44 drivers emit numbers they never read (null, never 0)

[davmoz]

Problem

44 of the 91 catalog drivers still fill a field with a number after their device stops answering. In total that is 592 fields. A read that failed or came back short becomes a reading of 0 W, 0 A, 0 % SoC or 50 Hz, and nothing downstream can tell it from a real one:

• A meter at 0 W looks like a site in balance.
• A battery at 0 % looks empty and ready to charge.

sigenergy 1.1.3 is the worked example, for the battery it reported on a plant with no storage.

The rule is null, never 0. A value whose read failed or came back short is nil, so the host sends null. A real 0 that was read is still 0.

How it is measured

drivers/tests/lua_harness/no_invented_numbers.lua (#168) runs a driver twice, with different register values, numeric config and clock. It then makes every read fail for three polls, and makes every Modbus reply half its length for three more. A number still emitted that is equal in both runs and was not read is invented. The data model's default SoC window (0.05 / 1.0) is the one constant allowed. Sourceful's driver registry runs the same file on every publish and refuses a driver that fails it.

drivers/tests/test_no_invented_numbers.py holds this debt in invented-number-baseline.json. New drivers must be clean, and a count can only go down.

What each driver needs

The usual cause is a default set before the read, or a fallback after it:

local l1_v = 0                                -- before the read
if regs then l1_v = decode(regs[1]) * 0.1 end

local w = host.decode_i32_be(r[1], r[2]) or 0 -- after it

The fix:

1. Start every measurement as nil, and set it only from a register or response that answered in full.
2. Drop or 0 (and or 50, or 230) defaults on decoded values.
3. Emit a field only when it has a value. Emit a DER only when at least one of its fields does, as sigenergy 1.1.3 and ambibox do.
4. Per driver: make invented-number-report ID=<id> lists the fields. When it is clean, remove the driver from invented-number-baseline.json and bump its version with make bump-driver.

Notes

• ctek, ctek_hybrid and ctek_v2 emit ev.phases = 3 from config while the charger is down. This is a configured installation fact, not a measurement. Leave it out of the emit when nothing was read, or emit it only alongside real readings.
• hello is a demo driver that emits fixed values. Either remove it from the catalog or keep it in the baseline as an example.
• zaptec_cloud is not measured: its driver_init needs credentials, which the probe does not supply.

Drivers and fields (main 224c438)

Driver	Fields	Invented fields
abb_meter	13	meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh
abb_terra	8	v2x_charger.l1_a, v2x_charger.l1_v, v2x_charger.l2_a, v2x_charger.l2_v, v2x_charger.l3_a, v2x_charger.l3_v, v2x_charger.session_charge_wh, v2x_charger.w
acrel	13	meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh
acuvim	8	meter.L1_A, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh
alfen	8	v2x_charger.l1_a, v2x_charger.l1_v, v2x_charger.l2_a, v2x_charger.l2_v, v2x_charger.l3_a, v2x_charger.l3_v, v2x_charger.session_charge_wh, v2x_charger.w
alphaess	10	battery.SoC_nom_fract, battery.V, battery.W, meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.W, pv.W, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v
atmoce	13	battery.SoC_nom_fract, battery.W, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh, pv.W, pv.total_generation_Wh
carlo_gavazzi	13	meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh
chint	13	meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh
circutor	13	meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh
ctek	9	ev.l1_a, ev.l1_v, ev.l2_a, ev.l2_v, ev.l3_a, ev.l3_v, ev.lifetime_wh, ev.phases, ev.w
ctek_hybrid	9	ev.l1_a, ev.l1_v, ev.l2_a, ev.l2_v, ev.l3_a, ev.l3_v, ev.lifetime_wh, ev.phases, ev.w
ctek_v2	9	ev.l1_a, ev.l1_v, ev.l2_a, ev.l2_v, ev.l3_a, ev.l3_v, ev.lifetime_wh, ev.phases, ev.w
deye	28	battery.a, battery.charge_wh, battery.discharge_wh, battery.soc, battery.temp_c, battery.v, battery.w, meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.rated_w, pv.temp_c, pv.w
easee	4	v2x_charger.l1_a, v2x_charger.l2_a, v2x_charger.session_charge_wh, v2x_charger.w
etrel	8	v2x_charger.l1_a, v2x_charger.l1_v, v2x_charger.l2_a, v2x_charger.l2_v, v2x_charger.l3_a, v2x_charger.l3_v, v2x_charger.session_charge_wh, v2x_charger.w
ferroamp_modbus	18	battery.charge_wh, battery.discharge_wh, battery.w, meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.w
fronius	11	battery.soc, battery.v, battery.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.rated_w, pv.temp_c, pv.w
goe	8	v2x_charger.l1_a, v2x_charger.l1_v, v2x_charger.l2_a, v2x_charger.l2_v, v2x_charger.l3_a, v2x_charger.l3_v, v2x_charger.session_charge_wh, v2x_charger.w
goodwe	24	battery.a, battery.soc, battery.temp_c, battery.v, battery.w, meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.w
growatt	20	battery.soc, battery.temp_c, battery.v, battery.w, meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.w
hello	3	meter.Hz, meter.L1_V, meter.W
janitza	13	meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh
keba	8	v2x_charger.l1_a, v2x_charger.l1_v, v2x_charger.l2_a, v2x_charger.l2_v, v2x_charger.l3_a, v2x_charger.l3_v, v2x_charger.session_charge_wh, v2x_charger.w
kostal	22	battery.soc, battery.w, meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.temp_c, pv.w
kstar	9	battery.SoC_nom_fract, battery.W, meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.W, pv.W, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v
mennekes	8	v2x_charger.l1_a, v2x_charger.l1_v, v2x_charger.l2_a, v2x_charger.l2_v, v2x_charger.l3_a, v2x_charger.l3_v, v2x_charger.session_charge_wh, v2x_charger.w
schneider_meter	13	meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh
schrack_ev	8	v2x_charger.l1_a, v2x_charger.l1_v, v2x_charger.l2_a, v2x_charger.l2_v, v2x_charger.l3_a, v2x_charger.l3_v, v2x_charger.session_charge_wh, v2x_charger.w
siemens_pac	13	meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh
sigenergy	5	meter.L1_W, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_W, meter.W, pv.W
sma	28	battery.a, battery.charge_wh, battery.discharge_wh, battery.soc, battery.temp_c, battery.v, battery.w, meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.rated_w, pv.temp_c, pv.w
sma_pv	21	meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.rated_w, pv.temp_c, pv.w
socomec	13	meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh
sofar	21	battery.a, battery.soc, battery.temp_c, battery.v, battery.w, meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.w
solaredge	20	meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.temp_c, pv.w
solax	15	battery.A, battery.SoC_nom_fract, battery.V, battery.W, battery.temperature_C, meter.Hz, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh, pv.W, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.total_generation_Wh
solinteg	27	battery.A, battery.SoC_nom_fract, battery.V, battery.W, battery.temperature_C, battery.total_charge_Wh, battery.total_discharge_Wh, meter.Hz, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.L1_W, meter.L2_A, meter.L2_V, meter.L2_W, meter.L3_A, meter.L3_V, meter.L3_W, meter.W, meter.total_export_Wh, meter.total_import_Wh, pv.W, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.temperature_C, pv.total_generation_Wh
solis	27	battery.a, battery.charge_wh, battery.discharge_wh, battery.soc, battery.temp_c, battery.v, battery.w, meter.export_wh, meter.hz, meter.import_wh, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.temp_c, pv.w
solis_string	21	pv.dc_w, pv.hz, pv.l1_a, pv.l1_v, pv.l2_a, pv.l2_v, pv.l3_a, pv.l3_v, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mode, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.mppt3_a, pv.mppt3_v, pv.mppt4_a, pv.mppt4_v, pv.status, pv.temp_c, pv.w
sungrow	20	meter.hz, meter.l1_a, meter.l1_v, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_a, meter.l2_v, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_a, meter.l3_v, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.lifetime_wh, pv.mppt1_a, pv.mppt1_v, pv.mppt1_w, pv.mppt2_a, pv.mppt2_v, pv.mppt2_w, pv.temp_c, pv.w
varta	5	battery.SoC_nom_fract, battery.W, meter.L1_A, meter.L1_V, meter.W
victron	10	battery.a, battery.soc, battery.temp_c, battery.v, battery.w, meter.l1_w, meter.l2_w, meter.l3_w, meter.w, pv.w
wallbox	2	v2x_charger.session_charge_wh, v2x_charger.w

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[davmoz]

Related: #171 moves the catalog to data model v2 keys, and #170 moves zap.lua to the Zap's v2 local API. FTW's NovaCore side is srcfl/ftw#1527.