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ghatikar

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Everything posted by ghatikar

  1. I will be also watching the development with interest Although don't have enough time and inclination to write it myself I do have a Modbus energy meter which I would not mind monitoring to separate loads between AC out 1 and AC out 2
  2. ghatikar

    Axpert VM III

    Despite asking repeatedly Victron has not satisfactorily replied to my queries on duty cycle of those contacts. I suspect the 100 Amp is nominal which means they may be rated different for different types of loads https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilization_categories e.g. For example, the Schneider LC1D18xx contactor is designed to control motors with a nominal current rating of 18 A (AC-3).This contractor is capable of withstanding current peaks (~ 100 A) on starting, such as are typical on inductive machines like motors, without sustaining any damage.It can also control resistance heaters for current ratings up to 32 A (AC-1). This load is resistive, hence there are no current peaks
  3. ghatikar

    Axpert VM III

    It all boils down to price and application. e.g. Nigeria where grid-tied is not really a viable option due to missing grid regulation and infrastructure. They are targeting mission-critical applications primarily like ATMs, digital signage where efficiency is not a real concern. Imagine if you have 70 % saving in deployment cost per ATM !! The other battery-less 5KW inverter is what piques my interest. the biggest advantage is you can use crappy /secondhand battries for applications like airconditioner loads without bothering about AH and C10 Although I suspect even the Victron will keep on working after disconnecting the battery but I dont want to try it with 2000 Euro ineverter
  4. ghatikar

    Axpert VM III

    Guys I have a bad news.( and also good news) I contacted MPPSolar who sell the models as retail . the BMS part will not be ready till next year. and the initial release will be only with OEM orders ( where battery and inverter is sold as bundle) But in General PIS - 5048GK - (Voltonics Axpert VM III) 5KW/48VDC, 80A MPPT, max 500V PV open circuit with all the above features except BMS PIP- 3048 MK - ( voltronics King) - Zero changeover time ( PV input 145 V - ONLY 3KW model ) others features same ( no BMS yet) If I look at the graphic of the display I guess they are using their knowledge of online inverters and applying to the inverter to achieve zero transfer time - essentialy using DC rectifier and then inverter as two-stage process. it is not the ongrid inverter ( maybe grid interactive is a better term ?) Maybe that's why only 3KW model is available as they may not be able to handle the components and heat losses in the same chassis of 5KW Should be shortly available on Aliexpress on their official store - https://www.aliexpress.com/store/629424 https://www.mppsolar.com/v3/pip-gk-series/
  5. I am using a similar solution for my NAS / router/Network switch for quite a while now except I use a Victron Filax changeover which is fast ( https://www.victronenergy.com/transfer-switches/filax-2) a 20 AH Lifepo4 with cheap Charge controller - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6v-12v-Lead-Acid-3-6v-7-2v-NiMH-6-4v-12-LiFePO4-Li-Ion-solar-charge-controller/292584753349 with a 20 Watt panel and a generally good quality inverter with minimum fan noise - https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Inverter-Power-Bestek-300w-DC-12v-to-230v-AC-Car-Converter-Electronic-Dual-USB/5017022038 why the wired combo ?- most of the components were left over from my earlier projects except the charge controller and I needed something to keep my internet/server going when I am playing around with various assistant setups in the Victron
  6. Thanks, Guys,. I contacted REC and they Confirmed the 16Q model is fully compatible with Victron over CABUS out of the BOX . The BMS on spec sheet looks wonderful but is rather expensive 400 Euro plus for basic ( software, cables, contactor, adding temp probe etc) take you well north of 900 Euro Maybe I will get one of those cheap Chinese versions, USE the ATC/ATD contacts and keep the battery isolated with sandbags https://www.dhgate.com/product/high-accuracy-battery-management-system-bms/409065600.html#s1-2-7b;searl|3968060313
  7. Which combination to use with 48 V , 200 AH Lifepo4 cells ( keep in mind battery was less than 3000 Euro) Following options Option 1 - Costliest most reliable Victron Multi 5KVA /48 - with REC BMS ( cost with Contactor, software etc almost 900 Euro) Option 2 - Axpert 5KVA - Coulomb's firmware patched - Which BMS ??? have not found any third party which will work with Axpert yet via serial port Option 3 - use a generic BMS to switch off the battery on extreme low/high voltage with the contractor and use additional BMV 702 relay to switch off Axpert load through a power contactor on low SOC say 20 % ( my loads are backed by the generator in office so the soc rarely drops below 70 %) The BMS I have in mind ( also works with victron with two wire assistant)- https://www.ev-power.eu/Battery-Management/BMS123-Smart/123-Smart-BMS-Complete-Set-4-cells-with-Bluetooth-4-0.html http://gwl-power.tumblr.com/tagged/BMS123Smart ======================== I recently got hold of a cheap Chinese Lifepo4 battery with BMS - The BMS has allowed to charge and allowed to discharge contacts I found out that the BMS has no equalization !! ( active or passive) and reported Current and voltages my flukes did not agree to at all closer inspection Revealed why it was cheap - The BMS looks to be fried although batteries report almost similar voltages
  8. GFPR specially tested one like Fronius is expensive and I am sure the Chinese have no product with that. it does disconnect at 51 HZ So my Generator logic of SOC based contractor does that - the GTI only gets connected if the SOC is below 95% . or there is enough load on output ( was 100 watt for 500-watt GTI for 1000 watt GTI I can even set 500-watt minimum load needed before GTI kicks in I agree with the second caveat - but a man can dream to prevent battery voltI have a contactor disconnecting GTI ( SOC above 99 %) plus AC OUT2 disconnects at 57V as a backup. ( can be set lower but then AC out2 flip flops during normal charge cycles )
  9. I was wondering if my thinking is correct or I may end up with a big paperweight on my hand. Recently I came across this product - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1000W-Battery-Discharge-Power-Mode-MPPT-Solar-Grid-Tie-Inverter-with-Limiter-Sensor-DC22-65V-45/32762489820.html It is essentially a 1000W Grid-tie inverter with built-in export current limiter which can work with lead acid battery bank instead of PV panels as DC input I was thinking to use it on the output of 5 KW Quattro with Current limiter CT inserted between Grid-tie and Quattro ( see crude sketch attached) So in normal working, the Grid tie will supply the house power essentially stoping Quattro from discharging its battery( BYD lithium in my case) or drawing from the grid . ( using islanded mode) The grid tie inverter can be set to stop working on any voltage setpoint so as an example set it to use lead acid upto 48V or even insert a power contactor driven by BMV to disconnect SOC below 50 %) The grid tie maker claims 3 second reaction time on the power control ( from Full 1000 watt to Zero ) . If the combination work can give many advantages 1. Use Large /OLD lead acid bank fed from solar charge controller - remotely located ( SAY in a different shade 50 meters away) and tie to the main inverter 2. Reuse the old lead acid bank instead of discarding when changing to lithium using an el Cheapo charge controller 3. tie two different banks together of different battery types /chemistries 4. Increase the total load capacity e.g. 5KW Victron can handle 6 KW load at 40 DEG ambient with one 2000 watt grid tie attached for the temporary peaks of washing machines or vacuum cleaners I am aware that the power conversions from DC to AC do not make it the most efficient systems In real life case My lead acid of 400 AH is being fed from 5.5 KW solar panels through 2 No.s of Axperts ( total 10 KVA) and gets used only on weekends, public holidays as it supplies only airconditioning and washing machines, water heating etc. So essentially the 5.5. KW panels can feed the Quatro through the grid tie but also keep the lead acid bank topped up for nighttime AC operation in case of power failures. The Axeprets are set to charge bank only using AC and set at default solar mode so use grid only in the night T I have successfully setup a APS systems microgrid tie to work with Quattro AC/OUT 2 for my office. as the only power required is during weekends to keep batteries charged when generators are not running and the grid is not available - see attached logic and scheme ( I am on ground floor of 4 story building and the 4 mm2 cables would have been costlier than the whole setup) I am using PV inverter assistant and generator Logic to disconnect PV inverter when the grid is available in addition Quattro ACout will switch off using the assistant with battery voltage higher than 57V to avoid feedback into the main battery - see similar scheme in operation in my office ( using panels on 500-watt grid tie inverter) assitants summary.docx
  10. Should be ticked. and BMV should say thread running with time indication
  11. Just to check did you tick the use BMV under battery control? What is the bmv thread saying on the threads info tab
  12. ghatikar

    Victron CCGX

    The meter issue was partially resolved - We narrowed it down to cable or the USB /RS485 converter - The whole USB bus shuts down after power is restored to ET112 . The ET340 does not exhibit same behaviour I will replace the cables with CAT6 ( using telephone cable) over weekend and see if it goes away or alternatively only plug Et112 to a separate venus on PI and check Izak tried alternative drivers etc before concluding it is a hardware issue steps until now -------------- . Both meters are plugged in directly to venus 2. The problem is only with ET112 3. even if the power of ET112 is removed the ET340 continues to function 4. If the power comes back within few seconds the ET 112 returns and function normally 5. If the power to ET112 restored after a delay of 1-2 minutes the ET340 also disappears along with ET112 6. Both USB ports actually lose their power ( confirmed with USB doctor) and plugging in FAT32 8 GB drive 7. It does not matter which USB port of Venus the EM112 is plugged in 8. Both cables are extended by the same quality twisted pair Telephone cable 9. EM112 is closer than EM340- approximately 5 meter away while EM340 is approx 15 meters away after reboot, the power to USB port returns and both meters or the meters function normally Some videos ( sorry for the crappy quality ) I can try to switch the USB (RS485) cables to localize if the problem is cable or EM meter However, Can do that over weekend only If you want any other feedback or changes Let me know 1. General system - https://youtu.be/wTT5WC2PNnA 2. Short power interruption meter works normal - https://youtu.be/wHcPGJjt6As 3. Long power interruption - Both meters vanish - https://youtu.be/xw4Ee0bFgKw 4. general status of the system when USB bus dead but Em112 has power - https://youtu.be/utBQC6aV1vc
  13. ghatikar

    Victron CCGX

    I never needed to use the password as far as I remember. May be it has to be locked first before you need password . - The assitant password was removed I guess
  14. Mainly directed at @plonkster With the distributed voltage and current control enabled in my Venus GX with 2.12.17 I am seeing a strange See Saw pattern of the battery terminal voltage - probably because BYD has some hysteresis built in for charge and do not charge values and the Venus + Quattro internal circuits slowly drains the BYD dopping terminal voltage over 3-4 hours from 57 V to 54.8 before the charger switches on briefly and brings it back to 57 V and stops charging ON previous logic with Quattro in control the battery terminal voltage remained on 55.2 Any method using dbus to monitor the Allow to charge contacts status to find out if the voltage is being controlled by contact or by Distributed voltage /Current logic needs a short name ( DVCC?) I have turned it off and gone back to conventional Hardwire 1. Distrubuted voltage and current control - See Saw ./Sawtooth pattern Battery terminal voltage 2. Before the upgrade stable voltage 3. 7 days history
  15. ghatikar

    Victron CCGX

    The password is only needed on all firmwares. I think on 2.1.xxx it is removed.
  16. BYD recommends 3 x 2.5 KWH for a 5 KW solution. my 10 KWH ( 4x 2.5 ) 48 V system regularly reports 140 Amps charge-discharge limits at 30 DEG . This charge limit drops rapidly when the temperatures are lower than 12 DEG C
  17. @plonksterThank you, your link put me on the correct path. I found a CANBUS whitepaper ( backtracked from MODBUS .XLS) Canbus seems to be preferred choice for lithium vendors. I noticed from today's email from Bluenova that they went from NO communication to MODBUS to CANBUS Hopefully one day it will be industry standard and you can plug in any battery to any inverter VE.Can-registers-public.pdf
  18. Is there a communication white paper apart from thishttps://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Whitepaper-Data-communication-with-Victron-Energy-products_EN.pdf)( where it explains which Dbus values to address IU have attached The Herewin Canbus protocol for another inverter ( i think Goodwe ) . They need spoon feeding on what registers to use and what canbus address as they could not figure out on their own. and Lithium batteries is not something I am willing to experiment my limited programming skills on Otherwise, I am planning to do the scheme hardwired " allowed to charge and allowed to discharge contacts to multi ( Lynx Ion assistant)" with battery protector as additional safety ( remote on off from Battery BMS) and programme 0 ( Low voltage cut off at 42 V) The herewin Battery has Pretty wide tolerance ( discharge 40 V and charge 58.4 Volts ) making it almost drop in for lead Acid applications BMS Protocol (CAN) _Can.pdf Manual-Connecting-other-lithium-battery-systems-to-Multis-and-Quattros-EN.pdf Whitepaper-Data-communication-with-Victron-Energy-products_EN.pdf 48V 210AH(10.08kWh) datasheet for ref..pdf Manual-Battery-Protect-48V-100-A-EN-NL-FR-SE-DE-PT-ES-IT.pdf
  19. @plonkster I have asked Victron Both to sales@ xxxxx , docal distributer and Mattijias directly so far no results. I am trying to get canbus of another Chinese battery (compliant. The chinese did not get hold of any document from Victron so far and are willing to spend development efforts to design it the battery http://www.herewin.com/en/ProductShow.asp?ID=148 is less than 3000 USD for 10 KWh with 2000 cycles. I have asked herewin to put allow to charge and allow to discharge and I will use it that way with a 3 KW multi for my office
  20. I just got a feedback from Ipower installation engineer ( Voltronic rebrand for Nigeria) - Apperantely after 2016 the 60 and 80 amp models have a very low failure rate apprentely less than 1 in 100. But most of these units are installed in banks with large battery banks with loads at less than 30 % except when the ATM starts counting notes. THE CC part is fully loaded with a 3 KWp panel setup
  21. PeepsLatest News from Tapeta street Home Project A more mechanically talented guy from my office helped me install ( actually he did the install I just watched � ) over two days this weekend the first wind turbineI was also in parallel installing the BYD LIfepo4 batteries – 10 KWh 48 VSee video for turbine in operation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI84Xa_9LA4 It is a cheap Chinese make horizontal axis wind Turbine rated 200 Watt /24 V DC connected to the drivers /maids room through an off grid setup of 3 KWH . It is also augmented by 800 watt of Solar PV Cut in Speed 2 m/s - rated 11 m/s - Installation location - 9.078 7.482 , 492 m+ 14 metersweather history - https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=IABUJA3#history/tgraphs/s20171106/e20171106/mdailyI have also on order a Vertical Axis 300 Watt wind turbine to compare. Will be installed next year Now I have Four different RE models running in the same house 1. Pure Offgrid – 24 V DC Solar PV+ Wind – AGM batteries – 3KWH. 0.8 Kwp Solar2. DC coupled Hybrid – Grid + Solar PV + Diesel, 48 V Flooded lead acid , 20 KWh( 10 KVA peak) – 2.5 Kwp solar3. AC coupled Grid Tie ( normally running in islanding mode daytime) - Solar PV +Diesel Hybrid + Micro Grid inverter ,Lithium batteries – 10 KWh ( 5 KW peak) , 48 V DC – 3 Kwp Solar4. Solar thermal – 120 Litters EV tube water heater with PV Solar assisted 1.5 Kwp heater and 100 watt water boost pressure pump
  22. Based on BYD and Victron combination recommendations 5 KW requires at least 3 Bplus ( each 2.5 Kwh) ( Quattro with DG backup) or 5 units B-box ( multiplus) . Although Axpert can handle 4 KW max I would say 3 units is on safer side inase you switch inverters or to carry peak loads on regular basis. With two batteries I will stick to 60 amps x 50v = max 3 KW peak Please remember the continuous current capacity is quoted at 25 DEG C . my BYD were reporting 130 Amps Max Continous discharge current at 30 DEG C instead of the theoretical 140 see attached for BYD specs and recommendations
  23. The absorb on Axpert is not ajustable in normal firmware. Normally lithium with active balancing need max 1 hour absorb . and with passive balancing absorb is not needed at all
  24. Pylontech May not work ( Axepert) inOffgrid Setup unless there is large no. the batteries are heavily derated for continuous operation. Please check the datasheets I think for 5 KW you need minimum 2 or more - e.g. BYD with similar setup recommends atleast 3 units of 2.5 KWh for 5 KW off grid but only one unit of 2.5 KWH for ongrid 5 KW https://www.wattuneed.com/en/lithium-batteries-/1928-lihium-battery-pylontech-phantom-s-0712971131125.html
  25. @plonkster Thank you . Most comprehensive answers I got. I will try UK settings over the weekend
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