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Nicholas

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  1. Like
    Nicholas got a reaction from shanghailoz in The dreaded Revov's on Sale!   
    Thank you, @shanghailoz!

    I believe that I have installed it correctly.

    I followed the following steps:
    1. Execute SSH installer script option via Putty (SSH) on my CCGX as per Wiki (How to Install) - installing Louis latest release of the driver
    2. Download zip file of the revov branch containing the updated dbus_serialbattery folder and files
    3. Overwrite files on CCGX using FileZilla (SFTP) to transfer the files from my desktop
    4. Reboot CCGX and voila! SerialBattery appears on device list
  2. Like
    Nicholas reacted to shanghailoz in The dreaded Revov's on Sale!   
    Read the instructions for the repo. https://github.com/Louisvdw/dbus-serialbattery/wiki/How-to-install
    Once installed, overwrite with the updated files from here from the REVOV branch - https://github.com/csloz/dbus-serialbattery
    You'll need ssh access to your PI or CCGX
     
    Files to update / add from his release are mostly in these 2 files
    https://github.com/csloz/dbus-serialbattery/blob/revov/etc/dbus-serialbattery/revov.py (the partially completed driver)
    https://github.com/csloz/dbus-serialbattery/blob/revov/etc/dbus-serialbattery/dbus-serialbattery.py (some mild updates to add a link to load the revov.py code).
     
    Bit busy on work atm, if you get stuck shout.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  3. Like
    Nicholas reacted to shanghailoz in The dreaded Revov's on Sale!   
    Modbus Packet : [7C:01:01:76:01:10:0D:28:8D:20:0D:29:8D:37:0D:45:8D:3A:4E:0B:8D:CC:0D:2C:8D:10:0D:2B:0D:28:8D:16:0D:2A:8D:1D:0D:27:02:01:75:30:03:01:27:10:04:01:46:50:05:03:00:49:00:49:20:4B:06:05:00:00:10:10:00:00:00:00:00:01:07:01:00:85:08:01:15:34:09:01:27:10:0A:01:00:01:0B:01:00:00:83:00:0C:01:00:00:37:AE:0D:01:00:40:00:00:0E:01:00:40:00:00:0F:01:00:1A:3A:04:10:01:00:09:57:AD:2E:0D] (118 Bytes)+6 bytes head/foot =  [7c:01:01:76] + [data] + 2 bytes [2E 0D] Checksum / LF
    [HEADER] 7C:01:01:76 Modbus bits  (Cut when passed)
    [0..1] 01:10   BatteryModule? | Cell Count 
    [2..33] [0D:28:8D:20:0D:29:8D:37:0D:45:8D:3A:4E:0B:8D:CC:0D:2C:8D:10:0D:2B:0D:28:8D:16:0D:2A:8D:1D:0D:27 [ Per Cell Data ] 
    [34..55] 02:01 75:30 03:01 27:10 04:01 [46:50] 05:03 00:49 00:49 20:4B 06:05  11 doubles [18000 = Full Bat Cap?]
    [56..65] [00:00:10:10:00:00:00:00:00:01] Alarm 
    [66..81] 07:01 [00:85] 08:01 [15:34] 09:01 [27:10] 0A:01 00:01  [133=Cycles?]  [5428 = 54.28 V_SUM?] [10000 = 100.00]
    [82..97] 0B:01 00:00 83:00 [0C:01] 00:00 37:AE [0D:01] 00:40 [3073 = 3.073] [3329= 3.329? V_AVG/MIN etc?]
    [98..113] 00:00 0E:01 00:40 00:00 0F:01 00:1A 3A:04 10:01
    [114..117] [00:09 57:AD]
    [118..119] [2E] 0D Checksum? ,  LF
     
    Some more guesswork above.  Will implement as noted, then see if the inferred values are guessed wrong or not.
    Another modbus packet to compare
    [7C:01:01:76:01:10:8D:20:0D:17:8D:21:0D:2F:8D:3B:0D:32:CD:E3:0D:B3:8D:23:0D:0D:8D:24:0D:24:0D:11:8D:21:0D:18:8D:21:02:01:75:30:03:01:27:10:04:01:46:50:05:03:00:49:00:48:20:4B:06:05:00:00:10:10:00:00:00:00:00:01:07:01:00:85:08:01:15:24:09:01:27:10:0A:01:00:01:0B:01:00:00:83:00:0C:01:00:00:37:AE:0D:01:00:40:00:00:0E:01:00:40:00:00:0F:01:00:1A:3A:04:10:01:00:09:57:AD:BA:0D]
    02:01 75:30 03:01 27:10 04:01 46:50 05:03 00:49 00:48 20:4B 06:05
    [00:00:10:10:00:00:00:00:00:01] Alarm
    07:01 [00:85] 08:01 [15:24] 09:01 27:10 0A:01 00:01 [Cycles] 54.48 Bat Voltage?] [soc state?]
    0B:01 00:00 83:00 0C:01 00:00 37:AE 0D:01 00:40 [these haven't changed, so probably not V_min/avg]
    00:00 0E:01 00:40 00:00 0F:01 00:1A 3A:04 10:01
    00:09 57:AD
     
    I think cycles and Battery voltage look correct.  Will need to check in morning or later if soc state is correct as batteries should be full until after sunset.
     
  4. Like
    Nicholas reacted to shanghailoz in The dreaded Revov's on Sale!   
    New version 0.1.3
    /*
    Cell Voltage Implemented
    Hardware Name Implemented
    Hardware Revision Implemented
    Battery Voltage added (but not correct!)
    Added additional binary logging so I can try spot what bits are used for RED cell errors (not the Alarm error, which I'll get to later)
    Added return false for the read_cell_data in case of bad packet.
    To do:
    SOC, Error Codes, Other variables
    */
    Example Logging
     

    revov.py
     
    I think this is good enough as a beta to ask Louisvdw to pull to github.
    I'd like testers if anyone else has a revov, so I can check whats different between units/revisions
     
    You'll need an RS485 cable, and a PI (or CCGX)
     
    Also available at https://github.com/csloz/dbus-serialbattery/tree/revov
    I have asked for a merge to the main repo.
    Further code updates will be published at the repo.
    Enjoy!
  5. Like
    Nicholas reacted to shanghailoz in The dreaded Revov's on Sale!   
    Some screen shots of this in action on my Venus PI
    Now with per cell monitoring (added the qml file on the current repo)



  6. Like
    Nicholas reacted to ___ in My path on the blue brick road (Victron Multiplus install)   
    Cool. Now build an sd-card installer for it, and then ship it 🙂
     
  7. Like
    Nicholas reacted to Louisvdw in My path on the blue brick road (Victron Multiplus install)   
    First version of the serial battery driver is working. SOC and DC values are published and updated. 

  8. Thanks
    Nicholas reacted to Youda in Youda's off-grid LAB   
    Hi guys,
    so, if you want to check the status of your Pylontech Phantom-S, US2000 or US3000, there's a great diagnostic tool for this called BatteryView.
    *DISCLAIMER:
    *Please note that with the information written below, you can effectively destroy your batteries, or invalidate your warranty.
    *Do what you like, but I take no responsibility for your actions and results.
     
    First, you have to create a Serial Console cable, as no such cable comes in the box with the batteries. Here's the wiring:
    Plug the RJ-11 connector of the cable into the CONSOLE PORT of the TOP BRICK of you battery stack. Just to be sure, the top brick is the one that have LinkPort0 EMPTY. Next, plug the cable into your laptop's serial port, or USB2Serial adapter. Launch the app and choose the serial port name according to your's laptop configuration. IE COM1, COM2, COM6... Baudrate is 115200. If you have more Pylon bricks stacked, then check the "Parallel" box and select the number of bricks that you have in a single stack. Click OK to connect to the BMS. If you did everything correctly, the app will scan all the bricks and will show you the operational parameters, like cell voltages, current, temperature, SoC... There's a couple more charts available under the "Windows" menu, like Voltage/Amps curve, etc.
    Be carefull, as this tool is used also for updating firmware. So, don't screw up your battery...  
    For the experts, there's even a possibility to open a CLI, where you can query much more detailed info.
    You can SET the values, test the circuits, perform shutdown, etc.
    This CLI is so powerfull, that it's actually scary.

    Well, if you're not a certified Pylontech expert, don't touch it, please!
     
    ATTACHMENT:
    BatteryView.zip
     
  9. Like
    Nicholas got a reaction from Wick in Why your BMS is not an optional extra   
    I agree with the OP’s original statement to a certain degree, but not for the purposes of communicating charge and discharge current limits.
    The biggest issue that I have experienced is the ability to control or manage your systems energy based on accurate battery SOC (%). Now the problem lies in, where do you obtain this information from?
    1st prize is of course, the battery BMS. But often times either the battery does not support any form of native communication with the inverter or vice versa, the inverter does not support any type of communication available from the battery.
    The fall back is to control the system through battery voltage derived SOC. This, unfortunately, is typically quite inaccurate.
    A work around though is available in the form of Victron’s range of high precision battery monitors, the BMV700/702/712. These devices are battery agnostic because they measure energy throughput. This way you can calculate the true SOC of any battery, provided you setup the BMV correctly. You then simply need to make sure that you can pass the information from the BMV to the inverter or control system so that your system is now managed based on accurate SOC. 
     
    In an advanced hybrid power system, you need an accurate battery monitor. This either needs to be of the form of communication to the BMS or a 3rd party external device like a Victron BMV700.
     
     
  10. Like
    Nicholas reacted to ___ in Running 2nd life Revov Batteries with other 48V Batteries   
    No. Well, yes... it will actually work, but you're going to destroy the lead acids in the long run.
    First things first, it depends on how many cells in the LFP pack. If it's a 15 cell pack, then all bets are off. A 15-cell pack will disconnect itself if you go over 3.6V per cell, or 54V. 54V is too low for the lead acids and they will be damaged due to not being charged properly. A 16-cell pack would be more suitable.
    The LFP battery will also grab most of the charge current and the lead acids will only start charging once they are full, further impacting their proper charging. The LFP will tend to do most of the work most of the time, it will charge first, and discharge first.
    The worst thing, however, is that if anything bad happens to your lead acids (like an internal short), then the full discharge capability of the LFP might be let loose on the lead acids, which may be a safety concern. So at the very least you'd have to individually fuse them.
    Finally, you may be voiding warranties if you do that. Pretty much every LFP battery I've seen has instructions telling you not do to this 🙂
  11. Like
    Nicholas reacted to ___ in Infinisolar inverters disconnecting from grid with new Smart meters   
    In fact... I am now wondering how difficult it would be to close the relay in a Venus-GX/CCGX for a few seconds every time power goes negative. There's still going to be a delay, because in the kind of systems I work with we use Carlo Gavazzi energy meters and those can lag as much as 800mS, and then there's a bit more of a propagation delay, but in theory, if you react within 2 seconds with enough of a load, it just might work...
  12. Like
    Nicholas reacted to introverter in Mecer LiFePO4 Lithium Ion Batteries: Any experience   
    apologies for only replying now..
    Not much to add really. The battery is used only as a backup power source for Eskom  load shedding (I do not cycle it daily) so it has not seen any additional use in the past month or so.
    I did one load test which confirmed the capacity on the unit I received (200Ah)
    The battery was charged to 14.1V as per manufacturer spec. and then left without any load for about 12 hours. Then a known load was connected. Ambient temperature was about 20.5 degrees C for the duration of the test. The load consisted of a 230W tungsten security light and one small 4W LED bulb which at 230V gave a current draw of about 20A. The inverter was set to disconnect at 10V.  Load was connected at 07:00 (battery voltage just before load was connected was 13.91V) and the inverter disconnected at about 17:03. Total time therefore just over 10 hours (10hx20A=200Ah). Data from the log also indicates that about 208Ah "left" the battery and when charging at 15A (standard rate) about 215Ah "went in". While discharging the battery voltage remained fairly constant until the last 30 minutes or so when it started falling of the cliff.

     
  13. Thanks
    Nicholas reacted to introverter in Mecer LiFePO4 Lithium Ion Batteries: Any experience   
    I took a chance and bought a 200Ah one.
    The Wh number on the comx site is wrong  when you do the math and you can see that someone edited a 180Ah manual to indicate 200Ah - which makes it seem very dodgy - BUT the included manual that I received have numbers that make sense. (it seems that there are 180Ah and 200Ah units. 180Ah was out of stock with mustek/mecer when I enquired)
    Overall outer condition seems fine (the battery shell is plastic, but no obvious dents/cracks/scratches - shell actually looks 100% - no idea what the inside looks like and will not take to opening it up...yet).
    battery terminals had no sign of use/tool marks etc.
    Specs indicate it weighs "approx. 23Kg" - mine weighs 23.4Kg (google suggest the specific energy of LiFePO4 to be 90-120Wh/Kg. So while not knowing the exact weight of the cells, the numbers should get you at least past 2000Wh (160Ah for 12.8V nominal)  at the lower spectrum ...I guess it could contain only 4 cells and some lead bars...)
    My cheap multimeter showed a voltage of 13.19V  before hooking it up for the first time (probably fairly meaningless for a lithium, but at least it did not arrive @ 10V) 
    I charged it with a Multiplus inverter/charger @ 35A (the manual indicates standard charge as 15A and maximum as 100A) - I was keen to have it charged as I knew we were in for load shedding later the day. It took close to exactly 3 hours before indicating "absorption". Multiplus held absorption for another 1 hour (current tappering off). By my math (which is worse than my spelling) using info from my VRM log, by the time absorption was reached the battery "accepted" about 105Ah and absorption probably added another 15Ah. As far as I know lithium batteries are shipped at about 50% charge. So assuming the shipping charge state and the known charge cycle the math would suggest that it probably is in the 200Ah range.
    While charging nothing felt warm (my hand being the closest to a scientific instrument for temp testing).
    When load shedding takes a break I  might see if I can get a more definitive answer on the capacity with a sustained fixed load.
    The battery has been used this past week and seemed to happily power the very modest average 200W load for 2 hours, then charge @ 15A and be ready at least an hour before the next load shedding session commenced, and repeated this cycle another 2 times per day for 4 days in a row. (I lowered the charge rate to 15A to "baby" the battery when possible, but if we hit stage 6 load shedding I will up the charge rate again). 
    The battery has done momentary (couple of seconds) discharges @ >250A (NOT a typo) and so far nothing has melted/tripped/caught fire. The manual indicates maximum continuous discharge as 100A - no information on pulse current. How well the BMS does what it is supposed to do (or whether it is even there...?)  I do not know  and have no intention to short out the terminals, or charge it to 16V to find out. 
    The "manual" is 1 piece of A4 paper, but at least it is double sided, glossy, in colour and not written in the worst dialect of Changelese. Probably the biggest issue is one part of the page indicates a charge voltage of 14.6V, and another 14.1V - I suspect the 14.6V is probably the high cut-off. (I set the voltage at 14.1V)
    Whether the battery will give me 1500 cycles (this I assume is to another 80% capacity loss) I do not know.
    Should you consider one, or more, of these keep in mind (according to the manual):
    You  can NOT parallel connect to get 400Ah, but you can series connect to get 24/48  "Bulk"/absorption voltage is 14.1V (float @ 13.6V) for 12V system "Bulk"/absorption voltage is 28.2V (float @ 27.2) for 24V system "Bulk"/absorption voltage is 56.4V (float @ 54.4) for 48V system  
  14. Like
    Nicholas got a reaction from Coulomb in Infinisolar 10kw 3kw per phase in off grid mode ?   
    During inverter operation (No Grid input) the machine is limited to 3.3kW per phase (3 Outputs allowing up to 10kW of total output). This would be the case if the inverter is programmed for "Off-Grid" mode. 
    If Grid-Tie with Backup "Mode" is used, then the inverter is able to "blend" power from it's input sources - Grid, PV & Battery and has something called the "Grid Relay" closed and is able to handle quite a lot more throughput/load than the rated 3.3kW per phase.
    In off-grid mode, if the load exceeds 3.3kW on a phase, the inverter will bypass load delivery to utility supply (if present) in order to avoid an overload condition. This involves relay position change and will have an associated transfer time. 
    The operating mode is very dependent on many of the programmable settings in SolarPower and requires quite a thorough understanding/experience to achieve the desired operating condition.
  15. Like
    Nicholas got a reaction from Youda in Infinisolar 10kw 3kw per phase in off grid mode ?   
    During inverter operation (No Grid input) the machine is limited to 3.3kW per phase (3 Outputs allowing up to 10kW of total output). This would be the case if the inverter is programmed for "Off-Grid" mode. 
    If Grid-Tie with Backup "Mode" is used, then the inverter is able to "blend" power from it's input sources - Grid, PV & Battery and has something called the "Grid Relay" closed and is able to handle quite a lot more throughput/load than the rated 3.3kW per phase.
    In off-grid mode, if the load exceeds 3.3kW on a phase, the inverter will bypass load delivery to utility supply (if present) in order to avoid an overload condition. This involves relay position change and will have an associated transfer time. 
    The operating mode is very dependent on many of the programmable settings in SolarPower and requires quite a thorough understanding/experience to achieve the desired operating condition.
  16. Like
    Nicholas got a reaction from Youda in Adding the second bank of Pylons   
    Here's a basic "mixture" guideline from Pylontech.
    US2000B US2000 PLUS US3000 Difference and Mixture Installation.pdf
  17. Thanks
    Nicholas got a reaction from Mark in Adding the second bank of Pylons   
    Here's a basic "mixture" guideline from Pylontech.
    US2000B US2000 PLUS US3000 Difference and Mixture Installation.pdf
  18. Like
    Nicholas got a reaction from Youda in Infini Solar 10kw query   
    Grid-Tie with Backup (I), Grid-Tie with Backup (II) etc... ?
    Screenshots of the settings would allow faster troubleshooting.
    Has the DB been split into essential and non-essential loads, and the essential loads connected to the output of the inverter?
    Is the Inverter Output Enabled (Light-bulb bottom right-hand corner)?
  19. Thanks
    Nicholas reacted to Coulomb in Why don't solar panels ever produce their peak?   
    Short answer: because they get hot, and the rated power is at 25 °C. The higher temperature increases the panel's available current, but decreases the voltage, and the latter effect is the higher. You lose some 0.4% per °C, which typically comes to over 10%. The rest is non-ideal angles and atmospheric effects (early and late in the day). Typically, it means that much of the time, you only get 80-85% of rated power even two hours either side of noon with no cloud or shading.
    They do occasionally produce their rated output or even 10% more, with cloud edge effect. That's when the sun burts out from behind the edge of a dark cloud, the panels have had time to cool, then there is a blast of solar production before the panels have a chance to heat up. Edit: but this effect lasts only a minute.
  20. Thanks
    Nicholas reacted to Youda in Replus / Inifnisolar max output power with grid present?   
    This is the reason, why you can pass much more power thru InfiniSolar then what internal inverter circuit can deliver:
    In the majority of the InfiniSolar's operating modes, the internal "grid relay" physically connects AC-in with AC-out. Then, the power from the inverter circuit is mixed with the power from the grid. Since the voltage produced by internal inverter circuit is slightly higher then the voltage of the grid, it gets consumed first. If there's a huge load, the missing electricity is "sucked" from the grid:

    Yes, there is a current measurement inline, so the Infini knows, how much current is passing thru and can warn you if it's too much.
     
     
  21. Like
    Nicholas got a reaction from Coulomb in Infinisolar repair centres   
    Where did you purchase the inverters from, may I ask? It is usually best to request support from your original equipment supplier as they should have direct contact with a Voltronic Power rep.
  22. Thanks
    Nicholas got a reaction from Power Punk in MPP Solar inverters direct support Pylontech (some models)   
    The new development from Voltronic with regards to communication with PylonTech lithium batteries will take two forms; an RS485 Card (to be plugged into the Intelligent slot of the inverter) and an RS485 external box (to be plugged into the inverter RS232 port, I believe). Either of the devices will then be connected to the RJ45 port of the PylonTech battery to complete the connection. 
    The RS485 external box allows the operator to maintain usage of other Voltronic Infinisolar accessories typically plugged into the intelligent slot (e.g. Modbus Card, SNMP Card, GSM/GPRS Card and WiFi Card). This is an important consideration by the manufacturer because many applications will require more than 1 of the Voltronic Infinisolar accessories to be used in order to achieve the desired operating mode (e.g. A Modbus Card and Eastron SDM630M to control export power to the Grid as well as an RS485 box to control charge/discharge between the inverter and PylonTech battery bank).
    The PylonTech communication accessories should be available in Q1 of 2019.
  23. Like
    Nicholas got a reaction from Youda in Infini 10 failures   
    We've experienced further failures of the Infinisolar 10kW inverter, at different installation sites. 
    The machines all failed quite catastrophically - usually blowing the DC-DC board. 
    We have deduced that the failures seem to be attributed to a specific batch of inverters. 
    The effected serial numbers translate into a manufacturer date of between February and April of 2017. 
    e.g. 96161702.... Up to 96161704 
    The machines we purchased were of the model description: "InfiniSolar 10k-PAR-B"
    We strongly believe that the failures are a result of a manufacturing or design defect present in the machines produced between the aforementioned date range. 
    We have raised the problem with our supplier and are hoping that they will invoke action from Voltronic Power. 
  24. Like
    Nicholas got a reaction from Mark in Infinisolar 4kW Super 3 phase installation   
    Thank you, that is very helpful to know. The value proposition of the Voltronic Infinisolar range continues to astound me.
  25. Thanks
    Nicholas reacted to Youda in Infinisolar 4kW Super 3 phase installation   
    Hi Nicholas,
    FYI, Infini10K is one of the few "assymetric" inverters on the market. It can generate a different amount of power in each phase.
    Well, if you need 3 MPPT inputs, then I do understand why did you choose going this way.
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