AlanH Posted January 17, 2019 Posted January 17, 2019 Hi Guys, Am new here but have installed a system since just over a year ago. I have: Victron Multi/Quattro Inverter SMA Sunnyboy 5kVA 20 x Canadian Solar panels of which 10 are currently installed on a single axis adjustable frame. The remaining 10 panels I was going to install on a 2 axis frame but just have not had the time to just do it. At this point I am also considering just buying more panels and install them on what roof spaces I have ( unfortunately mostly unfavourable). As for batteries I have 8 x 12V 75Ah used batteries which have been serving me well over the last year. These are to be replaced once I know what I want to install. My main aim is to go off grid as I live on a smallholding and get my power direct from ESCOM at a substantial connection fee . I am also waiting for a Generator to be delivered ( a gift) but don't yet know the specs other that it having a three cylinder Lister motor Quote
phil.g00 Posted January 17, 2019 Posted January 17, 2019 Welcome @AlanH, Nice set up. May I ask if the SMA is on the output or input of the Multi? Quote
stoic Posted January 17, 2019 Posted January 17, 2019 Hey! Welcome @AlanH Also from a small holding here, and i managed to go off-grid in the past week. I knew nothing about electricity and nothing about solar... but these guys on the forum are starts. I'm sure you will find all the info you will ever need from here. Energy-Jason 1 Quote
AlanH Posted January 17, 2019 Author Posted January 17, 2019 6 hours ago, phil.g00 said: Welcome @AlanH, Nice set up. May I ask if the SMA is on the output or input of the Multi? Currently still on the Input as I would otherwise cook the batteries. Having problems accessing the SMA and getting the Frequency shift thing to work. If anyone can and is willing to help I would be grateful. Plan is to have it on the Output so I can still harvest even if utility is down. Thanks for the welcome all. Looking forward to getting the most out of my setup. Quote
phil.g00 Posted January 17, 2019 Posted January 17, 2019 Frequency shifting can only work if its on the output ( and when the grid is down). Are you saying you've tried that with no success and that's why it is now on the input? Quote
___ Posted January 17, 2019 Posted January 17, 2019 With a Fronius you have to set the country code to MG50 (Microgrid-50Hz). This sets the voltage and frequency ranges a bit wider and makes it a bit more tolerant of the weaker signal (compared to grid power!) of the inverter. I would expect that something similar might be required for SMA. Do not however ask me what. Quote
phil.g00 Posted January 17, 2019 Posted January 17, 2019 (edited) There is also an assistant in the Victron that needs configuring to suit. With the SMA country codes are required as well as communication software and lead it looks like. I had a brief shufty through this attached. Seems quite doable, note not all models are supported, but most seem to be. Another discrepancy is SMA recommends a maximum 2:1 ratio PV inverter to Hybrid inverter. Victron says 1:1, I would go with the more conservative 1:1 ratio. But in saying that you still need a fairly substantial battery bank to act as a dump for current during large transitions, which you haven't got yet. So maybe when you've got more batteries. SMA-PV-inverters FSPC set up.pdf Edited January 17, 2019 by phil.g00 Quote
phil.g00 Posted January 17, 2019 Posted January 17, 2019 Additionally if you have the SB5000 TL the comms are through bluetooth only. https://files.sma.de/dl/1364/SDC-TEN081450.pdf Quote
phil.g00 Posted January 17, 2019 Posted January 17, 2019 And it looks like this is where you get the communication software: https://www.sma.de/en/service/downloads.html You are looking for a package called "Sunny Explorer" Quote
___ Posted January 18, 2019 Posted January 18, 2019 9 hours ago, phil.g00 said: There is also an assistant in the Victron that needs configuring to suit. There's two actually. There is the PV-Inverter assistant, which is to be used in off-grid installs. But the functionality is also included in the ESS assistant (so when running grid-tied and you have a power failure, PV-inverters on the output are scaled through frequency shifting too). This means that you don't have to (and in fact cannot) install these two assistants at the same time. 9 hours ago, phil.g00 said: Another discrepancy is SMA recommends a maximum 2:1 ratio PV inverter to Hybrid inverter. Victron says 1:1, I would go with the more conservative 1:1 ratio. The 2:1 recommendation might be related to their own storage solution called the SunnyIsland. It will depend on how they designed the interface to the battery, but it is definitely better not to put twice the capacity onto a transformer not designed to take all that power (and the switching transistors on the other end, etc). And as you said, the batteries need to be able to absorb the power as well. Although I must tell you, I've seen the Multi shut down a PV-inverter really quickly by simply slamming the frequency up to 53Hz Quote
AlanH Posted January 18, 2019 Author Posted January 18, 2019 Wow, thanks guys for the info. I need to work myself back into this before making changes. Downloaded the software and manuals and will work through them. Many thanks again. Quote
AlanH Posted April 9, 2019 Author Posted April 9, 2019 I'm back, and need help urgently. I bought a 10kWh Lithium battery pack (BYD/REVOV). I connected it over the weekend and now need to set up a few things that I was not able to do with the firmware. I managed to get the latest release for my Quattro but am now stuck. I backed up the settings with Ve.Config. Then did a VE.Flash which completed successfully, but My Quattro now sports three flashing lights. The Bulk/Absorption and Float lights are all flashing together and that is it. I tried re flashing but no joy. Unfortunately I don't have the old FW otherwise I would have re flashed with the old to see what happens. OK just some info that could be relevant: Old FW 2653408.vff New 2653459.vff from victron website. I use a Mk3 interface. Anything else that I forgot? Any advice or older FW I can get to try? I at least need 2653415/6 that was according to the VE.Config when I was configuring ESS. Quote
phil.g00 Posted April 9, 2019 Posted April 9, 2019 Not just you: https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/13828/quattro-10kw-firmware-update-problem.html Quote
___ Posted April 9, 2019 Posted April 9, 2019 The good news is that it is almost impossible to brick these things. You can always get back into the bootloader and reflash it. The LED definition (from the Victron toolkit app) suggests a more serious issue. But chances are your inverter is still under warranty (the 26 models came out towards the middle of 2014 if I recall). So if all else fails you might have to take it to a repair place. Quote
AlanH Posted April 9, 2019 Author Posted April 9, 2019 Ouch, I knew I read somewhere of others having problems but could not find it again. Will call my supplier tomorrow, hopefully he comes to the party. Difficult fellow to get hold of. Anyone have the old FW version saved somewhere? I need 2653408.vff Thanks for the replies so far. Did not expect it to go this wrong. It was a straight forward procedure and did not report any errors. I could even download my saved config which I edited to use the new ESS. Quote
phil.g00 Posted April 9, 2019 Posted April 9, 2019 It's in the link in my post. The consensus seems to be to try again, maybe with a different PC. Quote
___ Posted April 9, 2019 Posted April 9, 2019 3 hours ago, AlanH said: Ouch, I knew I read somewhere of others having problems but could not find it again. To be fair, that post is about a 19-series CPU. Your's is a 26. So it is basically the same 8-bit MCU, but it is also 2xx vs 4xx firmware. They are different enough that I'm pretty sure the issues are not related. It could also be that the firmware file is just corrupted. These things always have some kind of checksuming involved. It could also be that the EEPROM is bad (this is inside the CPU, so it will necessitate a control board swap). 3 hours ago, AlanH said: Anyone have the old FW version saved somewhere? I need 2653408.vff I checked. Sadly I don't have any 2653 firmware, so far I've never had to update one of those. Of course it is possible to get ahold of it by asking the right person, but best is that you follow the channels: Talk to your supplier, let him escalate it to support. That is what Victron wants you to do. Quote
Guest Posted April 9, 2019 Posted April 9, 2019 8 minutes ago, plonkster said: Talk to your supplier, let him escalate it to support. That is what Victron wants you to do. 3 hours ago, AlanH said: Will call my supplier tomorrow, hopefully he comes to the party. Difficult fellow to get hold of. If you get stuck with YOUR supplier, go to the next one. Recently a supplier helped a family member via the Victron site, direct into his system, sorting settings out whilst he was at work. Obviously he gave the login details first. Drop me / Plonkster a PM for more tried and tested suppliers - even if they are not based in your area - for there are super jacked oaks out there willing to help with Victron kits. Quote
phil.g00 Posted April 10, 2019 Posted April 10, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, plonkster said: To be fair, that post is about a 19-series CPU. Your's is a 26 True, but there are other incidents involving 26 firmware, being in a similar game where firmware upgrades on equipment are frequent, my ears are pricked up for the "XXXXX459" flash. Sufficiently, enough to skip this one and wait for the next one. Bad luck, doesn't happen to a load of people at once, there is a bug somewhere. I feel it in my water, and I'm paid to do that. Edited April 10, 2019 by phil.g00 Quote
AlanH Posted April 10, 2019 Author Posted April 10, 2019 Thanks guys, I have sent an email to my supplier, hopefully he will get back to me soonest. Need to get the system up again. I did retry without any success. Have not yet tried another Laptop but will do two things tonight if I did not get anywhere during the day. Re download the firmware (possibly corrupt) and use the wife's laptop. Will keep you posted. PS. Is this the correct thread / forum for this discussion? If not can the moderators please move it. Quote
AlanH Posted April 10, 2019 Author Posted April 10, 2019 Just found a previous version of FW on the Victron site. 2653433.vff. Have downloaded this and can try that as well tonight. Quote
___ Posted April 10, 2019 Posted April 10, 2019 There are big improvements in the >450 firmwares. If 433 doesn't solve it I doubt it will help to go lower. I'm on a plane the whole day but if you don't come right with your guy I can ask about any known upgrade issues on Thursday. The 45x versions have been out for the multiplus-II for several weeks now but was only released for the older models some days ago. So I'd say 433 is a good first try and will also confirm that it is a bug. Quote
AlanH Posted April 10, 2019 Author Posted April 10, 2019 OK, tried updating to earlier version with the same result ie. three flashing LED's. Not good. Will get another laptop and try again. Quote
AlanH Posted April 10, 2019 Author Posted April 10, 2019 Next update. Tried another laptop with Mk3 cable and both versions no joy. Tried same laptop with a MK2 cable both versions. No joy. Quote
AlanH Posted April 10, 2019 Author Posted April 10, 2019 Ok, supplier wanted to know if system is online on the internet and that was it. There is no rush, so I am looking for other help. Quote
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