Solar doesn’t continue charging battery

[50ST8R]

My solar has started shutting off after a couple of hours. My panels worked well then I added two more in the configuration so I have 2(3 panels) in series then parallel to controller. I have a 150/100 controller and pulling 60 volts so that seems to be okay. This morning the panels charged for a couple of solid hours (500 watts totalto partially charge batteries). We are by Galveston and the sun is shining with no shade on panels. Any ideas on what I may be missing?

[TucsonJim]

Hi Kevin.

Do you have a shunt in the system? If so, what is your state of charge?

Jim

[howson]

My solar has started shutting off after a couple of hours. My panels worked well then I added two more in the configuration so I have 2(3 panels) in series then parallel to controller. I have a 150/100 controller and pulling 60 volts so that seems to be okay. This morning the panels charged for a couple of solid hours (500 watts totalto partially charge batteries). We are by Galveston and the sun is shining with no shade on panels. Any ideas on what I may be missing?

Your batteries may be full, thus there's no place for the solar power to go. Think of your batteries like a fuel tank. Once it's full, doesn't matter how much you squeeze the gas station's pump handle -- it will keep shutting off 'cause the tank is full. Same thing with solar and batteries.

[50ST8R]

Hi Jim,

my BMW is not showing 63 % I went ahead and used the truck DC to DC charger to start to charge it some more then the Solar starting performing again then leveled off. Here is the PV charging from today

[50ST8R]

Your batteries may be full, thus there's no place for the solar power to go. Think of your batteries like a fuel tank. Once it's full, doesn't matter how much you squeeze the gas station's pump handle -- it will keep shutting off 'cause the tank is full. Same thing with solar and batteries.

greetings Howard,

my batteries are at roughly 60-65% and I zeroed that indicator while we were in Florida hooked up so should be fairly accurate.

i added some attachments to show what I am seeing with the solar related to the batteries. Frustrating situation We.

Kev

[howson]

Hi Jim,

my BMW is not showing 63 % I went ahead and used the truck DC to DC charger to start to charge it some more then the Solar starting performing again then leveled off. Here is the PV charging from today

Kevin -- if the BMV is showing 63% charged with the battery voltages shown in the attachments above, it's not currently accurate. The battery voltages are reflecting the battery bank is fully charged.

To repeat: when the battery bank is full, there's no place for the solar power to go so the output will appear to drop to 0W. That is completely normal.



For example, my 1200W system is only generating 43W right now. And it's a glorious day outside. Why only 43W? Because that's all the trailer (and battery bank) can absorb.



Howard

[howson]

50ST8R -- just noticed -- why does your battery levels show 3.83 and 0.86 (minimum) levels in the history that was posted?

[50ST8R]

I just noticed those minimum levels also. I have no idea what causes that. I had some voltage issues when in Alabama this past week which coincided with the past couple of days. I will need to research my set up and see if there are any other anomoles. We are headed to Galveston on the ferry right now so will have to research this when we get back. On a good note the DC to DC charger works well as long as I use the limiter. Good 15 amps from the truck with the charger on.

[howson]

50ST8R
Two things come to mind.

1st -- remember the percentage the BMV shows is a calculated value. It could be wrong. The resting battery voltage, however, is a direct measurement. ("Resting" means no load. In our case, that's almost never but at the lowest possible current drain over about 30-60 minutes will result in a fairly accurate resting voltage.) Use the battery resting voltage to determine if the BMV percentage shown makes sense.

2nd -- the tail current setting in the BMV can cause anomalies when solar is a charging source. From the BMV manual: If the BMV does not synchronize automatically, the charged voltage, tail current, and/or charged time may need adjustment.

Also from the manual: The BMV synchronizes too early In solar systems or other applications with fluctuating charge currents, the following measures can be taken to reduce the probability for the BMV to reset prematurely to 100% state of charge: a) Increase the “charged” voltage to only slightly below the absorption charge voltage (for example: 14,2V in case of 14,4V absorption voltage). b) Increase the “charged” detection time and/or decrease the tail current to prevent an early reset due to to passing clouds. See section 4.2.1 for set up instructions.

For comparison purposes, the Tail Current (under BATTERY tab on BMV-712) on my setup is 2.00%.

Howard

[50ST8R]

50ST8R
Two things come to mind.

1st -- remember the percentage the BMV shows is a calculated value. It could be wrong. The resting battery voltage, however, is a direct measurement. ("Resting" means no load. In our case, that's almost never but at the lowest possible current drain over about 30-60 minutes will result in a fairly accurate resting voltage.) Use the battery resting voltage to determine if the BMV percentage shown makes sense.

2nd -- the tail current setting in the BMV can cause anomalies when solar is a charging source. From the BMV manual: If the BMV does not synchronize automatically, the charged voltage, tail current, and/or charged time may need adjustment.

Also from the manual: The BMV synchronizes too early In solar systems or other applications with fluctuating charge currents, the following measures can be taken to reduce the probability for the BMV to reset prematurely to 100% state of charge: a) Increase the “charged” voltage to only slightly below the absorption charge voltage (for example: 14,2V in case of 14,4V absorption voltage). b) Increase the “charged” detection time and/or decrease the tail current to prevent an early reset due to to passing clouds. See section 4.2.1 for set up instructions.

For comparison purposes, the Tail Current (under BATTERY tab on BMV-712) on my setup is 2.00%.

Howard

I am also wondering about the set absorption time. As the solar went back to charging while we were in Galveston, I am looking in the controller specs as to when and how long the solar current drops. Will boondock here another couple of nights then to around Austin for a week where I can check out things more thoroughly and with a friend as a helper there. Just willing to keep it up enough to travel when we are ready later this week.

Thanks for the quick thoughts. Will post again as I am settled where I can troubleshoot further.

kev

[Yoda]

I just noticed those minimum levels also. I have no idea what causes that. I had some voltage issues when in Alabama this past week which coincided with the past couple of days. I will need to research my set up and see if there are any other anomoles. We are headed to Galveston on the ferry right now so will have to research this when we get back. On a good note the DC to DC charger works well as long as I use the limiter. Good 15 amps from the truck with the charger on.

50ST8R
Just a thought - To rule out your Battleborn battery's you might want to check with them to see if the BMS are working correctly.

Trying to help
Keith

[50ST8R]

Update:

Solar seemed to be working later yesterday and got the batteries to about 65% before the sun was low enough to no longer input. Solar has been producing between 500-800 watts today and batteries back up to 65 %. I still need to sit down with the manuals again and the MK3 and check all the settings. We will have full hookups again starting tomorrow night for a week so clock this up the the electronic term FM for now😁

I am glad to see the 800 watt level as I hadn’t really checked out the panels after install in Florida in November. I am still leaning toward something resetting when I had a power failure in Alabama campground which might have defaulted settings but need to hook up the MK3 in a more controlled environment than dry camping here on the beach.

Thanks for the suggestions. I may be asking for suggested Victron settings once I get hooked up.

[50ST8R]

Greetings all,

BB and Victron came through on my solar problems. After contacting BB, where I thought I had purchased the controller from, and sent them the power and current charts I extracted from my system, they authorized a replacement. Received the controller today and already getting good solar numbers even with it being late afternoon here in Arizona.

i had promised diagrams of my system also so here goes.