7 hours ago, Coulomb said:

That's not a bug, that's a feature!    You''re supposed to look at it like this:   The "MS" stands for MaSter. As far as we can tell, "HS" is their attempt at making two seven-segment characters look like "MS", using their rather poor "font".

It's impossible to please everyone, but the changes are all meant to be improvements. They should all be mentioned in the AussieView™ manual.

If after reading the manual you think that something is unreadable or missing etc, please post specifics. In particular, the keys don't work the same in information display mode.

All I can think of is that perhaps some monitoring software is running in the background (e.g. you might have tried WatchPower and thought that closing the window would stop it from running. You need to use the system tray to exit, as explained in the middle of this post (NOTE: the software in that post is not the latest).

@Coulomb Thanks, I checked the Aussieview manual and the text makes more sense now :-) The switchback to UTL from SBU for Parameter 1 one seems to happen when charging is on Solar Only. I have ICC Running with a back to Grid Time setting, might be only during the time it is back to grid that the setting is updated and then when Time back to Solar it will update  setting again. Will monitor it and check thanks for the guideline

8 hours ago, Coulomb said:

That's not a bug, that's a feature!

The latest patched firmware for 4kW/5kVA single MPPT models is out of beta now. No functionality change.

Edited July 20, 20188 yr by Coulomb
Added 5kVA. There seems to be a 4kW/4kVA model now, with unknown firmware

On 2018/07/06 at 1:11 AM, Coulomb said:

That's not a bug, that's a feature!

Old software trick: You change a bug into a feature by documenting it.

Hi , i have 2 inverters , first Pip4048MS (4kw) with firmware U1 72.60 and U2 04.10 this inverter workink fine but I buy annother inverter Pip5048MS (5kw) with firmware U1 72.10 and U2 04.12 , with this inverter i have one big problem , noise of fans . I think i have problems with firmware , i need help . Please 

On 2018/07/21 at 11:09 PM, Leciu_Robert said:

Hi , i have 2 inverters , first Pip4048MS (4kw) with firmware U1 72.60 and U2 04.10 this inverter workink fine but I buy annother inverter Pip5048MS (5kw) with firmware U1 72.10 and U2 04.12 , with this inverter i have one big problem , noise of fans . I think i have problems with firmware , i need help . Please 

Again, a feature, not a bug, this time from the manufacturer. All main firmwares after 72.70 seem to have more aggressive use of the fan: minimum 30% speed at all times (this should be quiet, unless your fans are faulty), and 5/3 as much fan speed due to SCC charging. I can't recall if it's safe to use 72.70 firmware in a 5 kW model, and in any case you'd be missing out on the extra 1 kW of power output.

If the inverter is for use in a noise sensitive environment, then it might be possible to replace the fans with quieter models, e.g. as in this AEVA post (but see other fan related posts linked from the index). But note that some models cause intermittent fan locked errors, so this is no longer recommended.

I note that you won't be able to parallel the inverters with the firmware as they are. If your supplier tells you that the only option is to downgrade to 4 kW firmware and it's safe to do this, then when you go back to 72.70 or 72.60 (patched or not), then you'll get the quieter fan behaviour. Note that you can't parallel 72.60 and 72.70 (see the parallel compatibility post), so if safe to do so, I'd suggest 72.70c for both.

Edited August 16, 20187 yr by Coulomb

both inverter are MppSolar , when I asked details about noise , they ask me from a short video  but i removed inverter for excessive noise

On 2018/07/21 at 11:09 PM, Leciu_Robert said:

Hi , i have 2 inverters , first Pip4048MS ... another inverter Pip5048MS (5kw) with firmware U1 72.10 and U2 04.12 , 

@Leciu_Robert, my understanding is that main firmware version 72.10 only comes with 5 kW machines that are PF1.0 and also capable of setting the CV voltage to 64.0 V.

Do you know if yours is one of these higher voltage ones, or is it limited to 58.4 V like most Axpert/PIP models?

Yes is Pip5048MS(64v)

Beta Version of Patched Firmware 73.00d for PF0.8 models

This is the fourth version of our patched firmware based on factory firmware version 73.00. This patched firmware has all the same patches as 73.00c and earlier patched firmwares, including Dynamic (Charge) Current Control and AussieView™. This includes fixing the infamous premature float bugs.

In addition, 73.00d makes the following improvements:

1. We have added Dynamic Load Control. This is a pair of serial commands (MNCHGC0497 and MNCHGC0498). The first forces an inverter into standby mode (disconnecting it from its AC loads and reducing its battery consumption to 15 watts or less), and the second returns it to normal operation. See the Dynamic Current and Load Control manual.

2. For the LFP version only: We have reduced the minimum tail current to go from absorb to float charging stage (when absorb time [32] is set to "Aut") from 5 A per machine to 3 A per machine. The tail current threshold is calculated by summing the maximum total charge current settings [02] for all parallel machines and (in the LFP firmware) dividing it by 12, but with a minimum value as described.


Note: This firmware is only suitable for the 48 V models with a single low-voltage MPPT and a power factor of 0.8 (4 kW / 5 kVA), not those with dual or triple MPPTs or a power factor of 1.0 (5 kW / 5 kVA), and not those with a maximum PV array open circuit voltage greater than 145 V DC.
 

Download the links from the AEVA PIP-4048 and PIP-5048 topic.

 

Edited November 3, 20187 yr by Coulomb

Beta Version of Patched Firmware 73.00e for some PF0.8 models (introducing KettleKomp™)

This is the fifth version of our patched firmware based on factory firmware version 73.00 for the PIP-4048MS and equivalents. This patched firmware has all the same patches as 73.00d and earlier patched firmwares, including Dynamic Charge and Load Control and AussieView™. This includes fixing the infamous premature float bugs.

In addition, 73.00e adds kettle compensation, or KettleKomp™ for short. This prevents a heavy load like a kettle from causing the inverter to cut off, or switch back to the grid prematurely, due to low battery voltage, when the battery state of charge is not low. It also improves the crude state-of-charge reading provided by the inverter. The following photos will make more sense after you read the Kettle Compensation section of the AussieView and KettleKomp manual.

The following image shows both true and compensated battery voltage (with the flashing "k"), while boiling the kettle.



The following image shows how we piggy-backed the setting of compensation strength on the cut-off voltage setting.




Note: This firmware is only suitable for the 48 V models with a single low-voltage MPPT and a power factor of 0.8 (4 kW / 5 kVA). i.e. the older PIP-4048MS or Axpert MKS 5K-48 that is no longer manufactured, or their equivalent. It is not suitable for those with dual or triple MPPTs or a power factor of 1.0 (5 kW / 5 kVA), or a maximum PV array open circuit voltage greater than 145 V DC. It is not suitable for grid-feed or hybrid models such as EnerSolar or InfiniSolar. Parallel or phased machines must all run the same patched firmware version.

See the AEVA forum post for download files.

For reflashing instructions see the 72.70b reflashing instructions, but ignore the zip files there.

It should go without saying that you use this at your own risk. Please report any problems to the AEVA thread if possible.

Edited December 3, 20187 yr by Coulomb

BRAVO to @Coulomb & @weber for addressing the infamous kettle bug! 

We have just bumped patched firmware 73.00e (the first one with kettle compensation) from beta to release.

Many thanks to all who tested the beta version.

Edited January 4, 20197 yr by weber

Hi All

I have tried to go through posts on the 2 forums re firmware updates, I appologise if I am repeating. My Axpert just wont update firmware and destroys batteries. I use the Prolific USB to serial and I tried a FTDI as well. It just starts, you hear a relay switch off in the inverter and then nothing. It then just posts some text saying com port opened. The inverter is stuck on last screen and unresponsive. You have to disconnect battery power to get back to life. I thought maybe cpu2 may have some effect on the upgrade procedure and tried to update it as well but similarly it needs a battery disconnect to come back to life. I leave only solar and battery power on when attempting upgrade. Im quite desperate as I have now seemingly lost a 2nd set of AGM and its getting expensive. I bought the kit  (panels, inverter, batteries) from Electrilabs in Midrand. the inverter is a 4KW/5KVA.

My first set of batteries was 200AH PVC GEL they lasted about 2 years, 2nd set is 170AH telecoms, a bit tougher but as of this week doing the same. I have Isolated on both sets 1 batterie being the culprit. in both case 1 battery dropes to 8V. I used a car battery charger with a bulk charge switch to recover both and they hold charge while doing nothing so prob wont work in the system. To keep running I now broke the rules and put 1 of the 170 ah in with 3 200Ah but its most likely going to cause equalisation issues. I hope 1 of the 2 sets will still be usable, I even considered hooking them up in parallel but it may strain the inverters charger.

Any help to get the damn thing upgraded will be appreciated.

Any suggestions to revive an AGM will also be welcome.

 

 

 

19 minutes ago, Mampoer said:

Hi All

I have tried to go through posts on the 2 forums re firmware updates, I appologise if I am repeating. My Axpert just wont update firmware and destroys batteries. I use the Prolific USB to serial and I tried a FTDI as well. It just starts, you hear a relay switch off in the inverter and then nothing. It then just posts some text saying com port opened. The inverter is stuck on last screen and unresponsive. You have to disconnect battery power to get back to life. I thought maybe cpu2 may have some effect on the upgrade procedure and tried to update it as well but similarly it needs a battery disconnect to come back to life. I leave only solar and battery power on when attempting upgrade. Im quite desperate as I have now seemingly lost a 2nd set of AGM and its getting expensive. I bought the kit  (panels, inverter, batteries) from Electrilabs in Midrand. the inverter is a 4KW/5KVA.

My first set of batteries was 200AH PVC GEL they lasted about 2 years, 2nd set is 170AH telecoms, a bit tougher but as of this week doing the same. I have Isolated on both sets 1 batterie being the culprit. in both case 1 battery dropes to 8V. I used a car battery charger with a bulk charge switch to recover both and they hold charge while doing nothing so prob wont work in the system. To keep running I now broke the rules and put 1 of the 170 ah in with 3 200Ah but its most likely going to cause equalisation issues. I hope 1 of the 2 sets will still be usable, I even considered hooking them up in parallel but it may strain the inverters charger.

Any help to get the damn thing upgraded will be appreciated.

Any suggestions to revive an AGM will also be welcome.

 

 

 

To revive, you can conect a solar panel, or two in parallel, directly to the battery. Pay a lot of atention, since there is no regulation. When battery rise to 13 V, disconect. It could take hours.

2 hours ago, Mampoer said:

My Axpert just wont update firmware and destroys batteries. I use the Prolific USB to serial and I tried a FTDI as well. It just starts, you hear a relay switch off in the inverter and then nothing. It then just posts some text saying com port opened.

It sounds like you might be using the wrong firmware version. Your Axpert is quite old (August 2014 manufacture, according to the label), so you should be using patched firmware 73.00e. Is yours possibly a PWM model? That might prevent firmware updating. But it appears to be an MPPT model, according to the label.

How old is the Prolific USB to serial adapter? There was a problem with illegal clones of those things some years back, and essentially we were forced to buy new versions as we updated Windows. I mention a Prolific checking tool here.

As for your batteries, a single string of 200 Ah or even worse 170 Ah is a bit small for an inverter this size. Also, you have the maximum charge current set to 60 A (the default), which is too high for your batteries. Use 30 A for now, or you could leave it at 60 A and run two strings in parallel. But with known-weak or collapsed cells, it's probably best not to parallel the strings. Consider two of the 170 Ah in parallel, in series with the three better 200 Ah modules, until you can organise a proper battery.

2 hours ago, Mampoer said:

I even considered hooking them up in parallel but it may strain the inverters charger.

This won't strain the charger at all, but as noted above, I don't recommend paralleling those strings now that some of the cells have collapsed in voltage, and are likely very low capacity and high internal resistance.

The patched firmware, if you can get it installed, will fix the premature float bugs, which will prevent the battery being chronically undercharged in future. But those existing battery modules are unfortunately likely dead now, or on their last legs.

Thank you for the suggestions, I have been playing musical batteries over the weekend. I use a Multimeter and as the load increases I check which battery drops out. Ended up with 3 x 170Ah and 1 x 200Ah holding charge very well, remaining at about 51V as the clouds come and go and taking about 2A during the night on utility. I found 1 x 170 and 1 x 200 that fell out to about 8V under load of about 27 A. As I disconnect each out of the string they float back up to about 11 - 12 V. I have up to now charged them individually and the Charge current drops to about 2A at 13.2. Then leave them for a while and charge the rest. I must also add that while I was using the 170s only for the last 2 years, I kept an eye on the 200s. 2x sat at 12.8 and 2 x at 11.5 never really changing, I charged all individually and all stayed at 12.8 but I never left them on charge very long so they quickly dropped out when I started reusing them. After charging individually, all seems to have settled at about 2A at 13.2, jumping to 4A at 13.8 and then settling back to 2A at same. May just be wishful thinking but they seem ok and Im going to try them again, 1 by 1 and see if they hold or not.

 

As for the Prolific, I used the tool and tried it on 2x usb serials, both identifying as Prolific but it looks different form the screenshots I have seen here, I has a 3 digit postfix, I think it was hxa, not sure if it will make a difference. As far as if the inverter is a PWM model, I cant say, but its time to open up and blow out the dust so Ill take a pic of the PCB if that will help, is there any identifying parts or any PCB markings that will indicate what model it is?

Correction, It turns out to be an HXD, not sure if it make a difference.

6 hours ago, Mampoer said:

As for the Prolific, I used the tool and tried it on 2x usb serials, both identifying as Prolific but it looks different form the screenshots I have seen here, ...

The HXD seems to be a legitimate Prolific chip, so that should be fine.

Quote

As far as if the inverter is a PWM model, I cant say, but its time to open up and blow out the dust so Ill take a pic of the PCB if that will help, is there any identifying parts or any PCB markings that will indicate what model it is?

I'm not familiar with the PWM models, but a photo of the Solar Charge Controller (SCC) board and the two medium sized inductors should soon indicate whether it's MPPT or not. If your inverter has the heat sink fins on top, the SCC will be directly under that heat-sink. Otherwise, the back of the SCC PCB will take up most of the middle third of the inverter. It will connect directly to the PV input terminals, as you'd expect.

Trying to update:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rtPzM8fqD1H6RNTj9

Restarting:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xQCANHQ544Awg2TCA

2 hours ago, Mampoer said:

Trying to update:

I notice that you didn't change the Serial setting from COM1. Do you know if there are other options? If so, is COM1 the port for the Prolific?

In the movie, I didn't even notice "COM1 port opened" or whatever it normally is.

What is under Ports in your Device Manager? For example:

There are three problems with the above. One is that the Prolific isn't COM1. That's OK, you can select whatever COM port it is from the Serial drop-down box in the Reflash Tool. However, it has to be COM1 to COM9; I have no idea why it's restricted to that range. If I plug the Prolific into the adjacent USB socket on my computer, it comes up as COM6, which is fine. (It doesn't have to be COM1; the only reason to prefer COM1 is if you are updating the SCC firmware as well. We no longer recommend doing that.)

The third problem is that I've used my old Prolific USB to serial adapter, which only works with Windows XP now (without a whole lot of effort). That causes it to show the small yellow "!" in a triangle in the lower right corner of the icon. That triangle means that the device has a problem (the cause could be one or more of several different problems, not just the wrong PL2302 chip). If the yellow triangle is showing, there is no hope of flashing; you have to first get the device manager happy (no yellow triangle on that device).

Edit: Also, your PL-2303 chip test shows the Prolific on COM8. That seems like it's your problem, unless you had the Prolific plugged into a different USB socket for that test.

Finally, always remember to exit WatchPower before running the Reflash Tool; you need to use the System Tray:

Edited January 16, 20197 yr by Coulomb

I am very sure its com 1 as that is where watch power finds it and I set it to com 1 in the device manager, regardless of where windows enumerates it. There is also an indication that the inverter wants to start the update process as you can hear a relay in the inverter switch and after that its unresponsive to button press and watch power. Only a power down and up brings it  back to life. Clearly there is coms but Im at a loss as to why it wont upgrade.

Its been 2 weeks now and the best performing batteries are now just falling out as before, probably from undercharging. The rest I have charged every day and they seem fine. Im thinking about connecting them in parallel as soon as I get some lugs and wire to jump them in pairs.

 

I am desperate as this solar system is now quit useless, running on utility all time regardless of ample sunlight. Should I take the inverter to the supplier and see if they can upgrade it?

Mampoer, reading your posts, I know nothing about upgrading the inverter, I have 2 cents to add.

You do have a BMV right?
You are using ICC to switch inverter back at set SOC as per BMV, to not drain the batteries?

After 2 battery sets being "damaged", the above is in place, take the inverter to a supplier and let them upgrade it for you.

And if they cannot, or inverter is faulty, maybe it is time to change inverter brand ... and look at Pylontech batteries.

The above thoughts stem from you having to prematurely replace batteries. Either it is inverter related, the charge bug, OR it was simply overuse, with the charge bug.

 

@Mampoer I can't think of anything other than what Coulomb has already posted in excellent detail. Except that you don't need to worry about it being a PWM model, as no PWM model has an SCC that can do 60 A or 145 V as per the label. But it seems you may not have followed the last of Coulomb's instructions.

12 hours ago, Mampoer said:

There is also an indication that the inverter wants to start the update process as ... its unresponsive to ... watch power.

It is absolutely essential that you "Exit" WatchPower in the way that Coulomb described above. This is also described in our standard reflashing instructions.