question

chuck-stollery avatar image
chuck-stollery asked

Brand new 12v 200ah victron lifepo4 showing continuity between posts when connected in series

Brand new install. 4x12v lifepo4 each bank of 2 wired in series and paralleled through bus bars. First bank operates and balances flawlessly. 2nd bank, when connected in series, one battery shows continuity between pos and negative posts. When disconnected from series, no continuity. When in charge mode from mp2 24/3000, battery in question does not receive charge voltage, other in series jumps to 15v and warms up.


I currently have the BMS on standby and this series disconnected. I'm stumped.

battery chargingLithium Battery
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2 |3000

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snoobler avatar image snoobler commented ·

How are you measuring this?

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chuck-stollery avatar image chuck-stollery snoobler commented ·
Multimeter. Its like the charge current is skipping the battery between the bus bar and 2nd battery and going all to the 2nd battery.
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klim8skeptic avatar image klim8skeptic ♦ chuck-stollery commented ·
@Chuck Stollery Post Victron Connect screen shots for the 2 batteries.
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chuck-stollery avatar image chuck-stollery klim8skeptic ♦ commented ·

This is after being disconnected for several hours. Upper bank 2 is the one that sees the voltage and temp rise, upper 1 is the one that sees no change when charger is on.1000000659.jpg

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1000000659.jpg (168.4 KiB)
klim8skeptic avatar image klim8skeptic ♦ chuck-stollery commented ·

@Chuck Stollery This is after being disconnected for several hours. Upper bank 2 is the one that sees the voltage and temp rise, upper 1 is the one that sees no change when charger is on.

First thing, you dont charge a SLB without a BMS unless you have a very specific reason.

Looking at the manual it gives Initial charging before use procedure. It also points out that batteries may arrive with large Soc differences, and large state of charge differences between them that won't be corrected if installed that way.

If a battery bank will consist of batteries connected in series to make a higher voltage bank, then each battery must be charged individually first. Use a dedicated charger or an inverter/charger with a BMS to perform the initial charge.

Batteries that are overcharged will heat up, such as your UB 2. The BMS if it had been operational would have prevented that.

Your UB 1 battery is not fully charged as yet. Follow the procedure ^ and charge it until VC reports it as "balanced".

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chuck-stollery avatar image chuck-stollery klim8skeptic ♦ commented ·
It has not had any power applied at all without the Smart BMS from Victron. I will attempt to source a 12v charger.
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chuck-stollery avatar image chuck-stollery klim8skeptic ♦ commented ·
These are lifepo4 batteries, btw.
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klim8skeptic avatar image klim8skeptic ♦ chuck-stollery commented ·

@Chuck Stollery It has not had any power applied at all without the Smart BMS from Victron.

Something is wrong there. Given your OP said other in series jumps to 15v and warms up. The BMS should have cut charge once any cell in UB 2 went over 3.75v. Check that your BMS is operational.


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chuck-stollery avatar image chuck-stollery klim8skeptic ♦ commented ·
It is. I removed this series from service and the bms is functioning normally for the remaining two batteries.
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kevgermany avatar image kevgermany ♦♦ chuck-stollery commented ·
Probably best to return it under warranty
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