Smart IP43 Charger 230 1-1 Bulk Time Exceeded

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

I got;
2004 Ducato Motorhome

• Regular alternator
• GX Server + 7’’ Touch HMI
• Orion-Tr Smart 30A DC-DC Charger
• LiFePo4 225 Ah battery
• Victron Smart IP43 Charger 230 VAC 12V 1+1 30A
• Victron MPPT solar 30A

Battery is compatible with the Victron setup and connected to the GX via a CAN cable.

The Smart IP43 Charger 230 1-1 got a VE Direct to the Cerbo GX.

I did test my Smart IP43 Charger 230 1-1
Was charging 27A to my LiFEPo4
and 4A to my start battery.
I left it on for 5 minutes.

No problem at all.
230 volt unplugged.
A few days went on.

Today I plugged in to the 230 VAC outlet.
With no delay I got the bulk time error.
Bulk Time Exceeded

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

I got a hard time reset this alarm error

And why did I get this in the first place?

The charger has been disconnected on the 230 side?

Hints & Tps please

[lgorter]

Hi Jan,
The error message states “… – hours …”. Which makes me suspect that you are running an old firmware version on your IP43.
What is the firmware version of your charger and what is your Victron Connect version?

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

My connect is ver 6.18

Will check the charger as soon as connected to grid later tonight. Stay tuned

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

Victron Connect
Firmware Ver 6.18

Smart Charger 230 12 1+1 30A
Firmware v 3.61

After some more tests I got to clear the alarm.

What I did to solve my problem;

• Connected the 230 vac grid
• In the charger I turned off the bulk time limit function.
• Then I disconnected the 230 VAC grid
• Left 230 VAC unplugged for 5 minutes.
• Then I had to go in to the VRM and the Touch HMI
  to clear active alarm in the Cerbo GX. Could also been done locally at the display I guess.
• Then I connected the 230 VAC again

Looks like working ok after this.

I will test again tomorrow.
Just to make sure we are ok.

Is this a firmware bug (like I saw suggested in other post)?

[lgorter]

Thank you for this detailed report. That may prove helpful.
And good to hear that you have been able to solve the issue.

Looks like something went wrong, possibly in the firmware. For now you are the first to report this issue.
If you encounter it again, please let us know. Especially if you know how to induce this issue. Then we can find and fix the bug.

For my information, what was your bulk time limit value setting, at the time of the (initial) “#20 Maximum Bulk-time exceeded” error?

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

From my memory ;
I do beleive it was set for 10 hrs.

Leading up to the alarm/error
I had done a few tests, like;
Tweaking the charge voltage and more.
Was hoping I had screen shot, but I did not.

At one point I did plug the 230 vac,
and did charge for 3-5 minutes.
I had set for 27A, and
I did see 27A going to my lithium
I dis see 4A going to my start battery

Then I unplugged.
After a few days I plugged again
with the alarm appear with no delay.

My intentions is to see if I can trigger the alarm again

I will keep track of any developement and symptoms and report back to you.

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

Even tough I did disconnect the 230 vac
Both the batteries was connected for few days
Did the charger count the hours even when 230 was missing? Just a tought.

[lgorter]

Please let me know if you manage to trigger the issue again.

When 230 AC is removed, the charger will shut down.
You are not using an unofficial (USB) VE.Direct cable, are you? Those cables can interfere with the shutdown, on the 220V-240V IP43 chargers.

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

The cable used between the charger and the GX is a original Victron VE Direct cable.

Charger located 15 cm from Cerbo GX

That been said;
I am using a Victron VE Direct USB cable between a BMV-712 instrument (startbattery) and the GX. This cable a bit short. For that reason I am using a generic «extention USB cable from my shelf. This one should not intefere with my charger? Would it?

[lgorter]

That is fine.

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

Ok; test result for today in

Before we plugged the 230 I had already turned the «bulk time limit» ON 10 hrs yesterday

We plugged 230 and charging started
Charging at 27A and 2A
Some ADC use in motorhome.

After 35m28sec the error ocured and charging stopped

Then I turned the «bulk time limit» OFF
Since then charging went on for 1hrs 16min and
all the way up to 100% and tail current with no errors.

We got a plan to drain the battery…
and lower the capacity to 90%
Then we will do same test again in a few days.

Hope this was to some kind of help.

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

Some screenshots from wednesday afternoon test

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

Battery charger 230 1+1 settings

That gave us error after 35 minutes charging

That took us all the way up to 100%

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

In short;

Operating ok as long as you disable the
«Bulk Time Limit»

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

Now operating the charger as normal.
Did reset Cerbo GX alarms.
Also unplugged AC
Did set «Bulk Time Limit» at 7 hrs
that would fit our 225 Ah battery

Just charged both battery banks up to 100%

Not seen any new error / alarm.

[JVJ (Jan Johansen)]

Actual settings as today.
looks like it is working fine.
No alarms or errors