Hi all,

I have a RCT-AXVP1-1K-5K Inverter, a 12V unit with 2x batteries in parallel.  When the unit is not connected to the mains, it is quiet.  Once I connect it to a wall outlet, the fans ramps up, and the unit starts charging the battery. The problem is that the battery never stops charging. After a while, the batteries' Voltage, levels off at 13.5V, but the Inverter doesn't stop charging, and the fan keeps going.  I even changed my float Voltage setting to 13.5V, but this proved unsuccessful. 

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

How do you know if it doesn't stop charging?

Hi @Richard Mackay,

The display (see attachment below) shows the following:

- the battery bars stops filling, which shows that the battery is full, I suspect. But,

- the battery is still connected to the charging circuit.

If I disconnect the mains, the LCD shows that the battery is not connected to the charging circuit any more (the line goes away)

Edited October 16, 20205 yr by morneode

Have you got / can get a multimeter??

If so measure the current feeding into the battery and the voltage on the battery terminals..

On 2020/10/16 at 3:52 AM, morneode said:

After a while, the batteries' Voltage, levels off at 13.5V, but the Inverter doesn't stop charging, and the fan keeps going.

13.5 V is likely the float voltage. If setting 05 is FLd or AGM, it will use 13.5 V as the float voltage setting and ignore setting 27 (float voltage setting, for IF/WHEN using battery type USE).

It's normal to continue charging the battery at the float voltage. When float charging, the CHG LED will typically turn solid green (not flashing). This is considered "charging complete", even though it's still putting an amp or so into the battery to keep it at 13.5 V.

As for why the fan continues running, I have no idea. 12 V firmware is rather different to the 48 V firmwares that I'm more familiar with.

Same problem here. Wish there was a way to turn the fans off. Obviously a 12v firmware bug. 🙄

Not a bug, the 12, 24 and 48v units (pip, Axpert, Synapse) all do the same thing. 

If you are floating OR charging the batteries, PV or utility (Eskom) the fans will run at minimum 30% if CPU / Board temp is over 40deg C. If 30% fan speed can get the temp down under 30deg C, the fans will switch off.. (however, temp will probably get back to 40deg C within 20min anyway)

The only time the fans will not run is if you ONLY use PV input, and there is 0v from PV ie, night time, and your load is very low. (This is the same as not charging or floating - and in this state, you are using the batteries)

I have 12 months left of my warranty - in that time, I am going to attempt to write a patch for my firmware to change the upper limit of the fan control (40deg C to 60?) If anyone has experience with the .hex firmware, please let me know? (translations, debugs, ect)

After that 12 months, I am going to;

1. disconnect the fans and see how high the internal temp actually gets while floating the batteries.. Interesting to note, during float, only 1 fan is used.. So my thoughts are if just 1 fan can be disconnected (bridged with resistor to not get FAN lock errors).

2. Reverse the fans to check temp differences. 

3. Sell and upgrade to Victron.

I have experienced the same phenomenon with inverter fans running non-stop and charging process never stopping. I have an MKS 3K 24V Plus with  2 x 100ah Royale DC31 batteries running without solar merely as utility backup.

The batteries as confirmed with supplier are flooded type.

On my display it keeps showing the last bar (in battery charge level) flashing and the charging never completes. Even after 10 hours +.

My bulk, float and abs voltage are set correctly on defaults yet the inverter takes the battery voltage up to 29.2 which exceeds all of these parameters, verified with a multimeter. 

My guess is that this has something to do with battery equalization seeing as the battery type 05 setting is on FLD.

I changed this to AGM and the inverter stopped continuously charging and blowing the fan.

Everything seems to be ok now but I don't know if this is ideal since one would think that flooded batteries should be charged on the FLD 05 setting not AGM. I don't know if battery equalization should really take this long and whether the voltage should go this high. And even if it does and after one cycle it will only do this again after 30 days as per setting 37, I am not willing to take the risk of a bug causing this frequently when I am not around. Frequently charging the batteries to 29.2V+ for prolonged periods makes me a bit nervous. So for now I am just leaving it on AGM battery type setting even if it is not ideal for long term health of flooded batteries.

Any comments are most welcome.

5 hours ago, TomFer said:

My guess is that this has something to do with battery equalization seeing as the battery type 05 setting is on FLD.

Is equalisation turned on? By default, setting 33 (Battery equalisation) has the value EDS (disabled). It needs to be EEN to enable equalisation at all.

I've never used equalisation, or 24 V models.

My 3kw with 2 x 100a/h 12 volt batteries is doing the same thing the inverter will charge consistantly to keep the batteries on the selected floating voltage bit noisy as the inverter is in the living room 

To stop the fan just use OSO under setting 16 if panels are fitted. I only use grid charge during LS.

One can also check that UTIL charge is not selected under option 16. This I belief is the same for 12/24/48V

Can someone please assist me i have installed a 2.2kw system in my house with 2x100ah 12volt allgrand gel batteries . I need help with all the settings on the inverter ? 

5 hours ago, Werner Pieterse said:

a 2.2kw system

That doesn't sound like an Axpert inverter, so this is the wrong topic.

You need to tell us the brand and if possible the exact model of the inverter. The settings are completely different.

The settings also depend on your needs and preferences, so you need to tell us those too. For example, do you want to minimise your electricity usage, or maximise run time during load shedding?

2 hours ago, Coulomb said:

That doesn't sound like an Axpert inverter, so this is the wrong topic.

You need to tell us the brand and if possible the exact model of the inverter. The settings are completely different.

The settings also depend on your needs and preferences, so you need to tell us those too. For example, do you want to minimise your electricity usage, or maximise run time during load shedding?

On an earlier post on 25 Dec @Werner Pieterse indicated he has a 3kW inverter. The 2.2kW could be an error. I find predictive text can add any value when using numbers. It catches me out more than I could care to remember

Sorry yes its a 2.2kw i am just usingvit for when its loadshedding and the fan is my biggest problem seems like its runnig all the time 

Edited January 6, 20224 yr by Werner Pieterse

12 minutes ago, Werner Pieterse said:

Sorry yes its a 2.2kw i am just usingvit for when its loadshedding and the fan is my biggest problem seems like its runnig all the time 

Now you need to supply the make model etc for anyone to help.

This worked for me and stopped the annoying fan sound, I'm waiting for my solar panels to arrive, do you know if the fans ramp up again with solar input? 

On 2022/02/24 at 7:16 PM, Des B said:

This worked for me and stopped the annoying fan sound, I'm waiting for my solar panels to arrive, do you know if the fans ramp up again with solar input? 

Hi Des B

 

What did you do to stop the fan noise? I have the 1000w 12v inverter and the fans run 24/7 and are noisy.

On 2022/02/24 at 6:16 PM, Des B said:

This worked for me and stopped the annoying fan sound, I'm waiting for my solar panels to arrive, do you know if the fans ramp up again with solar input? 

Please share what you have done ?

On 2022/01/06 at 7:34 PM, Scorp007 said:

Now you need to supply the make model etc for anyone to help.

Sorry for the late reply its a Koolenergy 2.2kw with 2x 100amp hour gel batteries . I do not have panels but the issue is that the fans are running all the time . I had a solar guy at my house and he did all the settings but nothing has changed. 

5 hours ago, Werner Pieterse said:

its a Koolenergy 2.2kw [ inverter ]

That looks like an InfiniSolar clone. You never know what you get with a clone.

I have a 1k RCT for my internet and the fan drove me nuts. I emailed Firstshop and they approved a return and 'fixed' it, but it made no difference.

I tinkered a bit, warranty now void, but I have not heard the fan since said tinkering. A big contributor to the noise is the mesh covering the fan, so I cut that out. I also installed a fan that runs a bit quieter, but I don't think it has actually come on yet.

The biggest problem it seems is the heatsink to which the thermal sensor is connected, it needs some breathing room... while testing the new fan I left the cover off and the fan wouldn't come on. Put the cover back and not 2 minutes and the fan is spinning like a Chihuahua with rabies. Cover off, no fan for hours.

I took the cover, removed a few bits and I can honestly say I have not heard the fan come on yet. My RCT is now a R||||. The heat sink is just to the left of the vents.

Edited August 3, 20223 yr by Freddie v Niekerk

On 2022/08/03 at 5:43 PM, Freddie v Niekerk said:

I have a 1k RCT for my internet and the fan drove me nuts. I emailed Firstshop and they approved a return and 'fixed' it, but it made no difference.

I tinkered a bit, warranty now void, but I have not heard the fan since said tinkering. A big contributor to the noise is the mesh covering the fan, so I cut that out. I also installed a fan that runs a bit quieter, but I don't think it has actually come on yet.

The biggest problem it seems is the heatsink to which the thermal sensor is connected, it needs some breathing room... while testing the new fan I left the cover off and the fan wouldn't come on. Put the cover back and not 2 minutes and the fan is spinning like a Chihuahua with rabies. Cover off, no fan for hours.

I took the cover, removed a few bits and I can honestly say I have not heard the fan come on yet. My RCT is now a R||||. The heat sink is just to the left of the vents.

Hi,

I got the same inverter. Wired it up today and then once load shedding it, the fans came on and are churning away. 

How has your mod been treating you so far? 

I'm not too keen to cut out the vents or the cover yet... But I'd definitely look at changing to quieter fans. Do you think that would make a tangible difference? Do you have a link or reference to the fans you bought?

On 2021/08/02 at 9:06 PM, JamesF said:

Not a bug, the 12, 24 and 48v units (pip, Axpert, Synapse) all do the same thing. 

If you are floating OR charging the batteries, PV or utility (Eskom) the fans will run at minimum 30% if CPU / Board temp is over 40deg C. If 30% fan speed can get the temp down under 30deg C, the fans will switch off.. (however, temp will probably get back to 40deg C within 20min anyway)

  Yep, looks like I'm in the same boat. Temp is at 33 deg, battery is at float voltage, charging light is solid green, but the fans are still spinning continuously. 

On 2021/08/02 at 9:06 PM, JamesF said:

I have 12 months left of my warranty - in that time, I am going to attempt to write a patch for my firmware to change the upper limit of the fan control (40deg C to 60?) If anyone has experience with the .hex firmware, please let me know? (translations, debugs, ect)

After that 12 months, I am going to;

1. disconnect the fans and see how high the internal temp actually gets while floating the batteries.. Interesting to note, during float, only 1 fan is used.. So my thoughts are if just 1 fan can be disconnected (bridged with resistor to not get FAN lock errors).

2. Reverse the fans to check temp differences. 

Did you have any luck with your planned mods?

On 2022/12/12 at 2:30 PM, DieLyn said:

  Yep, looks like I'm in the same boat. Temp is at 33 deg, battery is at float voltage, charging light is solid green, but the fans are still spinning continuously. 

Did you have any luck with your planned mods?

Hey, no lick:

New firmware - no change

Reversed fans - no Change

External fan did help, but had to balance the one noise for the other...

I sold the unit, got a 5.5Kva Sunsynk - much happier!!