HI All, I'm having an issue where my system is not feeding back to the grid anymore (batteries are at 100%). I have two PV charge controllers one with 16 panels and the other with 4. It seems what is happening is that the PV controllers are limiting power produced to match what my AC loads are using. When I switch more electronics on the PV ramps up so its not a fact that I cannot produce more power. I have 6.6KW worth of panels.
Today I observed MPPTs turning off when battery gets to absorption.
After ca 10 minutes they started producing again.
There is nothing to go on here and crystal balls use too much power ;)
Are any limits set in DVCC?
Is DC feed-in actually enabled in ESS?
Sorry about that. Not sure what information required. Happy to share all settings you guys would need.
I have Victron 5KW inverter with two charge controllers and 3 Dyness B3 batteries.
No limits on DVCC
ESS settings are enabled, there use to be no limit but i enabled one to test and no change.
Did it coincide with any firmware update?
Are you sure you have feed in (DC or AC pv) enabled?
So my system is set to not automatically update any software. I cannot remember if it was after an update as i only realized it now. We are only getting some decent summer sun now so I've been monitoring it more.
Ive also had both those settings enabled. But im sure its DC because when batteries are being charged by solar it does a straight pass through, and not through my inverter. Only when it gets charged from grid does it run through inverter.
I have also updated the PV controllers, ESS and the inverter to the latest software to see if that would help but still the same.
@AndreBotha It's just a test.
Turn off SVS in DVCC and try again.
Make sure all your devices are communicating and the BMS is sending CVL etc.
It may seem trivial but I would probably do a complete reboot of the system. If that doesn't get you back to "where you were" when it worked then I would look at all the settings in VE Configure 3, just as you would have done when you set up ESS.
So i have double and triple checked all the settings on the inverter itself and its all correct. I suspect that the Nov/December update on the charge controllers are at fault here. I have reached out to the Victron SA representative now to find out from them if they are aware of a software bug. If not then i will revert to 3/4 versions back on the charge controllers to see if that changes anything. I will post an update once i have heard back with more information.
Thanks so far for the comments.
Part of the system was updated. The rest will need to be updated to match.
The 'bug' may not be a bug so kuch as be the old and new don't play nice together.
Should be an easy test.
Ok. It is worth checking what the BMS is sending as it's CVL and comparing that to what the mppts/inverter are reporting (and measuring it with a meter).
Loss or a bad reference can cause issues, hence disabling SVS.
You don't mention which mppts they are, but there isn't anything in current updates that is known to cause issues.
Just a follow up with where I am right now. Victron SA responded and told me that it seems that one of the three Dyness B3 batteries that I have is out of sync. This is possibly caused by the BMS on the batteries. I'm now trying to see if I can get the company that I purchased these batteries to see if they can update the BMS for me. @Dyness perhaps you can assist with this? These batteries were bought on 2020/09/29, so in my opinion, I should not have any issues with them this early in their life span.
You could verify that it is the bms, by removing comms (mppts will have to be reset up you will probably see error #67)
And let it run like that. See if it feeds back like that when there is excess.
Maybe cap the charged voltage in DVCC.
What h the battery voltage while doing that though. Usually an imbalance causes voltage rise.
Hi Andrebotha, really sorry for the inconvience you have faced now.
Sure, it is our responsibility to help customers solve problems encountered in the use of products. Could you please conatct us via the email service@dyness-tech.com？Our after-sales team will provide you with technical support and solve the problem as soon as possible.
Ok.
Look at this post of mine and see if you have the same problem.
Looking at it, it almost seems the same. Ill have 1 charge controller switching off completely because the other one is producing enough power to supply AC and with spikes it will switch on for a bit. When AC increases both will turn on but one will not run at full power. I definitely think this is a bug in the Charge Controller software, and similar to you it does not push back to the grid.
They are suppose to not push back to grid when there is no power coming in from grid. But its acting like that all the time it seems.
I thing this "bug" is in the GX because it is GX that externally controls MPPT.
Did you try reboot GX?
In my system after GX Reboot, both MPPTs start feeding.
Can you show us the SOC graph and MPPT graph, same as I posted?
Since you are using "inverter/charger" as a grid meter make sure that internal CT is working properly.
In new MP-II units there is no external CT 3.5mm socket because it was replaced with terminal block. This is Victron's response to the failing contact on the 3.5mm external CT socket.
Most of the time plugging and unplugging 3,5mm jack many times can fix the contact.
https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/155992/current-sensor-port-on-mp2.html
But what GX relays if BMS does not send anything as it is in "2 signal BMS"?
My BMS is not sending anything to GX but GX turns my MPPTs off when battery switches to absorption.
With "DC-coupled PV - feed in excess" turned ON they should feed the grid and not turn OFF.
I suggested you check voltages manually, and what the BMS CCL broadcast is sending.
If the voltage readings are off (can be caused by cabling or the BMS) then the mppt's will go to sleep.
It is impossible to diagnose something like this via the internet, so whip out your meter and start checking all the readings. Compare to VRM charts.
With SVS on, is the BMS chosen as the reference?
Is the BMS set as the reference in GX system setup?
@AndreBotha I recently found your thread. Do you already have a solution?
I have a similar issue: https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/185963/mppt-power-is-limited-for-dc-feed-in-if-battery-is.html
Make sure that MP-IIs internal CT is working properly.
Recently Victron changed the way external CT is connected because 3.5mm socket, used before, was failing quite often and when 3.5mm socket fails, internal CT was disconnected.
You are using internal CT as a grid meter.
