I have a Smart Battery Protect feeding a BlueSea 8027 DC panel. I was intermittently receiving an E1 error code (this is a new system being commissioned by a novice in Victron electronics, but not electrical) that is now consistent. I narrowed down the error to the DC panel and then stripped all load wiring from the panel to eliminate the error code. It seems only error when the DC load from its own panel to backlight the load names is connected on either the DC or AC panels. I called BlueSea and they seem to think it’s a discharge setting in the Victron system. Without these backlight loads, I can wire and power all loads in the panel without an E1 error code. The backlight loads are <1A.
You’d think this was an easy solve, but I’m stumped due to inexperience on the Victron side. I confirmed with my multimeter that there is no voltage on either of these backlight loads wires and the (yellow) ground connections are tied to the ground bus bar. Any suggestions as to where I should branch off my diagnostics?
E1 is given as short circuit error for the Smart Battery Protect.
first isolate all AC.
Check isolation from both DC Connections to all AC conductors - L,N,PE. - use an insulation tester at 500V if you have one.
Using a 12V power adapter, or other low current source (~1.5A), apply 12V power to backlight & check functionality. Measure current if possible.
Testing from smart battery protect: Ensure polarity is correct, and power some small dc load.
Use a 12V filament bulb in series with the +ve feed to the backlight, bulb should be ~24W. See if bulb glows dim (pass) or bright (fail) when connected to the backlight circuit.
if successful, Re-connect AC cables and do final check. If fail, then you have a faulty back light panel.
I was able to test the system again and found I had missed the in-line fuses to protect the backlight loads. Interestingly, the loads are now working once the Victron system is up and online. When I plug the fuses into the holder I do NOT receive an E1 error on the Smart Battery Protect. HOWEVER, when I reboot the system with the fuses installed, I DO receive an E1 error until I remove both fuses and let the error reset from the system…plugging the fuses back into the system produces no error.
I was able to activate the backlight with a standalone 12v power supply and the DC panel did burn the bulb bright when I tested, so I’m still at a loss if I really have a backlight board issue or something else.
Any additional suggestions for clarification of the issue?
Found the problem…it’s me. I’m an idiot that didn’t cap a future wire well enough and it shorted against the chassis. Once corrected, all works as designed! This is too common a problem.
