PVbrainV2

Important

is an open source/openhardware project to monitor/control SIMULTANEOUSLY :

Multiple inverters. ^{(PIPsolar/Voltronic, Deye, Growatt, Sofar, Victron, etc...)}
And multiple BMS. ^{(JKBMS, AntBMS, DalyBMS, SeplosBMS, Pylontech, etc...)}

^{-> In theory any inverter or BMS with ESPhome support can be used with the PVbrain2.}

It also adds the possibility of controlling up to 32 relays allowing for example to control an Automatic Transfer Switch ^(ATS) (Offgrid<=>return to the network).

The PCB uses only crossover components or pluggable components in order to have easy setup/maintenance.

The MCU used is an ESP32S3 running allowing communication over WiFi to ^(HA) natively.
^{-> But}^{can be added easily.}

The main features are :

Note

This PCB uses the excellent ESPhome integrations done by :

(Many BMS and inverter).
(Expansion cards WK2132 and WK2168 ).

The PVbrain 2.0 represents a joint work between of the and .

With the help of several members of the .

For more information on the project, the pcb, the code and their use, please refer to the wiki.

Release PVbrain 2 Youtube Live event:

Video in French.

Software (ESPhome) installation steps:

First of all be sure you have installed on your machine the ESP32 S3 driver from Sillicon Labs.

Classic procedure :

Click here for show the Classic procedure. ⤵️

🔙

1️⃣ ➖ Retrieve the PVbrain 2.0 zip (by right clicking) and save it into a new created folder, eg. /pvbrain2

2️⃣ ➖ Uncompress the zip file into your local folder (/pvbrain2) or into your/config/esphome folder of HASSIO (use samba share to transfer the uncompressed files).

3️⃣ ➖ Open your esphome's secrets.yaml file and check if wifi_ssid, wifi_password and ap_password variables are correctly corresponding with your local WiFi informations.

4️⃣ ➖ Edit the PVbrain2.yaml and comment/uncomment each package according to your own solar setup.

5️⃣ ➖ Compile and upload the code on your ESP32 S3 device.

Dummy procedure (for newbabies) :

Click here for show the Dummy procedure. ⤵️

🔙

1️⃣ ➖ Create/sign in a Github accompt. You can create it faster with OAuth2 via your google account for example.

2️⃣ ➖ Open the following Gitpod link.

The first time you will need also to sign in into gitpod framework for example with your previously created Github account.

3️⃣ ➖ When logged into Gitpod, you will see during the ESPhome installation, some log lines printed in the terminal.

Wait a couples of minutes to let finish the processus.

When done, press the "Open Browser" located at the botton right of the Gitpod page.

It should open a new webpage with the ESPhome Dashboard.

4️⃣ ➖ On the ESPhome Dashboard, click first on "secret" button located at the top right corner.

Replace "xxxxxxxx", "yyyyyyyy" and "zzzzzzzz" with your own WiFi SSID/password and AP informations (AP password will allow to access to your PVbrain2 if your WiFi/LAN is down).

Be aware, WiFi password must be a minimum of 8 caractars.

If not, you will need to change your WiFi password correspondly.

Click on "save" and quit the secret page by clicking on the top left cross.

5️⃣ ➖ Click on "Edit" for the PVbrain2 model.

Comment and/or uncomment each package according to your own solar setup and save the file. (Tip: you can comment/uncomment several lines simultaneously by selecting the lines and press on CTRL + /)

6️⃣ ➖ Plug your ESP32-S3 with a USB data cable first then the on top right corner, choose "Install" then on "Plug into this computer" to compile the firmware. It can be a long processus !!!.

Wait a couple of minutes (it first compile the code at background during 3-4min) then it starts the flashing part.

You should see a progression bar running when flashing.

7️⃣ ➖ You finished the flashing procedure.

If you entered correctly your WiFi informations in the secrets.yaml file, you should see a notification in Home Assistant asking you to accept a new ESPhome device.

Accept it... You finished!!!!

Click here for show the French YouTube video of the Dummy procedure. ⤵️

🔙

Video in French.

Main PCB Layout :

3D View	Copper Area

Click here for show other views and schematic. ⤵️

🔙

Front	Back	Circuit

Schematic 1	Schematic 2

Gerber files and BOM :

Please find all Gerber files required for the PCB in the following folder : Hardware.
Also, find all BOM ^{(Aliexpress and Amzon links)} and some extra information in this ^{(in French)}.

DIY module :

Special clip-on modules were created by for use ^{(or not)} with the PVbrain.

WK 2168 :

Module to extend the number of uarts on an esp32 ^{(4 Uarts per card)} an 8 GPIO, possibility of communicating in I2C or SPI.

3D View	Schematic

Click here for show other views. ⤵️

🔙

Front	Back	Circuit

Before discovering the WK2168 module which allowed the creation of the card above, a DIY version of the DFRobot DFR0627 had been designed.
Its cost is a little lower than its big brother the WK2168, but it only allows 2 additional UARTs.

3D View	Schematic

UART Isolator :

TTL isolator, originally designed for Victron VEdirect.

With the participation of , and of the .

3D View	Schematic

Click here for show other views. ⤵️

🔙

Front	Back	Circuit

Shunt TTL :

Simple Shunt for Direct UART output.

Front	3D View

Additional daughter boards addons:

UART Extension Module :

An optional addon card can be plugged to allowing 4 additional UART outputs.

3D View	Schematic

Click here for show other views. ⤵️

🔙

Front	Back	Circuit

Also, find all BOM ^{(Aliexpress and Amzon links)} and some extra information in this ^{(in French)}.

MULTI-CAN :

An optional addon card can be plugged to allowing 4 additional CAN MODULE SPI.

3D View

Click here for show other views. ⤵️

🔙

Front	Back

Also, find all BOM ^{(Aliexpress and Amzon links)} and some extra information in this ^{(in French)}.

PV Monitor :

Addon card created for PVbrain V1 by and re-designed by in this V2.

The card offers the possibility of securely monitoring the voltage of two DC inputs.

3D View	Schematic

Click here for show other views. ⤵️

🔙

Front	Back	Circuit

Also, find all BOM ^{(Aliexpress and Amzon links)} and some extra information in this ^{(in French)}.

Fil_Pilote :

An additional card was created by to allow control of the heating radiator pilot wire from the I2C port ^{(4 output heating zones, control of 6 orders, possible to pair 2 cards and three-phase operation possible)} and as an option , communication with Linky meters.

Link to the Github Page: .

3D View	Photography

Clamp_Meter :

Another option card created by to monitor the passage of current through the clamps.

1 to 16 Clamp ^{(2 mounting possible for each output : JST-XH for 2-strand clamp or Jack for SCT013)}
1 to 4 pre-addressed ADS1115.
1 TCA9548A ^{(optional - bridging if not used)} to multiplex the I2C ^{(useful in the event of more than 4 ADS or I2C address conflict)} with all its outputs remote for external use.
1 ESP possible at input for non-PVbrain users or other reasons... 6 assembly possible: ^{(offset of all outputs and recovery of i2c via bridging)}.

ESP8266 D1 Mini	ESP32 D1 Mini	ESP32 S2 Mini	ESP32 C3	ESP32 C3 Zero	ESP32 S3 Zero

Link to the Github Page: ^{(Still in development)}

3D View	Circuit

Protoboard :

Just a prototyping board with the same footprint as the other addon boards.

Front

3D print DIN mount :

3D Files to print, created by , for mounting addon cards on DIN rail ^{(electrical panel)}.
A plastic card in the same format as the addon cards which can, for example, allow circuit isolation, is also available.

Front View	Back View

"Carte Option 2" :

The old "Option 2" card made by for the PVbrain V1 is also compatible with the PVbrain V2.

3D View

SeByDocKy / pvbrain2

PVbrainV2

Release PVbrain 2 Youtube Live event:

Software (ESPhome) installation steps:

Main PCB Layout :

Gerber files and BOM :

DIY module :

WK 2168 :

WK 2132 :

UART Isolator :

Shunt TTL :

Additional daughter boards addons:

UART Extension Module :

MULTI-CAN :

PV Monitor :

Fil_Pilote :

Clamp_Meter :

Protoboard :

3D print DIN mount :

"Carte Option 2" :

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