Add extra priority mode

[heibertelf]

Greetings.
I got a Victor NML 3200VA-M-24V hybrid inverter. The previous one was similar but without hybrid mode.
They both work well with your component, but there is a problem.
The old inverter had 3 items in the priority mode selection: solar, battery and grid.

The new inverter has a fourth mode, hybrid mode.

Your component only has the "traditional" three modes.

[syssi]

Could you provide the command to switch into the mode you are missing?

[heibertelf]

Unfortunately I don't have that information. It is not even described in the inverter manual.
Aren't these settings bitwise, like 0,1,2,3?

[syssi]

Are you able to enable the mode using the on screen display of the inverter? Could we verify the success here if we guess the payload?

[heibertelf]

Yes, in the OSD menu I can select this item (it's in the photo above), along with SUB, SBU, USB and these strange symbols (I don't even understand what they meant to write).
Of course I can check if the command is being sent to the inverter correctly.

[syssi]

I've patched the official component. Please update your YAML to retrieve the patched component and add the new switch entity + give it a try:

#143

[heibertelf]

I apologize for not responding quickly, I was sick with a fever.
Everything is working as it should.
Thank you very much for the quick resolution of the issue.

I could not get to know from the Chinese what this mode is, and it is not described in the manual at all.
But they answered that it is not a hybrid, but a kind of SBU mode, but with a different algorithm: the network is disconnected when there is PV and reconnected when there is no PV. This kind of answer.
(I don't know what it is exactly, they couldn't explain it and it will take me a long time to understand it).
Anyway, this mode works and it is reasonable to use it.

[syssi]

I prepared a pull request for the official pipsolar component of the ESPHome core:

esphome/esphome#7322
esphome/esphome-docs#4175

If it gets merged you could use the official component again some day in future.

[heibertelf]

I apologize for the inconvenience, I just wanted to clarify if you know when this will finally work?
ESPHome still says “[output_source_priority_hybrid] is an invalid option for [switch.pipsolar]”.
With your test code everything worked for a while, but soon stopped.

[heibertelf]

My system is 2024.8.3 now and not yet indicating updates available. Well, hope it will be updated in days. Thanks.

[syssi]

2024.9.0 was released a few hours ago: https://github.com/esphome/esphome/releases/tag/2024.9.0

Let's talk tomorrow another time. ;-)

[heibertelf]

2024.9.0 was released a few hours ago

Yes, i got this update.
But something does not work. I mean, when i trying to turn on this mode, no success

Part of ESPHome log:

[15:09:08][D][pipsolar:840]: Sending polling command : QMOD with length 4
[15:09:08][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:09:08][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:09:08][D][pipsolar:475]: Decode QMOD
[15:09:08][D][text_sensor:064]: '17sol dev_mode': Sending state 'L'
[15:09:09][D][sensor:093]: 'WiFi Signal dB': Sending state -69.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[15:09:09][D][pipsolar:840]: Sending polling command : QFLAG with length 5
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:483]: Decode QFLAG
[15:09:10][D][switch:012]: '17sol out_src_priority_hybrid' Turning ON.
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:860]: got command: POP03
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:851]: Command queued successfully: POP03 with length 5 at position 6
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:811]: Sending command from queue: POP03 with length 5
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:043]: response length for command OK
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:049]: command not successful
[15:09:10][D][pipsolar:840]: Sending polling command : QPIRI with length 5
[15:09:11][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:09:11][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:09:11][D][pipsolar:433]: Decode QPIRI
[15:09:11][D][sensor:093]: '17sol charger_source_priority': Sending state 1.00000 with 1 decimals of accuracy
[15:09:11][D][pipsolar:840]: Sending polling command : QPIGS with length 5
[15:09:12][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:09:12][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:09:12][D][pipsolar:452]: Decode QPIGS
[15:09:12][D][sensor:093]: '17sol grid_volt': Sending state 224.30000 V with 1 decimals of accuracy
[15:09:12][D][sensor:093]: '17sol grid_freq': Sending state 50.00000 Hz with 1 decimals of accuracy

Other priority modes (battery, util, solar) swithing properly:

[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:840]: Sending polling command : QMOD with length 4
[15:19:51][D][switch:012]: '17sol out_src_priority_batt' Turning ON.
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:860]: got command: POP02
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:851]: Command queued successfully: POP02 with length 5 at position 0
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:475]: Decode QMOD
[15:19:51][D][text_sensor:064]: '17sol dev_mode': Sending state 'L'
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:811]: Sending command from queue: POP02 with length 5
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:043]: response length for command OK
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:19:51][D][pipsolar:047]: command successful
[15:19:52][D][pipsolar:840]: Sending polling command : QFLAG with length 5
[15:19:52][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:19:52][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:19:52][D][pipsolar:483]: Decode QFLAG
[15:19:53][D][pipsolar:840]: Sending polling command : QPIRI with length 5
[15:19:54][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:19:54][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:19:54][D][pipsolar:433]: Decode QPIRI
[15:19:54][D][switch:055]: '17sol out_src_priority_solar': Sending state OFF
[15:19:54][D][switch:055]: '17sol out_src_priority_batt': Sending state ON
[15:19:54][D][sensor:093]: '17sol charger_source_priority': Sending state 1.00000 with 1 decimals of accuracy
[15:19:54][D][pipsolar:840]: Sending polling command : QPIGS with length 5
[15:19:55][D][pipsolar:776]: checking crc on incoming message
[15:19:55][D][pipsolar:779]: CRC OK
[15:19:55][D][pipsolar:452]: Decode QPIGS
[15:19:55][D][sensor:093]: '17sol grid_volt': Sending state 227.10001 V with 1 decimals of accuracy

What can be wrong?
It worked fine with your test code. May be they broke something in release? )

[syssi]

Did you change the firmware of your inverter? Could you try this feature branch another time?

#143

external_components:
  - source: github://syssi/esphome-pipsolar@prio-hybrid
    refresh: 0s

I guess the inverter just doesn't like the mode at the moment for unknown reasons but the implementation is fine in general.

[heibertelf]

Did you change the firmware of your inverter?

No firmware updates for cheap chinese inverters available )

Could you try this feature branch another time?
external_components:

• source: github://syssi/esphome-pipsolar@prio-hybrid
  refresh: 0s

Unfortunately, it doesn't work now either.

I guess the inverter just doesn't like the mode at the moment for unknown reasons but the implementation is fine in general.

Yeah, maybe it's because Chinese firmware in general behaves unpredictably sometimes. But still, when you made your version of the code the first time, it worked and the modes switched. Strange that it stopped working, even though nothing changed in the inverter firmware.
Maybe it was working with some combination of other parameters that have changed and are preventing you from switching modes.
Although from the inverter menu everything is switched without any problems.