question

fabian-pagel avatar image
fabian-pagel asked

High voltage on MPPT 75/15 battery output, when BMS closes due to temperature

Dear all,

I try to figure out, if the behaviour I see is per design or not. In my van I have installed a Victron LifePo4, a BMS12/200 and a MPPT75/15 with 2x110W solar panels. Due to the current cold weather conditions (<5°C), the battery and the BMS shutdown the battery charging.

Whenever there is sun available, the voltage on my BMS load and the MPPT battery output increase to ~17V. I assume this is due to the battery shutdown for charging. As soon, as the battery is open (>5°C), the voltage decreases to a normal level.

Is that expected? I thought the MPPT will reduce somehow the voltage when there is no charging in progress.

Why I am asking the question? If put the MPPT battery charging minus on the BMS load pin, where all my other load is also connected to. Now I have ~17V on all my devices, as long as the battery is shutdown. Is my design correct or do I need to change something?

best regards,

Fabian

MPPT ControllersBMSsolarvoltage
1 comment
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

klim8skeptic avatar image klim8skeptic ♦ commented ·

Check the battery voltage the mppt is set to.

Update the mppt firmware, if not current version v1.46.

0 Likes 0 ·
5 Answers
Matthias Lange - DE avatar image
Matthias Lange - DE answered ·

Is the MPPT set to lithium? If not you'll maybe get this high voltages due to the temperature compensation.

2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

kai avatar image
kai answered ·

The underlying issue is the low temp (the BMS cuts out to protect the battery). Are you able to re-design the system with supplementary heating to keep the battery (& BMS) above the low temp threshold?


e.g.

https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/38030/lifepo4-low-temperature-protection.html

2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

fabian-pagel avatar image
fabian-pagel answered ·

@kai Unfortunately I can not heat up my batteries. So I need to solve the problem by configuration and that was my initial question, if I may have an configuration issue?

@M.Lange Yes, it is set to Lithium for sure. I read about absorption, is that maybe something, what I need to configure?

4 comments
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

kai avatar image kai ♦ commented ·

sorry, that's about it from me. I don't have hands on experience with the MPPTs; don't know their expected behaviour if the battery is disconnected.

0 Likes 0 ·
Matthias Lange - DE avatar image Matthias Lange - DE ♦ commented ·

Do you have the 17V permanently or is it just a short peak?

Without battery the MPPT should maximal go to the absorption voltage.

0 Likes 0 ·
fabian-pagel avatar image fabian-pagel Matthias Lange - DE ♦ commented ·

Unfortunately it goes up to ~16-17V and stays there..

0 Likes 0 ·
klim8skeptic avatar image klim8skeptic ♦ fabian-pagel commented ·

Check the battery voltage the mppt is set to.

Update the mppt firmware, if not current version v1.46.


Known issues:
⦁ When connecting a power supply on the PV inputs, for example on a test bench, in combination with a battery (24V..48V) on the BATTERY input, a reset to default settings immediately triggers an error 38 (overvoltage). This enables the PV input short protection; and because there is a power supply connected; instead of a real PV array, the MPPT charger is damaged. Introduced in v1.26 and solved in v1.39.

0 Likes 0 ·
Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) avatar image
Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) answered ·

Hi @Fabian Pagel

Do the answers to this question describe what you are seeing?

https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/38304/using-a-smartsolar-mppt-10030-with-a-common-port-b-1.html

Or is it something else?

2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

kevp avatar image
kevp answered ·

I have a LiFePo battery that can be charged down to -20 deg. Check to see if yours is restricted to the default 5 deg. If not, you can switch it off in the battery settings of the MPPT.

1 comment
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

petajoule avatar image petajoule commented ·

> I have a LiFePo battery that can be charged down to -20 deg.

No it can't. Neither °F nor °C. It can be discharged down to -20°C, but charged only down to 0°C (better 5°C).

0 Likes 0 ·