7 hours ago, Pieta said:

if two 7.2's are used in parallel then the battery current is still limited to only 80 Amps. This means it is then limited to 40 amps only per inverter?

No. If the two inverters are set to say 80A on one and 70A on the other, then you have a maximum total charge current of 150A (the sum of the inverters' maximum charge currents).

13 hours ago, Bruce K said:

I downloaded firmware version 90.19 from the above site but I cannot get it uploaded to the inverter.

Make sure that COM4 is your USB to serial adapter, and that it's a known good one (for the purposes of flash updating). You can't flash upload via the USB port, unless you copy dsp.hex to a flash drive (USB memory stick) and use an adapter cable (USB OTG) if needed. And you can only do the main DSP that way, not the removable display firmware, so you might as well use your PC for both. 

There is a chance that you need to update the display firmware first. The reason is that the display firmware is what updates the main firmware, and they changed the set of possible commands that the display firmware responds to in 12.03. But problems with the USB to serial adapter are far more likely. See the firmware section of this post, near the top of the firmware section.

Edited December 27, 20205 yr by Coulomb

17 hours ago, Pieta said:

Try to make your com port - COM1. Specially if you use USB to serial converters when you do not have a dedicated serial port on PC.

Thanks Pieta

My Device Manager identified COM4 as the USB port on my PC but I'll try a different port. I bought a brand new USB to Serial converter for this job, maybe it's faulty. I'm using the far right hand RJ45 port on the display panel - is that correct?

9 hours ago, Coulomb said:

There is a chance that you need to update the display firmware first.

Hi Coulomb

I tried that too but still no joy. 

9 hours ago, Coulomb said:

See the firmware section of this post, near the top of the firmware section.

Thanks Coulomb

I've read through this and I'm sure it will help. I'll give it a bash tomorrow.

On 2020/12/27 at 11:41 AM, Bruce K said:

Thanks Pieta

My Device Manager identified COM4 as the USB port on my PC but I'll try a different port. I bought a brand new USB to Serial converter for this job, maybe it's faulty. I'm using the far right hand RJ45 port on the display panel - is that correct?

Bruce hope you got right? That is the correct port. If not try to set the port to Com1 in the Device manager as the other port numbers sometimes do not work with peripheral USB to serial converters

On 2020/12/15 at 10:20 AM, wtjaden said:

Yes i updated last night and i can confirm i've not had any issues yet looks like 90.19 do not feed into grid in SUB mode.

 

 

It seems that the 90.19 upgrade does help. Have seen an interesting review of the problem and what seems to be causing it. Unfortunately with Spanish comments but translated you can get a better understanding of the causes of the problem that it seems that it has now been sorted with the upgraded firmware . Also with some interesting photos of the 7.2 max inside! Also that the 7.2 might soon be replaced with the 8Kw version?

https://www.solarweb.net/forosolar/fotovoltaica-sistemas-aislados-la-red/48226-voltronic-axpert-max-review-profundidad-2.html

WIth Firmware version 90.19 the feed in to grid  happens less  but it seems as soon as  PV in my case goes over 1.7KW it feeds into the grid  and still trips my grid prepaid meter.

it could also be my well pump kicking in and out during the day that can cause it to overshoot and feed into the grid 

 

On 2020/12/15 at 10:20 AM, wtjaden said:

Yes i updated last night and i can confirm i've not had any issues yet looks like 90.19 do not feed into grid in SUB mode.

 

 

Hi everybody

I am new to the forum so greetings to all. Glad to be a part of a very informative forum.

I am experiencing the same problem with the 7.2 max and have downloaded the latest firmware from the provided link. 

I have done firmware upgrades on the MKS II before but are not sure how it is done on the Axpert max. 

It seems there are 2 different softwares (1 for the display and one for the inverter.) 

Should this be done separately?

Is there any guide available on doing this on the Axpert Max?

Any advice will be appreciated

32 minutes ago, WJM said:

It seems there are 2 different softwares (1 for the display and one for the inverter.) 

Yes, two firmwares.

32 minutes ago, WJM said:

Should this be done separately?

Yes.

33 minutes ago, WJM said:

Any advice will be appreciated

It's very much the same, except for the two parts. There are two different reflash tools; don't confuse them, and don't use the "Update DSP" button on the display reflash tool.

On 2020/11/20 at 6:58 PM, wtjaden said:

My inverter is actually branded Full Circle Solar.
ill ask them if they have some info about this feed into grid by a offgrid inverter . 🤨

 Is the problem you are having not with the installation of the unit to the grid.... if the output of the inverter is connected to the circuit breakers in the main DB board incorrectly this would feed back power to the grid.. Just a thought

Thank you for all replies. The fault however is still persisting.

We are not feeding the inverter from the grid but rather from a generator. The generator voltage is stable at 228v and frequency 49.5 Hz. This is well within the limits according to the inverter spec. Inverter is set to Appliance in parameter 3 which according to the manual has a range of  90-280vac

I have 5 units installed at different sites with another 3 following soon. The problem is common to all the installations. 

When the gen is connected the inverter goes into bypass. (which is correct) It then starts charging but stops after a few seconds. I am suspecting that there is problem with what the AC input is willing to accept.  It is also possible that the inverter is trying to feed power into the generator.

This doesn't make much sense as the inverter according to me should not have any grid tie capabilities

This happens even at a very low setting on the AC charge value (2 amps )

I believe this to a inherent flaw on this type of inverter. Maybe related to firmware?

Firmware is the latest version

Any thoughts?

3 hours ago, WJM said:

I am suspecting that there is problem with what the AC input is willing to accept.

Yes. They are very picky on things like sudden frequency changes. This will happen when the generator suddenly powers all the loads (even if battery charging is only low).

3 hours ago, WJM said:

 It is also possible that the inverter is trying to feed power into the generator.

I doubt that this is the problem.

You may find some clues in my generator FAQ (#7), especially the trick of starting the generator with a small load before connecting to the inverter.

Hello Coulomb, 

Maybe you could help me with one question. I´m having weird problems with both, Axpert Max 48V 7.2 and 8.0kW (as usual with the voltronic inverters).

I found some new firmwares in the Czech "ostrovni" webpage: 

https://www.ostrovni-elektrarny.cz/?podpora

or the same here:

 https://www.ostrovni-elektrarny.cz/support/Axpert/FW/

They report that the 45.07 (20210414) firmware version is newer than the 90.19 (20201212).

But I have updated 45.03 to 45.07 in my MAX 7.2kW and I´m still having some "PV loss" and "Eprom fault" problems from time to time...

I wonder if the firmware dates reported in this webpage are wrong? Otherwise... why the hell they passed from a 45.xx to 90.xx and then back again to 45.xx..?

Have you a "high tech" way to confirm it?

In the other hand... I´m still sighting for new firmware versions for the 8.0kW... (newer than 46.02) if anybody has a clue where to get it, please illuminate us!

Thanks in advance

 

 

On 2021/06/01 at 6:44 AM, Danitegue said:

Have you a "high tech" way to confirm it?

Kind of, but it's a lot of work, and I'm busy on other things at present.

The numbering system is a mystery to me.

On 2021/06/01 at 6:44 AM, Danitegue said:

why the hell they passed from a 45.xx to 90.xx and then back again to 45.xx..?

I happened across the below today, on a Spanish forum. It seems that the 90.xx are experimental versions. He seemed to find this information on the Czech site.

Use Google Translate to read the Spanish if needed:

https://www.solarweb.net/forosolar/fotovoltaica-sistemas-aislados-la-red/48226-voltronic-axpert-max-review-profundidad-16.html#post415016

Hi All,

Has the grid feedback issue been resolved or is it still ongoing? Looking at the design, it does not seem to be possible to stop the feedback totally because excess solar power will have nowhere to go when the batteries are fully charged and the load is less than the generated solar power.

So it seems that the safest option is not to connect to the grid if you have PV on the roof or only use the unit as a power backup solution with no connected PV.

You will also be paying for the power that you feeding back into the grid......

So here is the official reply.....

"Dear Bobby,

The engineer already modified the firmware to limit the power feed to grid as low as possible. But during the load fluctuations, it may still have few power feed to grid but this is already the best we could achieve now. 

These models do not have the Modbus communication port to manage the energy meter. But if the load is stable then the system should work smoothly.

Best regards,.."

The bottom line is that if you PV panels attached to the inverter then you must keep it disconnected from the grid or else it will export....

We will sell the the MAX and similar designed Axpert models as Off Grid only if PV is attached.

 

On 2021/03/21 at 2:46 AM, Coulomb said:

Yes. They are very picky on things like sudden frequency changes. This will happen when the generator suddenly powers all the loads (even if battery charging is only low).

I doubt that this is the problem.

You may find some clues in my generator FAQ (#7), especially the trick of starting the generator with a small load before connecting to the inverter.

Can the generator also be a firmware issue. I have tried many different generators all do the same. When switch off the solar and the battery then the generator works but then your battery doesn’t charge. If I put the generator on my “axpert mks I” everything is working perfect.

2 hours ago, Dirkie said:

Can the generator also be a firmware issue. I have tried many different generators all do the same. When switch off the solar and the battery then the generator works but then your battery doesn’t charge. If I put the generator on my “axpert mks I” everything is working perfect.

Most generators have low quality AC output.  This isn't unique to Voltronic inverters, most inverters will switch away from the supply if the power is low quality.  Low quality meaning the generator is unable to maintain a stable frequency, voltage or waveform.  A good quality generator like Honda (which uses inverter internally) will not have this problem.

Every inverter and UPS always has these threads about problems on generator.  The generator is the problem, not the inverter.

Edited December 6, 20214 yr by Gnome

Is there a way to set Axpert Max cut off voltage setting # 29 to 49v as the highest that I can set it at the moment is 48v but some limtium battery’s need to be set at 49v

13 hours ago, Dirkie said:

Is there a way to set Axpert Max cut off voltage setting # 29 to 49v as the highest that I can set it at the moment is 48v but some lithium batteries need to be set at 49v

Yes. LFP flavour of fully patched firmware will do this. The problem is, there are so many models, with different firmware for each model, and only one pair of jokers is crazy enough to do this patching. What model inverter are you using? Better yet, what version of main (U1) firmware is it running?

None of the high PV voltage models have fully patched firmware.

A little old now, but see also Can I update my firmware, and if so, to what?

2 hours ago, Coulomb said:

The problem is, there are so many models, with different firmware for each model, and only one pair of jokers is crazy enough to do this patching.

😂 I'm very thankful you guys are willing to do it.  I'm a software engineer by day but after looking at the process you go through, I just didn't see myself getting into it.  Last thing you want to do after a long day at work is come home and do more of the same but worse because you need to buy an expensive decompiler and work in an obscure CPU architecture.  No thanks.  I'm barely able to motivate myself to do coding in my free time for simple things (I wonder if people in other professions have the same problem).  If they could actually use a microprocessor like STM32, I think our lives would be vastly improved.

Edited December 7, 20214 yr by Gnome

On 2021/12/07 at 10:54 AM, Coulomb said:

Yes. LFP flavour of fully patched firmware will do this. The problem is, there are so many models, with different firmware for each model, and only one pair of jokers is crazy enough to do this patching. What model inverter are you using? Better yet, what version of main (U1) firmware is it running?

None of the high PV voltage models have fully patched firmware.

A little old now, but see also Can I update my firmware, and if so, to what?

Hi Coulomb 

It is Axpert Max 8Kw

Main cpu firmware version is 46.05

Secondary cpu firmware version 12.06

12 hours ago, Dirkie said:

It is Axpert Max 8Kw

Ah. There is no firmware update file for an 8 kW MAX that I'm aware of. So there is definitely no patched firmware for it.