Sol-Ark Integration Guide

Rev 2.1 09-14-21
Fortress Power - Sol-Ark Inverter Guide
505 Keystone Rd, Southampton, PA 18966 . [phone]. [e-mail] . Fortresspower.com
Step 4 – Modify the Battery-to-Inverter Communication Cable
In 2020, Sol-Ark replaced the individual wire ports for RJ485 communication with an ethernet port, making a
custom conversion from our data cable “pin out” to Sol-Ark’s necessary. This conversion can be made in the field
with locally procurable items, but registered Fortress installer-dealers can also purchase pre-made cables at
https://fortresspower.com/shop. It is okay to omit wire #6 on the communication circuit – it is a ground wire that
does not serve a real function.
eFlex Instructions:
eFlex RJ45 pins 6+7+8 correspond to SolArk pins
6+7+8. All that is necessary is to physically cut
into the ethernet cable and snip out wires 1-5,
and then tape the ethernet jacket back up.
While seemingly crude, this is the most reliable
method to secure eFlex to Sol-Ark data
communication.
Most ethernet cables are type B format, but it is
worth checking if it is type A format. The color
of wire 6 will either be green (type B format) or
orange (type A format).
Wire 6 is an unnecessary ground wire, so just
preserve wires 7+8 if you are unsure as to which
cable format you have. Wires 7+8 will always be
brown-white and brown, regardless of cable
format.
eVault Max + eVault Classic Instructions:
The eVault and eVault MAX pins 3+5+6
correspond to SolArk pins 7+8+6. Because of
this, it is necessary to crimp a custom RJ485
cable or cross-over the cable using an ethernet
keystone. The eVault MAX includes a keystone –
otherwise they may be purchased at a local
hardware store in the computer aisle.
If crimping a custom cable, consider crimp all 8
wires and then snip out wires 1-5, similar to the
eFlex procedure. Leaving empty wire slots in a
RJ45 connector can cause the remaining wires
to jump out of their position, resulting in an
incomplete crimp.
If using a keystone, take special care that
communication wire coming from the Fortress
battery lands on the keystone, with an
unmodified ethernet cable plugging in between
the Fortress and the SolArk. It is very easy to
make a mistake and wire the RJ485 cable or
keystone in “reverse”.