February 8, 20233 yr Hi guys, Hope someone can shed some light on this for me. I have a new solar install, including RCT Axpert Max 8K inverter and two Greenrich UP5000 batteries. My batteries have been charged by solar all day today, and both are showing full charge in their LEDs (see pics attached). However, the innverter shows battery capacity is at 50% (48% according to the app), though it isn't charging (I can only assume - or at least hope - because the batteries are full). Of course this doesn't help me when I'm relying on the inverter app to manage solar/grid. Any ideas why the discrepancy? Any ideas what to try? Thanks in advance.
February 8, 20233 yr Hi @gLer, So ja, welcome to the wonderful world of Voltronics. The (Axpert) inverters (and I'm generalizing) are well known for their SOC inaccuracies, so many people use 3rd party software to manage them better , e.g. ICC, Solar assistant etc. The assumption here, rightly or wrongly, is that the Max series has still got some design (hard- & software) elements carried over from the Axpert range, giving you these anomalies. I would trust the Battery indicators before the inverter results. Your battery seems to be connected to the Max (via CAN cable) , is this functioning properly? i.e. comms is established? In my mind working comms between Battery and Inverter is crucial for managing & monitoring a system. Without it, you are blind.
February 8, 20233 yr Author 21 minutes ago, Sidewinder said: Hi @gLer, So ja, welcome to the wonderful world of Voltronics. The (Axpert) inverters (and I'm generalizing) are well known for their SOC inaccuracies, so many people use 3rd party software to manage them better , e.g. ICC, Solar assistant etc. The assumption here, rightly or wrongly, is that the Max series has still got some design (hard- & software) elements carried over from the Axpert range, giving you these anomalies. I would trust the Battery indicators before the inverter results. Your battery seems to be connected to the Max (via CAN cable) , is this functioning properly? i.e. comms is established? In my mind working comms between Battery and Inverter is crucial for managing & monitoring a system. Without it, you are blind. Thanks, that is a very good question. I don't think it is functioning properly -- otherwise there surely wouldn't be any discrepancies? How can I tell if it's working? Also, I wasn't aware there were third-party apps I can use to manage my system. Any particular favourites, and will they work with Voltronic/RCT/Axpert? To be honest, I probably would have chosen a different inverter with a much better app had I done my research beforehand, but we live and learn. At least the system is functional and seems (mostly) very solid.
February 9, 20233 yr 10 hours ago, gLer said: How can I tell if it's working? The battery icon should be flashing. Also, check the battery type setting (setting 05). If it's USE or User, then it's not talking to the battery BMS (it seems likely that it's not). Try and find out what protocol your battery BMS is using. That way we can find the right battery type setting and perhaps cable pinout. Is there anything plugged into the BMS port of the inverter?
February 9, 20233 yr Author Thanks. I saw a post about using Pyl setting with the Axpert, which apparently works (that's what Greenrich suggested), but I got an error 61 (bad communication) on my inverter and it shut down. Before it shut down I did get an accurate capacity readout, so it seems to work, but I'd rather go down the Solar Assistant route than start tripping the inverter.
February 9, 20233 yr 42 minutes ago, gLer said: Thanks. I saw a post about using Pyl setting with the Axpert, which apparently works (that's what Greenrich suggested), but I got an error 61 (bad communication) on my inverter and it shut down. Before it shut down I did get an accurate capacity readout, so it seems to work, but I'd rather go down the Solar Assistant route than start tripping the inverter. Looks like you are using the CAN port on the battery. If you are using the PYL setting you need to use RS485 to the inverter. Edited February 9, 20233 yr by jumper
February 9, 20233 yr Author 25 minutes ago, jumper said: Looks like you are using the CAN port on the battery. If you are using the PYL setting you need to use RS485 to the inverter. Hi, def RS485. See pic. Could be the wrong cable? In any case, look forward to Solar Assistant taking over and talking directly to the batteries. Hopefully it works as advertised.
February 9, 20233 yr 13 hours ago, gLer said: Hi, def RS485. See pic. Could be the wrong cable? In any case, look forward to Solar Assistant taking over and talking directly to the batteries. Hopefully it works as advertised. Ah, in the first pics it was in the can port, all good. It could be the wrong cable, depends what cable it is, a standard straight-through lan cable won't work as the pinout is specific to the axpert. I'm sure SA will work just fine if you get the right cables with it, there are loads of people using it. Good luck.
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