WS500 not charging when battery is cold

Q&A and troubleshooting
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1

Hello, I’m wondering if someone can help. We have an mg LFP battery pack (4x 280Ah) on board, controlled by a MG Master LV 24-48 1000A. 3 Quattro 8000’s supply power on board. When we are sailing usually a WS500 and 250A alternator is supplying power to the batteries, charging them and so forth. There are also solar panels. System runs at 24V

So the problem is, it’s winter now and the ws500 only supplies charging power once batteries min. Temp. is above 7⁰C. If power usage is high enough (above ±3,5kW) it only supplies the used amount of power but it refuses to charge the batteries. If power consumption is lower the alternator is spiking on and off between 150-200A, I think to supply the average used power.

When the battery temperature is below 7⁰C I need to start the generator to charge the batteries, which works fine. MG Master says charging is allowed, system OK. Does anybody have an idea why the ws500 only starts charging above this temperature threshold? Is it a setting I haven’t found yet?

2

The whole system is controlled/supervised by an Ekrano GX by the way.

3

I don’t know about the ws500 but someone has suggested to a poster who has a similar problem to wrap the batteries in a thermal blanket so that they are warm at all times. Sounds like a simple enough solution.

4

That’s not really an option, too little space to make a difference. Besides, I see the software controlling the ws500/alternator as the problem. Not necessarily the temperature.