I have the MPPT 100 | 30 SmartSolar controller. I am monitoring it thru the app and it is very consistently charging for 60 seconds, and then turns off for 60 seconds, then turns back on.... which means that I am only getting 50% of my total solar. Is this normal behavior? Anything that I can do to fix it? The following images are monitoring both from my shunt, and my MPPT controller. Thanks!
hello @yelloideas , I'm not asure what batteries you are using but just as an experiment please reduce the charging voltage 13.36 volts and see what happens. The reason for this request is the voltage is fluctuating pretty wildly when charging and that may be the BMS of the battery/batteries switching in and out.
If you can establish if the swithcing on and off is voltage related it is a starting point.
Regards,
Trevor
Hi Trevor! Thanks so much for your quick response! I am using Battleborn 100AH batteries (x4). When you say to adjust the voltage... which one are you talking about? Here are my settings... thanks again!
We really need to see what the panels are doing, preferably for a longer time period.
Please post shots of panel performance and battery performance for the same time period.
And do you have loads on the system?
You have lithium batteries so adjust the settings to battery preset could be changed to Lithium. Find "battery preset", find "select preset" and choose "Lithium iron Phosphate". Perhaps try that but if the problem persists (which I expect it will) switch on "expert mode" and reduce "absorption voltage" and "float voltage" by 1 volt. 14.2v goes to 13.2v and 13.5 v goes to 12.5 v. These voltages are significantly lower than the recommended levels but it would prove a point. The point is the system will run if voltages are lowered. The reason may well be the BMS in the batteries is actively switching in and out with higher voltages. If you can get the system to settle down you could bring those voltages up slowly and see if the problem comes back. That is what I would do anyway.
Did you perhaps press "start now"? For safety, I'd set your EQ voltage to 0V. Your other voltages look good. What else is connected to the battery?
As you have lithium you need to set the temperature compensation to zero.
Hi @Trevor Bird .. I performed the experiment of reducing the voltage to the point where it remained constant and did not cycle ... the highest that I could get was 13.29V (which is obviously not optimal). I also did amother experiment where I used my intelli-power 9100 lithium battery charger, and it puts out exactly 13.47V at 47.5A continuously... I monitored it for over 30 minutes with no cut outs. Thus my conclusion is that the issue is NOT with the Battleborn BMS, and is instead something related to the MPPT controller. Any ideas?
