Hi Everyone,

PieterO Do you have a screenshot of the CFE batteries going from 100% to 90% before charging back up?

It sounds like this is happening even when PV is being used?

I am considering CFE batteries. Not sure to go with them or choose a different brand

Edited March 23, 20233 yr by Tronic

1 hour ago, Tronic said:

Hi Everyone,

PieterO Do you have a screenshot of the CFE batteries going from 100% to 90% before charging back up?

It sounds like this is happening even when PV is being used?

Not Pieter, but I do of the Raystech batteries (which I believe run the same internals)

SoC hits 90 at about 12, batteries then discharge to assist with covering load down to 90(on a zero cloud day). 

then charging starts again and only made it back to 97 or 98 before the sun disappeared

On 2023/03/14 at 3:03 PM, PieterO said:

@MeepMoop No not nomal.  All other 5.1kw Lithium Ion Batteries stay at 100%.  Its just these CFE's that discharge immediately when it gets to 100%.  Very irritating as it means that you will go into the night with 5 - 10% less battery.  See below:  I am fighting with the CFE Technical Team to fix this... maybe you can Raystech Support to do the same?

 

Hey @PieterO For the record, Raystech did a firmware update on my batteries 2 days ago and the update makes that they now only cycle between 95 and 100. which is not perfect, but seems to be as good as it will get

Hi All, yes same with mine, they did update the BMS on my 2 CFE5100 s and now it cycles between 100% and 95%. This is not ideal as the other Makes of Batteries stays at 100% and almost always when the sun set, I start my battery with 95% SoC.  The CFE Technical team says it's an Inverter issue... Thus, I am working with Sunsynk/Dye Technical to see if they can resolve this for us. 

 

thanks @MeepMoop

 

50 minutes ago, MeepMoop said:

Not Pieter, but I do of the Raystech batteries (which I believe run the same internals)

SoC hits 90 at about 12, batteries then discharge to assist with covering load down to 90(on a zero cloud day). 

then charging starts again and only made it back to 97 or 98 before the sun disappeared

This seems strange that the PV is not powering the load and its using the battery instead.

Do you have a SOC vs BMS(amps) graph for this day?

 

20 minutes ago, Tronic said:

thanks @MeepMoop

 

This seems strange that the PV is not powering the load and its using the battery instead.

Do you have a SOC vs BMS(amps) graph for this day?

 

Here it is

53 minutes ago, PieterO said:

Hi All, yes same with mine, they did update the BMS on my 2 CFE5100 s and now it cycles between 100% and 95%. This is not ideal as the other Makes of Batteries stays at 100% and almost always when the sun set, I start my battery with 95% SoC.  The CFE Technical team says it's an Inverter issue... Thus, I am working with Sunsynk/Dye Technical to see if they can resolve this for us. 

 

Okay, let us know how it goes, or if you need some extra evidence from me etc. 

15 minutes ago, MeepMoop said:

Here it is

Thanks @MeepMoop

sorry but can you please send the SOC vs I-charge-limit-bms

I will also ask a friend if he could possibly help

1 minute ago, Tronic said:

Thanks @MeepMoop

sorry but can you please send the SOC vs I-charge-limit-bms

I will also ask a friend if he could possibly help

Never knew about that stat, thanks! Shows the scenario quite well 

On 2023/03/14 at 7:55 AM, PieterO said:

Hi, if its a Sunsynk Inverter you can go to the Settings, then go to the Li BMS on the inverter itself.  See below:

How do you know they did not do it?  It should happen in the background.

 

How do you get this connection done? My screen shows 0. 

@Flappie No, I did not connect anything. I believe this is automatic when the Batteries is connected to Inverter.  Probably the BMS sending it to the Inverter.   Do you see SOC?

@MeepMoop thanks for the info.

I am installing the cfe 5100s with sunsync inverter. Will keep you posted how it goes.

So the firmware does improve the BMS SOC from 100% to 95% now?

What is the CFE lastest firmware version? 

@Tronic No problem. 

The firmware does change the "bottom" SoC to 95. Not sure what the actual firmware version is, I checked on Smart BESS, no value there. And on the batteries self hosted "admin site", but the values listed there did not change after the update. 

Perhaps @PieterO knows the version?

To confirm the 95 bottom, charge limit stats from yesterday:

Edited March 24, 20233 yr by MeepMoop
Tired typo

Hmmm. I was considering these batteries but not keen on an "effective" 4.8kw when marketed as a 5.1kw battery. 🙄

Thanks.

Can the firmware be updated yourself once the app is installed or does the support team push the firmware update?

@Zombie yeah they seemed like the perfect battery before i read this forum.

My reasoning is other batteries like the sunsync is 80% DOD and much more expensive.

Also other brands drop to 98%/99% before accepting a charge (drop from 100%).

So 95% for me, it isn't too bad for the price with a 10year warranty.

2 minutes ago, Tronic said:

@Zombie yeah they seemed like the perfect battery before i read this forum.

My reasoning is other batteries like the sunsync is 80% DOD and much more expensive.

Also other brands drop to 98%/99% before accepting a charge (drop from 100%).

So 95% for me, it isn't too bad for the price with a 10year warranty.

Yeah I might be able to swallow 95%  (at least it's not 90 anymore), but I ain't going to like it.

 

The apparent lack of after sales support also makes me nervous.

Edited March 24, 20233 yr by Zombie

17 minutes ago, Tronic said:

Thanks.

Can the firmware be updated yourself once the app is installed or does the support team push the firmware update?

I don't know, tbh. 

Nope no Version on the App.  Best is to speak to Technical Support and ask them to update the BMS to cycle between 100% - 95% SoC.  Or maybe the new Batteries coming in will be updated already.

My batteries in the beginning charge up to 100% and stayed 100%! Now lately it is only going to 98%. I did a capacity test now suddenly I only have 6kw capacity from 2 batteries! Still no answer from the technical team for more than a week! 

@Jeandre Dup how old are they?

48 minutes ago, Zombie said:

@Jeandre Dup how old are they?

4 months if I am remembering correct 

On 2023/03/24 at 9:15 AM, PieterO said:

Nope no Version on the App.  Best is to speak to Technical Support and ask them to update the BMS to cycle between 100% - 95% SoC.  Or maybe the new Batteries coming in will be updated already.

They pushed the 95% firmware to my battery (Inverter is Mecer SOL-I-AX-5M4 Axpert MKS IV 5600va) and since then I have been having issues with the inverter restarting when the battery reaches 100%. You can hear the audible clicks from the BMS and after that the inverter shuts down and restarts. Happened twice this morning within a few minutes.

Last night I got a F60 error on the inverter (with red ring) and battery showed error state as well.

I have messaged CFE and they are looking into it!

Edited March 25, 20233 yr by waynehooper

On 2023/03/23 at 11:57 AM, Tronic said:

I am considering CFE batteries. Not sure to go with them or choose a different brand

PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM CFE! 
 

Read trough the whole tread from page one. Its problem on problem. Support just don’t give a shit! They create groups  yes but only you and the 4 technicians to keep it quiet. My Batteries are not even 3 months old and im having endless problems. First it was the ios app. Still not working to bind batteries btw. Had to use a friends android phone to do it as Support doesn’t understand why it doesn’t work. My Batteries first dropped from 20% to 1% with a load of between 300w to 400w. Next it was 25% to 1% with the same load. This morning i was woken up by my cpap machine that was off and when i had a look its now cutting off at 26%. Yes they claim there is firmware updates to fix the issue and the one technician (Leon) said my firmware is up to date but why did it happen again🤷🏻‍♂️ Some claim it might be a bad batch of batteries. I now say its CFE company that’s making crap Batteries and now they can’t keep up with support and or don’t know what shit excuse to come up next as they are running out of excuses. 
 

In Afrikaans we have a saying “ goedkoop koop is duur koop”

Yes these Batteries aren’t cheap but we all try to save 1k here and there or are being taken for a ass by installers/ solar shops.

Its time to name and shame to get this shit products out of rotation in SA. 
 

I'm going to demand a full refund for my Batteries and will rather pay in on a much better brand. 
 

My number is (083) 645-4794 

email: [email protected]

Please make contact with me to stand together and get our hard earned money back for the products we payed for but is not performing as promised.