It started as a small problem. The Freedom Won Lite has a multi-coloured SOC indicator
Green 90+
Blue 75 to 90
Cyan 60 to 75
Red 60 to 45

etc

 

So early one morning I notice that the indicator is burning green, or it looks that way. 90+ % is very unusual for this time, so I check the SOC using the app on my phone. It's in it's usual range. I tell myself that's interesting - the cyan looks pretty green if you don't have ambient light.

But eventually it transpires that it's burning green when it should burn cyan. Not a big deal, but it causes problems. One day several appliances got turned on very early in the morning. Wife says well she looked at the little light thing and it was green.

Anyway, I mention this to the installer when he's looking at the problem with my Goodwe (dealt with elsewhere on this forum). He says they'll ask FW. FW send them out to upgrade the firmware and also either install some monitoring software or take a dump of the BMS logs. The upgrade has no effect. 

I start thinking that it's a small thing, I can live with this. We're working around this now.

Then the installer gives me a follow up call and says FW are now worried about the BMS, they have detected some intermittent error condition on it. 

Now there are two offers on the table
1) Installer takes the battery to FW. I will have no backup at night whilst the battery is gone
2) FW come to me to replace the BMS, they will charge for the call out.

But nobody can tell me what the call out charge will be, or if the BMS is under warranty. The battery was installed in June 2022. FW's warranty document seems to apply to cells and how much charge they hold. It doesn't mention the BMS.

This all happens yesterday afternoon, as the long weekend is starting. Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters surely aren't going to answer.

I should give thumbs up to the installer (Solar4Life) for still supporting, and to FW for monitoring and detecting and reacting to this invisible to me problem that might be the start of something worse. In both cases it shows they have some standards.

Edited March 29, 20242 yr by Bobster.
clarity

Size and type of freedomwon battery? 

2 hours ago, abd7 said:

Size and type of freedomwon battery? 

It's a LITE 10/8

Given the feedback from FW you must fix the BMS, I would think its to FW benefit to make sure the battery is not compromised. I find it strange that you can sell aproduct but a key component the BMS is perhaps not covered.  As I understand it batteries carry a warranty but is the owners responsibility to get it to the distributor/manufacturer.  I'm impressed that the installer is still involved, but they will incur cost to remove and colllect the battery, from what I've read for other batteries there is normally a couple of days (to weeks) delay to test and fix whats wrong.  I think the fastest lowest risk and cost option would be to get FW to come to your premises to fix the battery probably with less equipment to test than at the workshop they will probably replace the BMS.  Do the sums of not having the battery for a couple of day.

26 minutes ago, BGb said:

I think the fastest lowest risk and cost option would be to get FW to come to your premises to fix the battery probably with less equipment to test than at the workshop they will probably replace the BMS.  Do the sums of not having the battery for a couple of day.

Yes. I think that once I say it out loud, so to speak, there are not any better options. It also gives me a chance to query them. If all they see is the SOC indicator reporting the wrong SOC, I can then just say thanks a lot, pay for the call out and leave it at that.

30 minutes ago, BGb said:

Given the feedback from FW you must fix the BMS, I would think its to FW benefit to make sure the battery is not compromised. I find it strange that you can sell aproduct but a key component the BMS is perhaps not covered.

I'm not saying that there is no warranty on the BMS, just that FW don't say anything about it one way or the other.

But you know, I think it's implied. What they warranty (and I think this goes for most brands) is the PERFORMANCE of the battery. IE how much can it back up for how long? If the BMS is interfering with that then I guess it's covered. Otherwise existing consumer law comes into play.

The battery is providing reliable backup. That's not in question at all. 

Freedomwon mentioned to me previously that for batteries bigger than the 20/16, they come out to site for repairs. Free of charge. 

It's only the smaller units that they want to be sent back to them. Or paid a call out fee it seems based on your experience. 

I would query the call out fee after the long weekend and take it from there. 

Edited March 30, 20242 yr by abd7

4 hours ago, Bobster. said:

I'm not saying that there is no warranty on the BMS, just that FW don't say anything about it one way or the other.

But you know, I think it's implied. What they warranty (and I think this goes for most brands) is the PERFORMANCE of the battery. IE how much can it back up for how long? If the BMS is interfering with that then I guess it's covered. Otherwise existing consumer law comes into play.

The battery is providing reliable backup. That's not in question at all. 

Following. I have the same unit and fortunately no issues.

If the BMS is faulty they will replace it free of charge. No stress. Send it in, or query the call out fees. It's a 1 hour job to replace.

Freedomwon after sales service and warranty is one of the best. 

We sent a freedomwon battery in from durban, and it took just over a week to sort out. That's with shipping both ways. If you take it directly to them, it will probably be much faster. 

Edited March 30, 20242 yr by abd7

1 hour ago, abd7 said:

If the BMS is faulty they will replace it free of charge. No stress. Send it in, or query the call out fees. It's a 1 hour job to replace.

Freedomwon after sales service and warranty is one of the best. 

We sent a freedomwon battery in from durban, and it took just over a week to sort out. That's with shipping both ways. If you take it directly to them, it will probably be much faster. 

There are quite a few similar great service posts where Freedom Won sorted out problems under warranty on site.