Black start using SmartSolar MPPT battery charger

Q&A and troubleshooting
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Hi everyone

We are using the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150/60-Tr as a charger for a custom LiFePo4 battery. The BMS is self-programmed and directly commands voltage- and current-setpoint via the VE.Direct HEX Protocol to the charger.

On the communication side we use the following settings:

  • Network mode, register 0x200E, set 0x9 (Networked, BMS controlled)
  • Battery type, register 0xEDF1, set 0xFF (user)
  • Battery voltage, register 0xEDEF, set 48V - Battery maximum current, register 0xEDEC, set 50A

In the power saving mode of our BMS, there is no battery voltage at the Victron. As soon as a panel voltage is applied to the Victron, it should generate a float voltage to wake up the BMS. We found the following note in the VE.Direct manual: "To allow for a black start, ie. starting up from an empty battery, in the morning, the charger will charge in “Float” mode for 45 seconds, so the BMS can power-up. When after 45 seconds there is still no data received from the BMS, it will switch off and show error #67. "

Unfortunately this feature is not working as expected. If we power up the panel voltage, the charger does not generate any output voltage. Does anyone know why this feature isn’t working as expected? Am I doing something wrong? Any advices?

Best regards
Dominik

2

We found a solution. May this helps someone else.

FLOAT only works with the following additional settings:

  • VE.Direct RX Port operation modes, register 0xED98, set 0x2 (otherwise charger is may disabled via the default state of the UART RX pin)
  • Battery Float Voltage, register 0xEDF6, set to 54V
  • Device Mode, register 0x0200, set to 1, Charger on (otherwise charger is disabled and no FLOAT voltage will be generated)

Best regards

Dominik

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