Hi, I installed my system, and you advice on this forum was very helpful. (Victron grid tied setup from scratch) But I do have a problem with the battery charging voltage. It seems as if the battery's inbuild BMS, the Multiplus and the MPPT are working against each other.  The battery relays seems to open as the voltage is going over 57V and the system doesn't like that. (The BMS is not connected to anything.) My setup is as follows:

Multiplus 48/3000/32,  Firmware 2628 459

Venus GX, Firmware v2.23

Bluesolar MPPT 150/60, Firmware 0xA04E v1.16

6 x 330 watt panels and 

2 used Huawei ESM 4800A1 batteries.

My problem is that although the charger in the Multiplus is configured for a max of 54V the solar charger keeps going to 57V. My understanding was that the ESS would have controlled the MPPT charger' voltage. (The MPPT manual states "use VE.direct to VE.direct cable to connect to … Venus GX" Or is that only for monitoring?) There is a setting on the remote console: settings->system setup, "Solar charger voltage control" but it is "off" and I don't seem to be able to change it.

Do I need (another!) cable (VE.direct to Bluetooth) to configure the MPPT on its own? Or am I missing a setting in the Venus GX and/or Multiplus?

Your help will really be appreciated.

Thys

NS: is there a way to export the Venus GX settings? That will be helpful with a question like this.

 

Edited May 14, 20197 yr by Matthys
Added firmware info

23 minutes ago, Matthys said:

Do I need (another!) cable (VE.direct to Bluetooth) to configure the MPPT on its own?

To connect the MPPT to say a laptop / Pc, that you can access it direct, you would need a VE.Direct to USB cable, same cable could also be used to connect it to te VenusGX - but it is only 1.8m long.

The VE.direct cable is perfect for connecting it to the VenusGX. And they come in different lengths.

I had to set my MPPT to the max values it can handle, like 100amps charging, after which I limit the charging on the VenusGX to 29amps max.

So their may be a setting issue somewhere overlooked.

Thank you TTT! yes, the VE.direct to USB will be a better choice. (A lot cheaper!)

Have you ever tried to change the bulk or absorption voltage to some other than the standard +-57V in the MPPT? 

And, you are not aware of a setting to change the MPPT's voltage settings with the Venus? The Multiplus's charger seems to work ok by using the setting as configured in itself by VEconfig.

So, I may have to buy another cable!

Thanx again.

I have a spare VE.Direct to USB that I can sell onto you. 

Not aware of being able to change the MPPT settings via the VenusGX no. 

@plonkster may be able to shed some more light.

I am in Pretoria. I think you are in the Cape somewhere. The cable is available at Re-volt in Centurion. That may be a bit easier. Or am I wrong?

Thank you.

1 hour ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Not aware of being able to change the MPPT settings via the VenusGX no.  

@plonkster may be able to shed some more light. 

Man.... technically you can. There is nothing for end users... so don't get excited. And future versions of Victron-Connect will be able to connect to the Venus device directly and do it (or via the internet), so VictronConnect is always going to be the way to do it.

Right now you need to be technically proficient, preferably with a bit of hardware and/or Linux experience. We added VregLink capability to the vedirect code many months ago, so if you know the vreg number (there is a document called VE.Can registers that document them all, and it is not can-specific), you can set these values from a command prompt after rooting your CCGX/Venus-GX via dbus. It's insanely powerful, and as always, with power comes the great ability to **** things up.

1 hour ago, Matthys said:

I am in Pretoria. I think you are in the Cape somewhere. The cable is available at Re-volt in Centurion. That may be a bit easier. Or am I wrong?

It will be easier yes, and probably cheaper. 

8 minutes ago, plonkster said:

Right now you need to be technically proficient, preferably with a bit of hardware and/or Linux experience.

I personally prefer Victron-Connect thanks. 🙂 

Thank you @plonkster. It sounds a lot easier to go and buy the cable...

By the way - I just found the document from where I made my conclusions: "ESS: design and configuration Manual": I know I read it somewhere.. See 4.2.2. According to that my system should work. But they are not specifically saying BlueSolar MPPT chargers!? Maybe I am reading it wrong.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.2 Multi/Quattro and ESS Assistant

Settings to be made in VEConfigure:

1. Grid tab: configure the country code. A password is required: ask your supplier. More information in VEConfigure: grid codes & loss of mains detection. Note: If you leave this setting as 'None', the system will not supply battery energy to support local AC loads when the grid is connected. You do need to change this setting even if it is your intention not to export DC energy to the grid.
2. Add the ESS Assistant. Instructions on how to add an Assistant here.
3. General tab: the ESS Assistant will have enabled the built-battery monitor. Leave that enabled (!). Also when there is a BMV or intelligent canbus-connected battery in the system.
4. Charger tab: the ESS Assistant will have already selected the proper battery type, as well as disabled the Storage mode. Verify and where necessary change the rest of the settings: charge voltages & maximum charge current. Note that, for systems with the ESS Assistant installed, the MPPT Solar Chargers will follow the charge curve as set in VEConfigure. The charge parameters configured in the MPPT Solar Chargers are ignored in an ESS setup.
5. Configure all the other settings.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is my VEConfig settings of the Multiplus: I deliberately choose a simple battery without a BMS to do the testing

TAB: General
System frequency    50Hz
Shore current    32.0    A
Overruled by remote    unchecked
Dynamic current limiter    unchecked
External current sensor connected (see manual)    unchecked
State of charge when Bulk finished    95.0    %
Battery capacity    150    Ah
Charge efficiency    0.95    
TAB: Grid
Country / grid code standard    South Africa:    NRS 097-2-1:2017
LOM detection AC input 1    Type B (grid code compliant)
TAB: NRS097 grid code settings
Power ramp time    600    seconds
TAB: Inverter
PowerAssist    unchecked
Inverter output voltage    230    V
Inverter DC shut-down voltage    44.00    V
Inverter DC restart voltage    48.00    V
Low DC alarm level    48.00    V
Do not restart after short-circuit (VDE 4105-2  safety)    unchecked
enable AES    checked
Load for starting AES mode    69    W
Offset for ending AES mode    46    W
AES type    modified sine wave
TAB: Charger
Enable charger    checked
Weak AC input    unchecked
Stop after excessive bulk    unchecked
Lithium batteries    unchecked
Storage mode    unchecked
Use equalization (tubular plate traction battery curve)    unchecked
Charge curve    Fixed
Absorption voltage    53.00    V
Float voltage    51.50    V
Charge current    32    A
Repeated absorption time    0.50    Hr
Repeated absorption interval    1.00    Days
Absorption time    1    Hr
TAB: Virtual switch
TAB: Usage
Virtual switch usage    Do not use VS
TAB: Assistants
TAB: Assistant Configuration
ESS (Energy Storage System) (size:895)
*)    System uses Gel or AGM batteries
*)    The battery capacity of the system is 150 Ah.
*)    Sustain voltage during the first 24 hours of sustain 46.00 V.
    Sustain voltage after 24 hours 50.00 V.
*)    Cut off voltage for a discharge current of:
    0.005 C= 46.00 V
    0.25 C= 45.70 V
    0.7 C= 45.50 V
    2 C= 44.80 V
*)    Inverting is allowed again when voltage rises 1.20 V above cut-off(0).
*)    Relevant VEConfigure settings:
      -  Battery capacity 150 Ah.
      -  PowerAssist unchecked
      -  Lithium batteries unchecked
      -  Dynamic current limiter unchecked
      -  Storage mode unchecked

Total size of all assistants including the required
(hidden) system assistants is: 954
__________________________________________________

Thanx

 

8 hours ago, Matthys said:

But they are not specifically saying BlueSolar MPPT chargers!? Maybe I am reading it wrong.

Yes. VEconfigure (for the Multi), you can upload the config remotely via VRM. So you can get away without the mk3-usb cable. But you still need the cable for firmware updates.

For the MPPT, at this point, you cannot do configuration via VRM, only through VictronConnect, and then it works directly on the SmartSolar models, but for the BlueSolar models (without bluetooth) you need to do a bit more work, either Windows PC with a vedirect-USB cable, or a cell phone with the same cable and an OTG dongle OR... the vedirect-bluetooth dongle.

SO yes... difference between how you program the Multi and how you program the MPPTs 🙂

Thank you again. I ordered my usb cable. 

Kind regards

Have you correctly set the small "Battery Type" rotary switch on the MPPT Charger? That may explain why it was trying to over-charge your batteries.