solar

Hello,

I'm in the process of upgrading my equipment to Victron but I'm having a few issues with the solar charger voltage.

Currently I have

4x100AH flooded batteries (will be upgraded later)

120w solar panel (will be upgraded later)

Victron 3000w/12/50 inverter

Victron BMV-712 battery monitor

Victron 100/50 Smart solar

On random clear sunny days the solar voltage will drop to 12v but the following day it'll be back up to 21v. It isn't a weather issue nor panel as I've metered the solar voltage from the panel and it registers 21v but when plugged into the solar charger it reports 12v?

Here is photos showing the problem

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JEquFyeC4wyxuQdQ7

Any ideas?

I've got a 50/100 charge controller on my camper, 2 100 watt panels, and a single 100ah battleborn battery.

I recently had my camper in to get my radio wired into both the engine battery and camper battery with a switch between. I realized they only hooked it up to the camper battery when the battery completely died. I tried to charge it with my shore power hookup. I think since the battery was dead, something wasnt recognizing a battery being there and it wouldnt charge it.

I then unhooked everything from the battery, and jumped it from the engine battery. hooked everything back up, and was able to charge it through shore power from there, and everything functioned normally.

Im wondering if when hooking everything back up i blew a fuse in the charge controller itself? my other thought was that I might have blown one of the inline fuses coming from the panels, though I've got a 20a fuse between my battery and charge controller, Id be surprised if it was the solar panel inline fuses.

I havent been able to check them because the renogy mounts make it an absolute pain to reach the bolts. Otherwise I'd have to remove the mounts from the roof itself which means a lot of disassembly to access those mount bolts, which i'd really like to avoid.

Does this sound like a problem with the charge controller itself? any other Ideas?

Under “System Status in VRM” in the “Solar Yield” quadrant/box of the dashboard there is a temperature number listed there.

Where is that temp sourced from?

Directly from MPPT controllers? If so, which one if multiple?

Area temperature based on weather reporting and stated location of site in VRM?

Other?

Thanks.

how to get my BMV 700 to show actual low Battery volts instead of 0.000 when I check the history

I have two Quattros, both connected to a DC power bank.

I also have a Bluesolar MPPT 150 l 70 MC4, but this is not installed yet, since I haven't bought any solar panels yet.

Now: how do I control and monitor all of this stuff?
I do have a Raspberry Pi lying around, so the ideal solution would connect this to both Quattros and the MPPT, since I could also use it for a security camera etc.

I did buy the MK3-USB, but I didn’t get it to work with my Mac.

I also have two multi control panels — which to be honest I would rather sell and not use.

We have a small 19’ rv that we are converting to Solar/lithium. I am looking to find the most suitable Inverter for the upgrade. Here are some of the requirements..

1.] We would like to use two Leaf cells or two tesla Model S Batteries to create the battery bank

2.] We will only only have about 600 watts of solar that our rig can support as don’t want to be transporting any portable panels. When boon docking we calculate that over several days we will gradually draw down the batteries before needing the generator.

3.] The solar charge controller and the batteries are located together. About 15’ on the other side of the RV is the inverter which is housed near where the shore power comes in. There is 6ga wire to connect the inverter to the battery bank, so I would like to use 24v maybe even 48v so I don’t have to rewire

4.] for shore power we have a 30 amp connector near the inverter and are limited to a 2000 watt generator when boondocking. Otherwise we get a full 30 amp when connected to shore power. We need to be able to limit the charging from the generator as we don’t want to overload it when charging our batteries.

5.] The inverter needs to be able to draw from the batteries in cases where the generator is providing less than spikes for Air conditioner etc. , in our case we have about a 3k watt requirements in the RV max.

The inverter should be as small and light as possible I was thinking the Multiplus-II, but am not sure if the grid features would necessary, are there any other options I should consider?

I am going to buy a bit more battery than I will need. Firstly because it isn't sunny every day and secondly so I can charge them to 80% SOC and still only bring them down to 50% SOC for the added charge cycles that gains. (I owned one of the first Nissan Leaf's to arrive in the US)

My question: is there a way to only charge them to 80% like there was on the Leaf Charging system, but with my Victron's? I will have the same question for Magnum regarding shore power charging.

-Bill

My two controllers charging the same battery bank are setup exactly the same but one will be in bulk the other float very often. Is my reseller correct about the BMV keeping them working identically? I plan on adding LiFePo4 batteries and want to keep them in pristine shape using two 100/50's, with 640w on each controller. -Bill

Hi All,

I am converting a school bus and have heard rave reviews regarding the victron brand - however I am finding it difficult to establish which combination of products I would require.

My partner and I plan to source our own Panels (4 x 140w Panels = 560w)
My partner and I plan to source our own batteries (4 x 120ah Fullriver DC Series AGM Batteries)

But we are seeking advice for everything in between. Inverter charger/ MMPT/ moniters/ fuse box/ distribution ...

We anticipate primarily using DC power, for the lights/ fridge/ water pump/ most general electronic devices.

We anticipate using AC power generally for low draw appliances ( RV washing machine, laptop) and on rarer occasions the following high draw products but only one at a time ( microwave, hair straightener/ sandwich press). Because of this we anticpate needing a higher rated inverter.

Please advise a product that is compatible with the battery/solar capacity, usage requirements and as price effective as possible.

Additionally, please suggest the simplest combination of products. I will be installing and I am no electrician! I was drawn to the EASY SOLAR due to the compact single unit, with prewired internal components.

MUCH APPRECIATED

I currently have 2 x 265W solar panels connected in series to a Victron MPPT 100/50 Charge Controller which is connected to 2 x LiFePO4 138W batteries connected in parallel. I also have a BMV-712 to keep an eye on things.

My next step is to add in a means of charging the batteries from the vehicle alternator (180A, non-smart alternator), so I'm looking for a DC-DC charger and I'm hearing rumours of a new Victron Smart DC-DC charger about to be launched.

I would also want a means of keeping my vehicle's starter battery topped up from the solar system. Will this new charger be suitable for my needs?

Good Day,

I have a simple outcome,

Use solar to power up loads and charge batteries when available and if the loads go higher than X W amount use the grid .

Now using VS options doesn't allow you to use Assistants.

With the below I achived the following :

If the loads are > 1500W for 2seconds the Grid kicks in.

If the loads are < 800W for 2mins the battery AND solar takes over.

The battery conditions work as stated below as well.

Now the issue is :

When the grid is NOT required the system is using nearly 50% from batteries and 50% from solar (+-) .

When the batteries reach < 50% the batteries are charged from the Grid rather than the Solar.

PS : My solar array produces about 1600W

How can I maximize the use of the solar ?

[image]

I would like to power a Quattro 48/5000/70 via 50volts DC from a victron mppt 150-35 which is hooked to 1200 watts solar. There is now no battery in the system. Is this bad or will it damage the Quattro? I tried it a few times an what I observed was the Quattro's red low voltage light lit when the solar had no output (passing cloud) and then came on when the solar output rose to over 50 volts. I would like to leave the Quattro multicontroller switch on with a load (a dehumidifier) of 200 watts 120v always connected to the inverter output. The dehumidifier then would run when the sun shines. Are there any issues with this setup? A better way to do it? Thanks for any input.

I have three of these. All three are connected to the same battery bank, but different solar panels. One does not seem to be working. It communicates with my phone app fine and shows both battery and solar voltage, but no current. It worked fine yesterday, and even made 1.69kWh. I've changed nothing with the system, but it has stayed off today. I've disabled the charger, with the app, and then reenabled it. But, I cannot get it to start charging.

Any ideas?

So I have just installed the Victron SmartSolar 100/20 and have a 300w panel hooked up to it with a 120ah LifePo4 battery.

This is what I'm getting- with a blue light flashing once every 3 seconds. I checked the manual and it said that the flashing blue light at that interval means that there is insufficient power.

Any ideas of how what I'm doing wrong?

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Ik ben onderzoek aan het doen naar energieopslag afkomstig van zonnepanelen, en een off grid systeem.

Ik heb al een bestaand systeem uit zonnepanelen en een omvormer die de spanning van de zonnepanelen omzet naar 230 V(AC). Na deze omvormer wil ik de quatro omvormer toe passen. De bedoeling is dan dat de spanning uit de omvormer hier op aangesloten wordt en deze vervolgens de accu kan opladen met 48 V(DC). De rest van de spanning moet kunnen worden gebruikt voor eigen gebruik, en als er dan nog rest is moet dit terug worden geleverd aan het net.

Hierbij is het ook de bedoeling dat bij een stroomuitval de accu er voor zorgt het bedrijf voorzien wordt van stroom, hierbij moet de 48 V(DC) van de accu omgezet worden naar 230 V(AC)

Is dit mogelijk, zo ja hoe?

Als dit niet mogelijk heeft iemand dan nog andere mogelijkheden?

Ik zoek dus een systeem zoals hieronder maar dan zonder generator en dan bij spanningsuitval dat de accu het overneemt

[image]

Hello all,

I put all the bits I have in a drawing but not I need to figure out the wiring. I know some of this can use V.E. Direct and some V.E. Bus but still not sure what connects to what and more importantly the proper wire gauge.

All thoughts are welcome

[image]

Hello,

I have a Quattro 24/5000/120 connected to a pair of 12V lithium batteries in series, with a BMV 712 monitoring them.

I also have a backup generator in the system wired to a transfer switch.

I am adding PV panels (and Victron MPPT controllers) to use to both charge the batteries and supply AC loads when able.
ESS seems the only solution that allows this, as without it, my MPPT controllers act primarily as battery chargers and no portion of the solar used for AC loads.

My questions are,

1) Can I please have the grid code password?

2) My installation is in the US. There is no US gridcode option, so I assume I will be using other. Is this correct?

3) In using other as a gridcode, I have no desire to feed any power back to the grid-main. So I intend to set feed-in to disabled and to set LOM to B. Are there additional settings to review?

4) With no Feed-in and LOM to B, that should disable any possibility of sending current back out AC input 1 (grid-mains), correct?

5) My visual indication that LOM was successfully detected is when the CCGX show no mains input. At that point there is no possibility current could exist on AC1 (grid-mains) Is this correct?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Hi All -

Is it possible that when you update the MPPT to the latest firmware that some of the battery settings can be reset to default?

I could be mistaken on what my settings were before but I am a pretty detailed person and wouldn't expect that I had my MPPT settings incorrect.

That said, I just upgraded my MPPT firmware to the latest, 2.19 or 1.42, (idk which one to reference) and I noticed that 2 of my settings were off:

1. The Temperature Compensation setting was set to -36.00mV/F, which I believe is the default. I would have had that set to -20.00mV/F as I have Lifeline AGM batteries.

2. The Maximum Absorption Time setting was set to 2H, when I would have had that setting to 6H.

Again, while very unlikely, there is a possibility that I set these to what I saw but I just wanted to check if I need to be checking my settings after every update.

Thanks,

Tom

Hi, i need to add more panels to my boats solar system , i i am already using a 75/50 controller with a colour control and 12v/3000 multiplus, the controller is near to its limit, can i add another controller to the system , will it cause any conficts ?

Many thanks

Gordon

I have 3 100w panels connected to a SMU microtek 3012 to a microtek 900 inverter it works fine for a few hours then the main light on the inverter starts flashing and going on and off. I have tried different inverters and switching the smu. Anyone else have any Idea?

I have a Victron 100/20 MPPT. its connected to 2 x 100w solar panels in series.

It is only connected to my batteries and the load side is not connected. These are 2 new this year 115ah Halfords Leisure batteries.

Its been working fine charging my batteries with and without a load on those batteries. Then all of a sudden it starts to over read the voltage at 13.**v ), when my other volt meter (connected via a shunt) is reading 12.**v.

No matter what i do it wont read the correct voltage and just keeps the charging in "Float" so doesnt charge the batteries. If i do the cycle thing in the settings it then puts a charge into the batteries. This is also with everything disconnected except the panels as well.

The panels are working fine, and there is not issue with the wiring. Nothing physical change from when it was working till now. Is my MPPT fooked?

Hello Guys,

I hope you are doing fine. I have some issues with my installation. I have a 3-phase backup system of quattros and a solar inverter connected at the output of the quattros. AC input of quattros is connected to the grid and feed-in is allowed.

Please have a look at these two pictures

[image]

Here AC-in power = - 4761 W

[image]

But in the menu, AC-in power = - 2324 W

Why the two values are very different? -4761 W is more than the double of - 2324! And I thing -2324 is the correct value as solar production is 2580W and power going into batteries is 216W, then the surplus feed-in energy must be around 2580 - 216 - power loss in quattro.

Thanks for your answer.

Hello folks, a couple of questions. I have a VW camper with a solar panel c/w Bluesmart 75/15 MPPT controller connected to a SuperB Lithium 90Ah battery with built in BMS. I need to add a mains (240V) charger & am looking at either the Bluesmart IP22 12/15 or the Bluesmart IP65 12/15. Reading through the instruction manual for the IP35 version, I see that a "Test" is carried out prior to charge commencing,:-

The TEST LED will flash as long as a charge pulse does

not increase battery voltage to more than 12,5V resp. 25V.

If the flashing persists during several minutes the battery is

probably damaged (internal short-circuit): disconnect the

charger.

A false rejection may occur if a load is simultaneously

draining a very weak or fully discharged battery during the

test phase: disconnect the load and repeat the test.

Question:-

1) If during the test phase, the solar charger is charging the battery, would the IP65 12/15 charger see the increased battery voltage & assume a fault & fail the test?

2) Is the IP35 version designed to run in parallel with other charging sources? If not, would the IP22 version suffer the same problem?

3) The charger will be permanently hardwired to the to the battery. Depending on circumstances it's highly likely that the charger maybe powered up whilst loads are simultaneously connected, (fridge/lights/diesel heater etc.) these loads may be running during the "test" phase, would this be an issue for either charger in question?

4) If the "test" fails, does the charger lockout until the next power up cycle or does it retry after a period of time?

5) Is there a more suitable charger for the application, it must be Lithium capable & be suitable for permanent installation in a small space, preferably fan-less.

Thanks for any help.

Hello,

actuall my consumers are direct connected to the battery, not using the "load" from the charger.

Now I will change my cables and connect the consumer to the charger to see the consumptions etc.

Question:
Where is the measure? Plus or minus?

I think, Plus or Minus (one of them) from Solar, Battery and Load will be connected together (have a direct electric connection). In my case I only have the need to change one wire (plus or minus) and bring this wire to chargers "Load" (and the other can be still direct connected with the battery (plus or minus). And mot both from my consumers ...

Hi All, kind of new to all this I have a mppt 75/10 it used to show the battery state as Float most of the time now it always just says off If I put some load on it the load output state changes. Do I have an issue somewhere battery voltage is 13.02v being charged off a 120w panel. Im just a bit confused as to why it used to always say float now it just says off. Thanks for any advice.

Cheers

Chris.

Hello,

I have my system running scheduled charging (from grid) starting 8:00am until 10:30am.

[image]

I have seen periods where there is more than enough solar availability but it's not being inverted for charging and/or covering consumption:

[image]

as seen directly in the console:

[image]

and also as seen directly from the sky:

[image]

but after a while it goes back to normality and solar becomes main input

[image]

can anyone help to understand the reason this happens? It's very usual and I don't know how to limit it.

Thanks in advance.

When parking boat in a no load scenario, it would be good to solar charge LiFePo4 only up to only 80% SOC. This is good for battery life and when starting engine and leaving dock 100% is reached pretty soon anyway. Can this be accomplished with mentioned products?

what would be the best to optimize the battery charging with those equipment's in my small motorHome

- MPPT-100/50

- BM-712 with temp

- Smart Battery Sense for the Starter battery of the vehicles

How will the temperature sensor will be used in this case?

Will the MPPT-100/50 will take the BM-712 Temp in consideration ?

I've read the manual and similar community posts on this but haven't been able to determine the answers to these questions.

1) The manual and faq say equalization times out at (absorption time / 8) or (absorption time / 2) for a custom battery type. Is "absorption time" the "max absorption time" that I have configured in the MPPT settings (9 hours) or is it just the absorption time that the controller ran absorption cycle for on that particular day? (typically 1.5 hours, since I don't deep discharge the batteries at night)

If it's the latter (absorption time on this particular day), that's pretty odd because equalization on lead acid batteries typically needs to run for 4+ hours, and the time required shouldn't be related to an arbitrary factor like what voltage the batteries started at that day.

2) The manual/faq also say equalization will stop if the controller current goes above 25% of the bulk current (for lead acid batteries). With a 75/15 controller, that's .25*15 = 3.75A. Does this mean if my refrigerator turns on (this is a solar setup on a boat), the equalization will stop? (the fridge draws about 7A, so it will appear that the charging current is above 3.75A although really it's not, because the 7A is going into the fridge load).

If equalization is interrupted for this reason, does it restart once the load goes away or does it give up for the rest of the day?

[image]

I have 2 Solar chargers connected to a battery bank & a multiplus2 48v 5000

BMV 702 & CCGX

VRM shows Data from BOTH Controllers

CCGX shows second controller not Connected under devices

No second Controller is Displayed in CCGX

2nd controller connected via USB adaptor

Picts Attached

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