This guide covers communication setup between the KanEL KF1 and Solis hybrid inverters in the 5–10 kW range. It applies to:

Before starting the KF1 installation, the Solis system must be fully operational as a standalone hybrid installation:

The KF1 is delivered with a power supply and a 2-metre cable. Several installation options are available:

After powering on, check the KF1 status light:

See the dedicated KF1 internet connection guide for full instructions covering wired, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi bridge, and mobile connections.

Key recommendation: use a wired fibre connection whenever possible. It is the most reliable, cost-effective, and low-maintenance option.

The KF1 must be registered so KanEL can configure it remotely. The device should be connected to the internet before registering.

For Solis systems, both the KanEL data logger and the Solis smart meter (Eastron) are used:

1. Mount the 3 CTs (current transformers) included with the KanEL data logger on the incoming phases

2. Connect a network cable between the data logger and the LAN1 port on the KF1

See the data logger installation guide for detailed instructions.

1. Mount the 3 CTs included with the Solis inverter delivery on the incoming phases

2. Connect a network cable between the smart meter and the METER port on the inverter

Important: the group fuse ("gruppsäkring") to the inverter must be appropriately dimensioned. Consult the Solis manufacturer manual for specifications.

After installing CTs, verify correct installation by checking the power factor on the data logger:

1. Press the M button twice to access the power factor screen

2. Check the values for L1, L2, and L3

Communication between the KF1 and the Battery Management System (BMS) depends on the battery brand.

Two cables are required:

Cable 1: KF1 RS232 → HV box OPERATOR (RJ45 to DB-9)

This cable can be ordered from KanEL directly. Alternatively, build your own:

Parts list:

Instructions:

1. Verify the cable uses T-568B wiring (pin 1 = white/orange, pin 2 = orange)

2. Cut the cable in half

3. Strip off the insulation

4. Remove all wires except orange (pin 2), white/orange (pin 1), and white/green (pin 3)

5. Crimp open barrel pins on each wire

6. Insert pins into the DB-9 connector:

7. Mount the backshell and ensure the cable is securely fastened

The diagram above shows an RJ45 T-568B connector on one end and a male DB-9 connector on the other, with only pins 1 (white/orange), 2 (orange), and 3 (white/green) connected to DB-9 pins 5, 3, and 2 respectively.

Cable 2: Solis inverter BMS → HV box CAN2A (RJ45 to RJ45, cross-wired)

This cable can be ordered from KanEL directly. Alternatively, build your own using a standard CAT6 cable with RJ45 connectors on both ends. The CAN signals use different pin positions on each end:

Important: hold the copper strips towards your face when looking at the RJ45 connector to identify pin positions correctly (pin 1 is leftmost).

The diagram above shows the HV box CAN2A port (left) with pin 1 = CAN H (white/orange) and pin 2 = CAN L (orange), connected to the Solis inverter BMS port (right) with pin 4 = CAN H (blue) and pin 5 = CAN L (white/blue).

One cable is required:

Solis inverter BMS → Leapton HV box COM (RJ45 to RJ45)

The installer should build their own cable. The Leapton COM port uses an 8-pin RJ45 connector with the following pinout:

For inverter-to-BMS communication, use pins 4 (CAN3H) and 5 (CAN3L). Refer to the Leapton EHA05 manufacturer manual for full wiring details.

The diagram above shows the Leapton RJ45 connector pinout with an 8-pin table mapping each pin to its CAN and LINK functions.

Communication between the KF1 and Solis inverters uses Modbus RTU (RS485) via CAT6 network cables. The cable preparation depends on the inverter model.

The Solis RS485 port uses a 6-position green terminal block with the following layout:

Instructions:

1. Strip a standard CAT6 cable on one end

2. Identify the wires using T-568B colour code:

- Pin 4 (blue) = 485B "−"

- Pin 5 (white/blue) = 485A "+"

3. Connect:

- Blue wire → terminal inputs 1 & 2 (− driver and − receiver)

- White/blue wire → terminal inputs 4 & 5 (+ driver and + receiver)

4. Connect the RJ45 end to KF1 port labelled RS485

5. Connect the terminal block end to Solis inverter port labelled RS485

The diagram above shows the 6-position green RS485 terminal block. The blue wire connects to positions 1 and 2 (− driver/receiver), and the white/blue wire connects to positions 4 and 5 (+ driver/receiver).

1. Use the cable supplied by Solis, or build your own:

- Strip a standard CAT6 cable and add an RS485 connector on one end (same wiring as above)

- On the other end, connect an Exceedconn EC04681-2023-BF connector (available from various retailers)

2. Connect the RJ45 end to KF1 port labelled RS485

3. Connect the Exceedconn end to Solis inverter port labelled COM

The KF1 has a built-in modem and SIM card that activates automatically as a backup if the primary internet connection fails. No configuration is needed.

After mounting antennas, wait a few minutes for the device to connect, then check:

If the connection does not work as expected, see the KF1 internet connection guide for troubleshooting.

Once all steps are completed, secure the KF1 in its permanent position:

Important: when assembling the unit, take care not to pinch or clamp any cables.

After completing all steps, confirm: