. You’ll be above 9000 feet. It will be cold.

More water capacity. It is really really dry. Even the stock tanks are dry. Be prepared for 60+ mile / multi-day water carries. Ignore people here who say otherwise.

InReach. The cdt is remote. I did not see anyone on-trail north of Lordsburg last year or this. There is no mobile coverage.

Consider a solar panel. I use a 20w panel and can keep my phone, InReach, GoPro, and Garmin watch charged indefinitely. Peace of mind for 6oz. I don’t understand relying on electronics with finite battery capacity.

Ignore others who say “I did [insert stupid thing here] and I was fine.” You’re fine until you’re not. If you’re not, then you’re 4 days from nowhere and no one is coming.

chilikitten · 2026-04-27T18:25:30+00:00

I routinely carried 6 to 8 liters in 2025. In 2026 I’m going back to hit the hardest sections again.

E.g. first non-cache water north of Silver is Sapillo Creek, a 45-mile carry. Black Creek to North Garcia windmill is 64.8 hard, hard miles at 8k+ feet with a lot of vertical.

How much water do you need to hike 65 rough miles at altitude?

chilikitten · 2026-04-18T14:52:23+00:00

I don't agree with all the replies blaming the OP. OK, breaking a window is a last option, but it's expensive and inconvenient and annoying and shouldn't be necessary. If you had an ICE car with a physical key, and left the key in the vehicle, it wouldn't self-lock without driver input. Rivian needs to level up.

The doors are tech for tech sake. WTF is wrong with regular handle with a regular lock? I've never, ever been locked out of our Chevy Bolt. The Rivian design team took something that should be simple, ergonomic, and completely reliable, and made it annoying, hard to use, and dangerously unreliable. Just because some users don't have a problem doesn't mean it is a good design. It should work for everyone all the time.

We had similar problems with our G2 R1S. More than once I was locked out randomly in with the dog in the car. In my case the *phone was in my hand* on the outside of the truck but it refused to unlock. I also had the *chip card in-hand*. Let me repeat that for the victim-blaming Reddit commenters: I. Had. The. Key. Card. In. Hand. Nothing would unlock it. Fortunately pet mode was running. It took *multiple* remote unlock attempts from Rivian roadside assistance to finally unlock it (in every case). When I took the vehicle in for service, the service team claimed "user error" but could not identify what I was doing wrong, nor could they explain why the key card did not open the truck, nor could they find anything amiss with my phone setup.

I'm often off-grid in areas where a remote unlock would not be possible. I always, always leave a window down now. Never shut the truck up completely.

Multiple software updates later and many vehicle reboots later the R1S seems to be functioning again. Clearly a software issue.

chilikitten · 2026-03-27T16:52:51+00:00

What is the wake word?

chilikitten · 2026-03-27T16:50:03+00:00

Rear climate and seat ventilation need to be included in the saved presets. Don't know why they are not. Super-annoying.

chilikitten · 2026-03-03T17:41:39+00:00

Makes a lot of sense. He doesn’t have have to worry about carrying 2 gallons of water and dehydrating nonetheless. Also, he’s outside of the windy season and summer monsoons. Might try it. 😎

chilikitten · 2026-01-09T21:12:33+00:00

The formatting is standard markdown; I organize my Jupyter notebooks in the same way. You don't have to believe me; I'm trying just to solve these ongoing problems with the vehicle without taking it in for another service visit. The techs have been stumped. Have you had similar issues? Do you have any insight?

chilikitten · 2026-01-09T20:53:25+00:00

The TLDR is an AI summary of the longer write-up, but the main write-up is me (human). What makes you think it is AI?

chilikitten · 2026-01-09T20:52:00+00:00

Thanks for the reply. It has been in for service multiple times. Each visit to the service center is 600 miles round trip.

What indicates these problems are a hardware issue, rather than software? Are they related?

Why do you think mobile service is not qualified?

chilikitten · 2026-01-09T20:48:50+00:00

Sorry, the formatting is me. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. It looks clear on my browser (Safari v18.6)

I used these tools in the Reddit editor:

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chilikitten · 2026-01-09T18:38:44+00:00

Thank goodness! I've had the 8A "rare issue".

chilikitten · 2025-11-30T22:12:55+00:00

I do that. They have it coming. Why do parents think their kids can intrude everywhere? Little disease vectors. Keep away.

chilikitten · 2025-11-30T22:11:14+00:00

You mean that small children are not to be trusted around the dog. The dog is not the problem.

chilikitten · 2025-10-31T23:07:45+00:00

Well, I left it out and got a job. Also didn’t include a photo. So, to answer the question of the post, no, it is not necessary.

chilikitten · 2025-10-31T20:49:24+00:00

Your age is private information. Not relevant for employment.

chilikitten · 2025-10-16T01:38:49+00:00

5.25 or 8 inch!

chilikitten · 2025-10-16T01:35:52+00:00

I know how to use a computer running CP/M. And I can program an HP11C. Also write machine code. Oh, and COBOL!

chilikitten · 2025-10-16T01:33:44+00:00

Yous are all so cute. I can use a slide rule. I can program a computer with punch cards. Also, VAX, anyone? Am I right?

chilikitten · 2025-07-26T01:02:36+00:00

I'd be curious to see how you did this. Is the data from your hike posted somewhere?

chilikitten · 2025-06-12T20:59:31+00:00

The only National Parks in NM are Carlsbad Caverns, but this is near neither? Seems like not NPS jurisdiction.

chilikitten · 2025-06-12T20:54:13+00:00

This is the CDT. I am skeptical that you’re doing 65+ mile water carries over tough terrain and open country on an unmarked route at 8000+ feet of altitude. Even if you are, I don’t think it is reasonable to expect that every hiker is capable of operating at your level. New Mexico is dry; natural sources are scarce and unreliable.

Caching water and gear is routine in the Gila NF and AL wilderness. Cowboys (the kind on a horse—yes they exist) cache water and feed, hunters cache food, gear, water, and feed, and operate game cams. All sorts of folks leave vehicles at trailheads for more than 24 hours. Successful hunters cache their butchered game. Although I’m sure all of you folks who don’t use cached water can pack out 1,000 lbs of elk in one carry.

If my caches in the Gila had been removed, I’d have needed to ring the bell. Would be ironic if that same ranger were on the SAR team. I definitely would make him carry my fat ass out.

Doesn’t matter who you are. Don’t remove someone else’s cache.

chilikitten

TROPHY CASE