Hi Everyone, I have a 4kw PV system fitted to my house with a SMA Inverter and have added a Victron Multiplus 24/5000/120 (Retrofitted)
It is connected to 6 x 12v Northstar Blue 210 batteries (In Series)
The system initially worked perfectly! Until I had to change out some batteries that were not holding their charge.
Since then (Which was about 12 months ago!!! - Shame on me for not noticing sooner!) the system does not appear to be using the batteries at all? They are showing a 100% Charged on the Color Control (See Image) and if I switch a "load" on in the house, the Multi tries to go into Inverter (Mode) but then the low battery light flashes on and off and the inverter light goes out (Effectively stops discharging the batteries)
I do not have an installer locally (I am based in Northamptonshire and the nearest Victron Specialist seems to be Bath!) so have been frantically Googling try to find out what the correct settings for the ESS should be (I have changed some - Via a USB MK2 link and using VE Config, I do not have a MK3 and therefore cannot use Victron Connect) to try to get it working, but to no avail)
I removed 2 of the batteries as I suspect they are faulty, however, I think the remaining bank should be OK (I think I set the parameters correctly in ESS, but see settings below)
I would appreciate an Idiots guide to exactly what my settings should be if anyone could help.
I am not that technical (Hence idiots guide!) but am not a complete techno phobe either.
Here are my settings as exported from ESS........
TAB: General
System frequency 50Hz
Shore current 50.0 A
Overruled by remote checked
Dynamic current limiter unchecked
State of charge when Bulk finished 85.0 %
Battery capacity 200 Ah
Charge efficiency 0.80
TAB: Grid
Country / grid code standard UK: G83/2 August 2012, G59/3-1 August 2014
AC input 1 Above selected gridcode plus LOM A (compliant)
TAB: Inverter
PowerAssist unchecked
Inverter output voltage 230 V
Ground relay checked
Inverter DC shut-down voltage 18.60 V
Inverter DC restart voltage 20.60 V
Low DC alarm level 20.80 V
enable AES unchecked
TAB: Charger
Enable charger checked
Weak AC input unchecked
Stop after excessive bulk unchecked
Lithium batteries unchecked
Storage mode unchecked
Use equalization (tubular plate traction battery curve) unchecked
Charge curve Adaptive + BatterySafe
Absorption voltage 28.20 V
Float voltage 27.20 V
Charge current 90 A
Repeated absorption time 1.00 Hr
Repeated absorption interval 7.00 Days
Maximum absorption time 8 Hr
TAB: Virtual switch
TAB: Usage
Virtual switch usage Do not use VS
TAB: Assistants
TAB: Assistant Configuration
ESS (Energy Storage System) (size:1784)
*) System uses Gel or AGM batteries
*) The battery capacity of the system is 200 Ah.
*) Sustain voltage during the first 24 hours of sustain 23.00 V.
Sustain voltage after 24 hours 25.00 V.
*) Cut off voltage for a discharge current of:
0.005 C= 23.00 V
0.25 C= 22.30 V
0.7 C= 21.80 V
2 C= 21.40 V
*) Inverting is allowed again when voltage rises 0.60 V above cut-off(0).
*) The solar converter will start reducing its output power at 50.20 Hz.
Output power will be reduced to minimum when the frequency is 52.70 Hz.
The converter will disconnect when the frequency is higher than 53.00 Hz.
*) Total installed PV inverter power is 4200 Watts.
Total installed PV panel power is 4500 Watts.
*) Relevant VEConfigure settings:
- Battery capacity 200 Ah.
- PowerAssist unchecked
- Lithium batteries unchecked
- Dynamic current limiter unchecked
- Storage mode unchecked
Total size of all assistants including the required
(hidden) system assistants is: 1857
I have a horrible feeling that these settings have not been correct since the batteries were changed (Over 12 months ago :( ) and am now not sure that the remaining 4 batteries are any good either! (Not sure how to test them, but here are the readings taken just now (2.44 pm) measuring with a (Multimeter in DC V) 1 = 12.6, 2 = 13.7 (1 + 2 = 28.6), 3 = 12.4, 4 = 16.2, (3+4 = 28.7) and also (1+2+3+4 = 28.7)
I hope someone can help (Thanks in advance)
Let me know if there is anything else (readings) that I can provide.
Also, not sure if this is relevant but datasheet (for 1 x 12v Northstar Blue 210) states
Absorb Voltage = 14.1v and Float Voltage (at 25 degrees) = 13.6v.......So as I have a 24v system, do I double them? (i.e put 28.2 as Absorb Voltage and 27.2 for float?) and each battery is 200Ah so I assume that does not change (wired in series) so no matter how many batteries I would have, the Ah remains at 200ah, Is that right?
Thanks
