6 hours ago, NSingh said:

Also what is MCU?

I think : Microcontroller Unit

 

6 hours ago, NSingh said:

Do you think it is a good idea to update the main firmware as well?

IMO Don't fix whats NOT broken

Edited December 30, 20214 yr by Quwatush Shams (Suly)

3 minutes ago, Quwatush Shams (Suly) said:

I think : Microcontroller Unit

Is that the same as the removable display?  If I use that link to update the removable display will it be fine?

1 minute ago, NSingh said:

If I use that link to update the removable display will it be fine?

Should be fine, if done correctly

Okay great, thank you @Quwatush Shams (Suly). I am just waiting for takealot to deliver my converter so that I can do the update. 

 

I purchased this one: https://www.takealot.com/ugreen-usb2-0-m-to-db9-rs232-2m-cab-bk/PLID40361956

On 2021/12/30 at 10:32 PM, NSingh said:

Also what is MCU?

I believe it's Micro Controller Unit. That refers to the processor in the removable display, as opposed to the DSP (Digital Signals Processor) in the main inverter-charger. 

On 2021/12/30 at 10:32 PM, NSingh said:

Do you think it is a good idea to update the main firmware as well?

Hard to say, especially since it's so hard to compare firmware version numbers: there is a slight chance you could go backwards in functionality, or at least not update to the actual latest version. 

Edit: I've found an easy (and obvious in retrospect) way to compare firmwares for which a firmware update file is available. You just compare the modification date for the dsp.hex file inside the archive. But this obviously does not help for firmware versions that come from the factory that don't have corresponding firmware update files. 

Edited January 30, 20224 yr by Coulomb

35 minutes ago, Coulomb said:

backwards in functionality, or at least not update to the actual latest version. 

Yes, that is true. Especially since the inverter does not tell you what firmware it is running.

Hi There N

I've just installed a KODAK OG-Plus 3.24 KING Inverter married to two PYLON UP2500 24V batteries. Initially the comms showed a flashing 61 code with plenty beeping. Problem was I had inserted the RJ45 cable (that came with the inverter)  into the CAN slot on he master battery. So I removed it and inserted it into the LO/RS485/L1 slot and went thru the installation procedure again. The 61 flashed again with the beeper but after several seconds the battery icon on the inverter LCD display started flashing and the 61 and beeper disappeared. The system was then OK with the batteries and inverter communicating. Hope this helps in some way. I bought the system units from THE POWER STORE so if you need the comms cable (if your VM111 uses the same) they will have it.

Good luck

Pat

On 2021/12/31 at 10:37 AM, NSingh said:

Especially since the inverter does not tell you what firmware it is running.

? It should show the version number on a display page with "U1" in it, using the front panel buttons.

Also, monitoring software (Watchpower, ICC, Solar Assistant etc) should be able to issue the QVFW command and display the result.

11 hours ago, Pat said:

flashing 61 code with plenty beeping

My inverter was doing the same thing and then I tried a combination of different pinout configurations and ended up getting warning 69.

 

11 hours ago, Pat said:

LO/RS485/L1 slot and went thru the installation procedure again

Thanks @Pat. I did the same thing and then I got warning 69.

 

11 hours ago, Pat said:

THE POWER STORE

I contacted them but they said I need to get it from RCT themselves so I ended up making my own cable (I hope my combination is correct but I thinking getting error 69 means my combination is correct but I am not sure.

 

11 hours ago, Pat said:

THE POWER STORE

If you look on their website, what cable does your one look like?

Edited January 1, 20224 yr by NSingh

2 hours ago, NSingh said:

I thinking getting error 69 means my combination is correct but I am not sure.

Yes, warning 69 just means that your battery is full, and further charging is disabled. So that's a good warning! 🙂

On 2022/01/01 at 2:25 PM, Coulomb said:

good warning!

That's great news, thanks @Coulomb. 

 

On 2022/01/01 at 4:03 AM, Coulomb said:

version number on a display page with "U1"

My apologies yes it does. U1 is 41.14 and U2 is 2.40.  I will update U2 to 2.66 once my cable arrives but do you think U1 is fine?

18 hours ago, NSingh said:

U1 is 41.14 ... do you think U1 is fine?

I only have 41.17 here, which doesn't sound much later tan 41.14. But I don't pay much attention to the VM III firmware. My guess is that 41.14 is fine.

On 2022/01/01 at 2:25 PM, Coulomb said:

Yes, warning 69 just means that your battery is full, and further charging is disabled. So that's a good warning! 🙂

Are you sure i actually am looking for documentation to confirm that its not harmful. Error code 69

@CM21 According to the picture attached, it does not seem harmful. This is the updated manual for the VMIII.

 

 

5 hours ago, CM21 said:

confirm that its not harmful. Error code 69

I suppose that there could be more serious reasons why warning code 69 might be asserted, e.g. under or over temperature. But 99% of the time, it will just mean that the battery is full. It's a For Your Information: the reason that charging has stopped is because the BMS has commanded it to stop.

Edit: of course, from the battery's point of view, all charging (solar and utility) should cease. But from the inverter-charger's point of view, no net charge into the battery (the actual goal) should mean that total solar charging should not exceed the battery current needed to maintain the load. Voltronic seem to be conflating "no net charge into the battery" with "no solar priduction at all".

Edited January 5, 20224 yr by Coulomb

I undated my main firmware to 41.17 and my removable display firmware to 2.66 and it worked! The warning 69 is no longer there and the communication from the inverter to the batteries is working fine (I can tell being the battery symbol is constantly flashing).

 

Thank you for much @Coulomb and @Quwatush Shams (Suly)!

 

Also, how can I parallel my inverter with another VMIII?

Edited January 5, 20224 yr by NSingh

2 hours ago, NSingh said:

how can I parallel my inverter with another VMIII

From what I know they cannot be paralleled, they are stand alone machines but stand to be corrected

O!! Im glad your issue has been resolved.

Edited January 5, 20224 yr by Quwatush Shams (Suly)

10 minutes ago, Quwatush Shams (Suly) said:

cannot be paralleled

I have also read that but I was hoping that there is some way of making it parallel or something similar to that so that I can have a bigger load.

9 hours ago, Quwatush Shams (Suly) said:

they cannot be paralleled

Correct. This is one of the reasons the Value Models (VM series) are a little cheaper. The processor doesn't have the horsepower to do paralleling.

Edit: actually, the M probably stands for Mppt (Maximum Power Point Tracking, as opposed to the cheaper PWM type).

Edited January 6, 20224 yr by Coulomb

Do you know of anyway to make my system take more watts?  Like adding something else?

On 2022/01/04 at 10:48 PM, NSingh said:

@CM21 According to the picture attached, it does not seem harmful. This is the updated manual for the VMIII.

 

 

Where can i find the updated manual??

22 minutes ago, CM21 said:

Where can i find the updated manual??

https://www.mppsolar.com/manual/PIP-MK (PF1.0)/PIP-MK manual-20190717.pdf

7 hours ago, NSingh said:

anyway to make my system take more watts?

All you can do is add another inverter (any brand or model, just same battery voltage) and split your loads. It's like two separate systems sharing the same battery. To split the loads, you need electrical work, unless one inverter runs entirely off plug boards. Or maybe your house loads are already split, e.g. three phase or granny flat.

Splitting loads is something of a nuisance: you could still have too much load on one inverter, with the other having plenty capacity. But if you happen to have consistent loads, say a bunch of servers, it could work OK.

Then you may also want to split or enhance your PV, but that's the same as with a paralleled system.

You'll need a strong battery, but again that's the same as with a paralleled system.

Edited January 6, 20224 yr by Coulomb

Thanks @Coulomb.

Edited January 8, 20224 yr by NSingh

The company that I purchased the inverter from said they will exchange my inverter for the RCT Axpert MAX 2 8K48V (https://www.sustainable.co.za/products/rct-axpert-max-2-8k48v-8kva-8kw-48v-hybrid-inverter?_pos=1&_sid=c032a7496&_ss=r). 

Does anyone have the latest manual for this inverter? 

Also, how can I factory reset my current inverter (the VMIII)? Basically wipe all data off it?