Accessing the PVS6 API: Updated!

Important Update: Information about newer firmware requiring authentication, and a new local monitoring API from SunStrong. See the section immediately after the introduction in the documentation.

Most notably, SunStrong, who now supports the PVS5 and PVS6 (in a way), has created something called the “var server,” which allows retrieving all kinds of values from a new key/value store built into the PVS5 and PVS6.

On top of that, they built a new API for interacting with that “var server.” Unlike the API I originally documented (which is still supported), this new API is available on the network interface on your main network, whereas the original was only available on one of the internal Ethernet ports. What this means, if you can use the new API, you will no longer needs a Raspberry Pi and you can imagine the image above without all of that stuff in it.

With the introduction of this new facility in the second half of 2025, one change broke backwards compatibility: the older API now requires authentication, in a manner identical to the new API. Most existing software, in particular Homeassistant Integrations, have made the necessary changes, but if you use something else, you should be aware that you need to make a change.

If you switch to using the new API, you no longer need a Raspberry Pi installed in the PVS5 or PVS6’s internal Ethernet port, or you can remove the Ethernet connection you installed instead.