Add a second TAP

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Robin Bew

My installation has two strings, with every panel fitted with a TS4-AO. There is a single TAP. Discovery worked, although it was very slow on one string (several days). However, once discovery completed, all panels were communicating fine. But since my scaffolding has been removed, all communication for one string has stopped - the panels are grey (with the yellow tag to show they’ve been discovered). Presumably the scaffolding was blocking some interference which is now overwhelming the communications.

 

I have two questions:

1) will the TS4 keep broadcasting indefinitely if the panels have power, even if they can’t communicate with the TAP? Or at some point do they go into a sleep mode? If so, how can they be reactivated?

2) if I install a second TAP, will the CCA just detect it and use it, or does discovery need to be re-run? And if discovery needs to be re-run, does Tigo support have to do that? I don’t think I can run discovery twice. 

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9 comments

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  • Avatar
    Curtis Community Moderator Tigo Employee
    • Edited

    Hello Robin Bew,

    Thank you for your contribution to the Tigo Community.

    I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing difficulties with system communication. I will answer your questions (first) and then provide a pathway to resolution: 

    • Will the TS4 keep broadcasting indefinitely if the panels have power, even if they can’t communicate with the TAP? 
      Yes, they will continue to search for a TAP

    • Or at some point do they go into a sleep mode?
      TS4-O will remain awake (if there is a sun in the sky), but they will be in RSD (rapid shut down) if they do not hear the TAP signal.

    • If so, how can they be reactivated?
      To disarm RSD, you would need to regain signal.

    • If I install a second TAP, will the CCA just detect it and use it, or does discovery need to be re-run?
      Discovery would need to be re-run, but a Support Agent may be able to assist with this, remotely.

    • And if discovery needs to be re-run, does Tigo support have to do that? I don’t think I can run discovery twice.
      Yes. Our Support Team would love to assist you. 

    It sounds like the system may be experiencing an issue that can be easily resolved by our Customer Support Team. I have opened a ticket for your inquiry and they will be in contact, soon. In the meantime, we greatly appreciate your patience. 

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    Simon Gooding

    Hi Robin I basically have the same problem as you have had, Did the issue get resolved as would be greatfull for some advice, thanks Simon

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  • Avatar
    Curtis Community Moderator Tigo Employee

    Hello Simon, 

    Thank you for your comment!

    Every system offers unique scenarios. The issue for one system may be very different for another. That is why it's good that you have reached out to Customer Support. They will review the system and find out if there is a cause for this issue. 

    In the meantime, we greatly appreciate your patience. 

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  • Avatar
    Robin Bew

    Hi Simon. Yes, we fixed this. It did need a second tap. To make that a bit easier to install, we put the new tap on the lowest point of the solar array so we could manage with a ladder instead of scaffold. We then reworked the tap wiring, to mean we could get it all working without having to get up to the original tap. To do that we ran the wires like this:

    - disconnect the original tap from the CAA but leave the wire in place
    - connect a new wire to the CAA and run it to the new tap, and connect it to the main tap terminal
    - remove the resistor from the new tap, and run a wire from that tap’s “outbound” terminal back to the CAA
    - joint that wire to the one that goes up to the original tap (that you disconnected in step 1) using a standard connection block

    In doing this you make the new tap #1 in the chain, and the original tap becomes #2. But it means you don’t need access to the original tap, so you’ve got a good chance of doing it all with a ladder.

    You can run a discovery in the Tigo app if you connect your phone to the CAA via Bluetooth, and it will show you if it can see the new tap (by saying it can see 2 of 2 taps, instead of 1 of 1). So you’ll know the wiring works. But it won’t actually pick up any solar panels. For that, you need Tigo support to trigger a new discovery from there. If you request that on their support forum they can trigger it remotely. They are very responsive - it was done within an hour.

    Since then, I’ve had no problems at all.

    Hope this helps.

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    Simon Gooding

    Hi Robin thankyou for the reply and advice, I did think this may be the case and a good idea to do it like that to avoid going on the roof and lifting panels. Tigo have responded also and are looking in to it too so will also wait and see what they say. Didn’t think I would need a 2nd tap though as all the panels are so close to each other and my roof angle is really low so didn’t think this would effect the signal, something definitely wrong if such small things block signals on such a short distance.

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  • Avatar
    Robin Bew

    I have the half the panels on one roof, and the others on a 6ft lower elevation directly below. The original tap is on the higher elevation but at the lower edge, so just 6ft away from the lower set of panels. But the lower set would never connect. Apparently the tap only has any range from its “sides” but not from its top and bottom. So any vertical separation in the panels becomes a problem very quickly. I don’t know if that is relevant for your setup.

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  • Avatar
    Simon Gooding

    Mine is quite similar, on the 2nd roof I have two nearest the tap that stay grey a middle one that is green, one below that sometimes dark green and two the other side of them grey so what your saying makes sense about where the signal picks up from. Can send people to the moon but can’t get a signal to travel 6 meters ☹️

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  • Avatar
    Curtis Community Moderator Tigo Employee

    Hello Simon Gooding, 

    Thank you for your replies. 

    You are correct that the signal appears to be lighter-duty than what is possible with standard radio transmissions. This shortened effect is actually a feature of the product.

    There are many sources of radio interference in a complex neighborhood of personal electronic devices and other solar products. Tigo seeks to provide the highest quality point-to-point communication without bleeding over or receiving signals from other devices. So, the transceiver's strength is purposely reduced to a 10 m / 33 ft (line-of-sight) distance to provide concise control over the system's communications.


    To learn more:

     

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  • Avatar
    Simon Gooding

    Hi Curtis

    Thanks for your input, I can see the good in that and it makes perfect sense, then on the other hand we then have issues with communication anyway. 

    Like most things, there is good and bad either way :(

    Today for the 1st time they were all online and giving me data updates.... Wahoo. but mustn't get too excited as may not be the case tomorrow, im like a addict and keep checking. 

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