Common Issues

Common Issues

This page covers the most frequently encountered issues and their solutions.

Installation Issues

Integration Not Found After Installation

Symptoms:

• Can't find "Monitor My Solar" when adding integration
• Integration missing from list

Solutions:

1. Restart Home Assistant - Required after HACS installation
2. Clear browser cache - Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R
3. Check installation location:

   /config/custom_components/monitormysolar/
   ├── __init__.py
   ├── manifest.json
   └── (other files)
   

4. Check logs for import errors:

   Logger: homeassistant.loader
   Error importing custom_components.monitormysolar
   

HACS Download Fails

Symptoms:

• Download button doesn't work
• Error during download

Solutions:

1. Update HACS to latest version
2. Check GitHub API rate limits
3. Try manual installation method
4. Verify internet connectivity

Configuration Issues

No Entities Created

Symptoms:

• Integration added successfully but no entities appear
• Devices show 0 entities

Solutions:

1. Check firmware code response:

   • Enable debug logging
   • Look for: Firmware code received for dongle-XX: XXXX
   • If missing, dongle not responding

2. Verify dongle ID format:

   • Must be lowercase: dongle-12:34:56:78:90:ab
   • Not Dongle-12:34:56:78:90:AB ❌

3. Check MQTT connection:

   • Dongle web interface should show "Connected"
   • Verify MQTT broker is running
   • Check username/password

4. Wait for timeout:

   • Integration waits 20 seconds for firmware code
   • Check logs after this period

Entities Show "Unavailable"

Symptoms:

• All entities exist but show "Unavailable"
• No data updates

Solutions:

1. Verify MQTT messages:

   • Install MQTT Explorer
   • Connect to broker
   • Look for topics: dongle-XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX/#

2. Check network connectivity:

   • Ping dongle IP
   • Access dongle web interface
   • Verify no firewall blocking

3. Restart sequence:

   • Restart dongle (power cycle)
   • Restart MQTT broker
   • Reload integration

Wrong Firmware Code / Missing Entities

Symptoms:

• Some expected entities missing
• Wrong inverter features shown

Solutions:

1. Update dongle firmware:

   • Minimum version 3.0.0 required
   • Check for updates in dongle web interface

2. Verify inverter model:

   • Check physical inverter model
   • Compare with firmware code received
   • Contact support if mismatch

Upgrade Issues

AttributeError: 'current_ui_versions'

Symptoms after upgrading to v3.0.0:

AttributeError: 'MonitorMySolar' object has no attribute 'current_ui_versions'

Solutions:

1. Restart Home Assistant completely (not just reload)
2. If persists:
   • Remove integration
   • Restart Home Assistant
   • Re-add integration with same settings

Duplicate Devices After Upgrade

Symptoms:

• New devices created instead of updating existing
• Old entities become unavailable

Solutions:

1. Remove old devices:

   • Settings → Devices & Services → Devices
   • Delete devices with "unavailable" entities
   • Keep new devices with working entities

2. Update dashboards and automations to use new entity IDs

MQTT Issues

Dongle Won't Connect to MQTT

Symptoms:

• Dongle shows "Disconnected" or "Connecting"
• No MQTT messages received

Solutions:

1. Check MQTT URL format:

   • Correct: mqtt://192.168.1.100:1883
   • Wrong: 192.168.1.100:1883 ❌
   • Wrong: http://192.168.1.100:1883 ❌

2. Verify credentials:

   • Username and password are case-sensitive
   • No special characters that need escaping
   • Test with MQTT Explorer first

3. Check MQTT broker settings:

   • Allow anonymous: false
   • Listener on port 1883
   • No IP restrictions

4. Network issues:

   • Dongle and HA on same network
   • No VLAN isolation
   • Router not blocking traffic

MQTT Messages But No Updates

Symptoms:

• MQTT Explorer shows messages
• Entities still unavailable

Solutions:

1. Check topic format:

   • Should be: dongle-XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX/topic
   • Lowercase dongle ID required

2. Verify message format:

   • Should be valid JSON
   • Check for corruption

3. Integration subscription:

   • Reload integration
   • Check logs for subscription errors

Multi-Inverter Issues

Second Dongle Not Responding

Symptoms:

• First dongle works, additional dongles don't
• Timeout adding new dongle

Solutions:

1. Check unique dongle IDs:

   • Each dongle must have unique ID
   • No duplicate IDs allowed

2. Test individually:

   • Remove multi-inverter setup
   • Test each dongle separately
   • Then recombine

3. MQTT conflicts:

   • Ensure different client IDs
   • Check for topic collisions

Sync Settings Not Working

Symptoms:

• Settings don't propagate between inverters
• Sync status shows errors

Solutions:

1. Enable sync switch: switch.combined_sync_settings
2. Check firmware versions - All must match
3. Verify all inverters online
4. Manual sync: Use combined entities to force update

Performance Issues

Database Growing Too Fast

Symptoms:

• Database size increasing rapidly
• System slowdowns

Solutions:

1. Adjust update interval:

   • Configure → Update Settings
   • Choose longer interval (5 min, 10 min)

2. Exclude from recorder:

   recorder:
     exclude:
       entities:
         - sensor.dongle_*_ezpv_today
         - sensor.dongle_*_ezpv2_today

3. Use filters:

   recorder:
     include:
       entities:
         - sensor.dongle_*_ppv
         - sensor.dongle_*_soc

UI Updates Lag

Symptoms:

• Dashboard updates slowly
• Delays in state changes

Solutions:

1. Reduce dashboard complexity:

   • Use fewer real-time cards
   • Implement update intervals

2. Check network latency:

   • Ping dongle
   • Monitor MQTT broker load

GridBoss Issues

GridBoss Entities Not Appearing

Symptoms:

• GridBoss enabled but no entities
• Only standard entities visible

Solutions:

1. Verify firmware code: Must be IAAB
2. Enable in configuration:
   • Configure → Update Settings
   • Check "GridBoss Connected"
3. Restart Home Assistant after enabling
4. Check MQTT topics: Should see gridboss_* topics

Load Control Not Working

Symptoms:

• Load switches don't control loads
• No power readings from loads

Solutions:

1. Check physical wiring:

   • Loads connected to GridBoss outputs
   • Proper CT placement

2. Verify load enabled:

   • Both software switch and physical connection

3. Check power limits:

   • May be set to 0
   • Increase limit values

Conditional Entity Issues

GridBoss Entities Grayed Out/Unavailable

Symptoms:

• SmartLoad or AC Coupling entities appear grayed out
• Cannot configure port-specific settings
• Entities show as "Unavailable" in Home Assistant

Solutions:

1. Check port mode configuration:

   • Verify select.dongle_XX_SmartLoadX_PortMode is set to "Smart Load" or "Ac Coupled"
   • Critical: Port mode must be set BEFORE configuring port-specific settings

2. Follow proper configuration sequence:

   • Step 1: Set port mode (SmartLoadX_PortMode)
   • Step 2: Configure port-specific settings (switches, numbers, time schedules)

3. Verify SmartLoad mode (if using SmartLoad):

   • Check select.dongle_XX_SmartLoadX_SOC_Volt is set to "Time" or "SOC/Volt"
   • SOC/Volt settings only available when mode is "SOC/Volt"
   • Time settings only available when mode is "Time"

SmartLoad Settings Not Available

Symptoms:

• SmartLoad SOC/Voltage settings grayed out
• Time schedule settings unavailable
• Cannot set SmartLoad thresholds

Solutions:

1. Verify port is configured as SmartLoad:

   • select.dongle_XX_SmartLoadX_PortMode = "Smart Load"
   • If set to "Ac Coupled", SmartLoad settings will be unavailable

2. Check SmartLoad mode setting:

   • For SOC/Voltage settings: select.dongle_XX_SmartLoadX_SOC_Volt = "SOC/Volt"
   • For Time settings: select.dongle_XX_SmartLoadX_SOC_Volt = "Time"

3. Enable SmartLoad first:

   • switch.dongle_XX_SmartLoadX_Enable = "on"
   • Some settings may be unavailable when SmartLoad is disabled

AC Coupling Settings Not Available

Symptoms:

• AC Coupling switches grayed out
• AC Coupling SOC/Voltage settings unavailable
• Cannot configure AC Coupling parameters

Solutions:

1. Verify port is configured as AC Coupling:

   • select.dongle_XX_SmartLoadX_PortMode = "Ac Coupled"
   • If set to "Smart Load", AC Coupling settings will be unavailable

2. Check AC Coupling enable switch:

   • switch.dongle_XX_ACcoupleX_Enable = "on"
   • Some settings may be unavailable when AC Coupling is disabled

Standard Unit Charge/Discharge Settings Unavailable

Symptoms:

• Charge voltage settings grayed out
• Discharge SOC settings unavailable
• Time-based charge settings not accessible

Solutions:

1. Check charge control setting:

   • For voltage settings: select.dongle_XX_ubBatChgcontrol = "Voltage"
   • For SOC settings: select.dongle_XX_ubBatChgcontrol = "SOC"

2. Verify charge type setting:

   • For SOC/Volt settings: select.dongle_XX_ACChargeType = "SOC/Volt According To" or "Time and SOC/Volt According To"
   • For time settings: select.dongle_XX_ACChargeType = "Time According To"

3. Check discharge control setting:

   • For voltage settings: select.dongle_XX_ubBatDischgControl = "Voltage"
   • For SOC settings: select.dongle_XX_ubBatDischgControl = "SOC"

Port Mode Conflicts

Symptoms:

• Cannot use both SmartLoad and AC Coupling on same port
• Settings become unavailable when changing port mode
• Confusion about which settings are available

Solutions:

1. Understand port exclusivity:

   • Each port can only be "Smart Load" OR "Ac Coupled", not both
   • Changing port mode will make other mode's settings unavailable

2. Plan port configuration:

   • Decide which ports will be SmartLoads vs AC Coupling before configuration
   • Document your port assignments

3. Change port mode first:

   • Set select.dongle_XX_SmartLoadX_PortMode to desired mode
   • Then configure the appropriate settings for that mode

Entity Availability Not Updating

Symptoms:

• Changed port mode but entities still grayed out
• Settings remain unavailable after configuration changes
• Conditional logic not working properly

Solutions:

1. Wait for entity updates:

   • Entity availability updates are triggered asynchronously
   • May take a few seconds to reflect changes

2. Reload integration:

   • Settings → Devices & Services → Monitor My Solar → Reload
   • This forces a refresh of entity availability

3. Check MQTT message processing:

   • Verify MQTT messages are being received
   • Look for conditional logic updates in debug logs

4. Restart Home Assistant:

   • If conditional logic seems stuck, restart HA completely
   • This resets all entity availability states

General Troubleshooting Steps

1. Enable Debug Logging

Add to configuration.yaml:

logger:
  default: info
  logs:
    custom_components.monitormysolar: debug

2. Check Integration Status

1. Settings → Devices & Services
2. Find Monitor My Solar
3. Click "Configure" → "Check Status"
4. Review connection status and errors

3. Collect Diagnostic Info

When reporting issues, include:

• Home Assistant version
• Integration version
• Dongle firmware version
• Debug logs
• MQTT Explorer screenshots
• Error messages

4. Test Connectivity

# Test dongle reachability
ping dongle-ip-address

# Test MQTT broker
mosquitto_sub -h broker-ip -u username -P password -t "#" -v

Getting Further Help

If issues persist:

1. Search existing issues
2. Create new issue with:
   • Clear problem description
   • Steps to reproduce
   • Diagnostic information
   • What you've already tried
3. Join Home Assistant Community
4. Contact Monitor My Solar support