Cloud-connected inverters - should we be concerned?

[Crossy]

Google "CHINA kills all non Sol-Ark branded DEYE unit in the USA" for the background story.

 

It would appear that someone, likely the manufacturer, is disabling certain solar inverters.

 

The actual reasoning isn't totally clear but it does open up the eyes to just how much of our technology (not just inverters) is open to attack.

 

 

Remember those Russian EV chargers that went offline when the tanks rolled?

 

https://electrek.co/2022/02/28/hacked-electric-car-charging-stations-russia-displays-putin-dckhead-glory-to-ukraine/

 

 

Whilst my Deye inverters are 100% legal here in Thailand I'm definitely considering moving to local monitoring (such as Solar Assistant) just in case the SHTF and China decides that turning off solar is advantageous to their plans for world domination!

 

Could be a few hundred bucks well spent.

 

Now, about that BYD Sealion EV ...

 

Thoughts??

 

[degrub]

The world of IOT….what could possibly go wrong 😂

just remember, in the customer agreement papers, you bought a license to use the device and use their IP, software, etc. Brick-able at the whim of the manufacturer 🙀  or international politics, apparently.

[JBChiangRai]

I think we are safe in Thailand, they are unlikely to declare war on China & can fairly much be guaranteed to take the moral low-ground in any war

[Bandersnatch]

4 hours ago, Crossy said:

 I'm definitely considering moving to local monitoring (such as Solar Assistant

 

Definitely going the solar assistant route to integrate into my Home Assistant Dashboard. My Growatt app logs me out multiple times a day which is a real pain. 

 

I plan to buy the raspberry pi locally and simply download the software from the site. Will document my experience 

[Crossy]

Being an instant-gratification chap I've ordered a pre-configured Orange-pi from Solar Assistant.

[Bandersnatch]

3 hours ago, Crossy said:

Being an instant-gratification chap I've ordered a pre-configured Orange-pi from Solar Assistant.

 

Do let us know how you get on with it

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, degrub said:

The world of IOT….what could possibly go wrong 😂

just remember, in the customer agreement papers, you bought a license to use the device and use their IP, software, etc. Brick-able at the whim of the manufacturer 🙀  or international politics, apparently.

Only brickable if you leave the data dongle connected!

[Crossy]

Just now, BritManToo said:

Only brickable if you leave the data dongle connected!

 

Indeed, pulling your dongle can lead to satisfaction

[scottiejohn]

9 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Indeed, pulling your dongle can lead to satisfaction

Getting someone else, I am told, gives even greater satisfaction! 😆

[Crossy]

Deye seems to have taken a scatter-gun approach. Screenshot from a major solar forum.

 

[Pink7]

I have follow this topic some time on another forum. I seems to be related to regional exclusive sales rights for united States and some other places where some had ordered from others than the company who have have the exclusive rights to sell those inverters.

 

The fact that they have the possibility to harm customers in this way also open for other possible scenarios like some unhappy staff or some hacker or any who just want to harm the company and its users.

 

Pink

[Pink7]

11 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

Definitely going the solar assistant route to integrate into my Home Assistant Dashboard. My Growatt app logs me out multiple times a day which is a real pain. 

 

I plan to buy the raspberry pi locally and simply download the software from the site. Will document my experience 

Great..Im looking into same so i will check your updates on this.  The re login several times per day to Growatt is quite annoying. So the Rasberry Pi and Solar Assistant will collect data from the inverters and then data can be loaded via IP on a pc?

 

Pink

[Crossy]

20 minutes ago, Pink7 said:

So the Rasberry Pi and Solar Assistant will collect data from the inverters and then data can be loaded via IP on a pc?

 

Pretty much, yes. Have a look at the Solar Assistant website for full details.

[Pink7]

Just now, Crossy said:

 

Pretty much, yes. Have a look at the Solar Assistant website for full details.

yes im on it.  Any view on if it smartest to place the unit near my pc and screen and internet router ( means long usb cables to inverters) Or near inverters and long cables to screen and net) I guess 20m USB to long..

 

Where Solar Assistant shipping from?

 

Pink

[Crossy]

Definitely put the pi near your inverters, then WiFi or ethernet. Long USB cables can be problematic.

 

Pretty sure hardware will ship from the US, or get a pi locally and download the software.

[Crossy]

For those who don't know, Will Prowse runs one of the most popular DIY solar forums in the known universe, he also produces a lot of excellent solar oriented YouTube content.

 

 

This incident has spooked a lot of users, even those not using Deye inverters. I expect Solar Assistant are laughing all the way to the bank. SA runs quite happily when completely isolated from the internet.

[GammaGlobulin]

On 11/21/2024 at 11:42 AM, Crossy said:

Being an instant-gratification chap I've ordered a pre-configured Orange-pi from Solar Assistant.

 

Raspberry is the flavor you outta try....

 

[CapraIbex]

On 11/21/2024 at 6:58 AM, Crossy said:

The actual reasoning isn't totally clear

According to ChatGPT:
The situation involving Deye inverters being allegedly disabled in the U.S., except for those branded as Sol-Ark, has raised significant concerns. The claims suggest that Deye, a Chinese manufacturer, may have remotely bricked non-Sol-Ark-branded inverters sold in the U.S. through unauthorized channels or gray markets. This follows an exclusivity agreement between Deye and Sol-Ark for the U.S. market.

 

Here are some key aspects:

Gray Market Implications: Some users purchased Deye inverters through unofficial channels before the exclusivity agreement, which allowed Deye inverters to be sold directly in the U.S. Reports indicate that these devices are now being disabled remotely, potentially to enforce the exclusivity deal
   
Consumer Rights Concerns: Critics argue that disabling hardware purchased by end-users—regardless of how it was procured—raises significant ethical and legal issues. The devices are owned by the customers, and such actions are perceived as undermining consumer rights and fair competition
    
Exclusivity and Market Control: The action may stem from a desire to curb unauthorized imports and maintain brand integrity, but it highlights the risks associated with relying on hardware or software tied to exclusive agreements or remote control capabilities
    

For those considering Deye or similar products, these developments emphasize the importance of buying from authorized channels to avoid such risks. This situation also underscores broader concerns about how manufacturers can exert control over hardware post-sale, particularly in the solar and renewable energy markets.