Howdy..so I have this connected to 3 x 370w panels and 2 x 12v Deep Cells. When I run on solar, and with a low load...anything from 200w-400w. .the inverters fans immediately come on at high jet speed.  The Inverter can take a max of 600w of solar. They never slow down or switch off. I was hoping to run certain aspects of the house on solar during the day and auto switch to glorious Eiskom during the evening.

As the inverter is in the kitchen, this noise is just OTT. Firmware looks like v73.

I have read about turning the fans to blow in and not out - but is there a better explanation I should pursue. The unit should have a big warning sticker about the noise!

Thanks in advance

Ian

Edited April 9, 20215 yr by IanDee

10 hours ago, IanDee said:

The inverters fans immediately come on at high jet speed. 

There was a problem with early Voltronic firmware with fan speed. It was fixed years ago for the 5kVA models. How old is the inverter? I suspect that the smaller power models didn't get nearly as much firmware attention as the more popular models (5 kVA at the time).

 

Quote

As the inverter is in the kitchen, this noise is just OTT. Firmware looks like v73.

There should be a data page with U1 and two 2-digit decimal numbers. Please report both. There is a very small chance that I have a compatible firmware update file and could perhaps patch it. 

3 hours ago, Coulomb said:

There was a problem with early Voltronic firmware with fan speed. It was fixed years ago for the 5kVA models. How old is the inverter? I suspect that the smaller power models didn't get nearly as much firmware attention as the more popular models (5 kVA at the time).

 

There should be a data page with U1 and two 2-digit decimal numbers. Please report both. There is a very small chance that I have a compatible firmware update file and could perhaps patch it. 

Hi..thanks so much for responding. U1 02 73 / U2 02 30

19 minutes ago, IanDee said:

Hi..thanks so much for responding. U1 02 73 / U2 02 30

The Inverter is exactly 1 year old....

5 hours ago, IanDee said:

U2 02 30

Oh. That sounds like a removable display. Does it have one? There are so many models; I didn't think Mecer branded any with removable display, but I should check.

5 hours ago, IanDee said:

U1 02 73

The latest 24 V firmware I have is 02.43, which sounds a lot older than 02.73. It's also PF0.8, and I think all models after about 2016 are PF1. Maybe a little later for the 24 V models.

Is yours 2400 W (PF0.8) or 3000 W (PF1)? Just curious for my edification; 02.43 sounds way too old to attempt to patch and put into your machine.

1 hour ago, Coulomb said:

Oh. That sounds like a removable display. Does it have one? There are so many models; I didn't think Mecer branded any with removable display, but I should check.

The latest 24 V firmware I have is 02.43, which sounds a lot older than 02.73. It's also PF0.8, and I think all models after about 2016 are PF1. Maybe a little later for the 24 V models.

Is yours 2400 W (PF0.8) or 3000 W (PF1)? Just curious for my edification; 02.43 sounds way too old to attempt to patch and put into your machine.

I have the 2400w so I guess its the PF0.8. So my firmware is probably ok - so it must be a cooling issue. However, the unit is mounted in a cool area and appears to run cool judging by the air coming out of the fans - but yet in solar mode - the unit still wants to take off.

I'm not convinced that it's definitely not a firmware issue, but I agree it seems unlikely given the considerably higher version number, and in any event, the only way to fix that would be to get a firmware update file via your supplier, and it seems unlikely that this would have been fixed in the last year.

The fan algorithm for the 48V units may be different to the 24V models, so the following may not be applicable.

In the 48V units, the fan speed is, roughly speaking, when temperature measurements are not extreme, based on loads. Specifically, x% of rated maximum load (inverter or solar) causes the fan to run at at least x% of maximum speed. The fans are non-linear, such that 30% speed is barely ticking over, probably OK in a kitchen though not a bedroom, and as you know only too well, 100% is objectionably loud, and should be reserved for emergencies only. 100% speed is way noisier than 3.3x the noise at 30% speed.

The inverter's processor, which controls the fan, gets information about solar generation from a small processor on the SCC board. They communicate over a 2400 bps serial port, usually one packet is sent per second, both directions.

So what might be happening is that the information in the packet from the Solar Charge Controller is saying that the power level is very high, or the temperature is very high. You can probably figure out which by scanning through the data pages on the LC Display, or from a monitoring app. Most monitoring apps don't distinguish between 4 temperature measurements, they just report the highest. In your case, you can assume that a very high reading (over say 70°C) will be the reported SCC temperature. If you are handy with electronics, or know someone who is, you might be able to trace the circuit from the temperature sensor back and either replace the failed component, or take a risk and defeat it so it always reports a moderate temperature.

If the reported power is the problem, it might be the current sensing circuit. That one must not be be defeated though, or you could overcharge your battery. If the solar charging seems to be working normally, then problems with the reported power would seem unlikely.

Edited April 11, 20215 yr by Coulomb
Added "definitely" in first sentence.

Hi Coulomb,

Will it be possible to send me the 02.43 firmware for the 24v 2400w axpert inverter. Mine is 02.42. I'm hopping this might sort out the charging issue I have on it, thank you.

4 hours ago, Nelio said:

Will it be possible to send me the 02.43 firmware for the 24v 2400w axpert inverter. Mine is 02.42. I'm hoping this might sort out the charging issue I have on it, thank you.

I found it here:

https://forums.aeva.asn.au/viewtopic.php?p=63364#p63364

The download doesn't seem to work any more; it must not have survived the forum software change.

I'll attach it here. I hope it fixes your issue.

PIP-MSX_2-3K_MAIN_0243.zip

Thank you. It took a few attempts but eventually went through. It's the dreaded premature float bug! Hopefully this can resolve it. 

10 hours ago, Nelio said:

It's the dreaded premature float bug!

Ah. So far, not a single factory firmware, even the very latest, has fixed the premature float bug. That was the impetus for the patched firmware, and we assumed it would only be needed temporarily. But not so.

I'll check in a moment, I vaguely recall doing a light patch on a 24V firmware. Maybe it was this one. [ Edit: It was not. 18.22a forced 24 V mode. It may not even have fixed the premature float bug. ]

 

Edited April 12, 20215 yr by Coulomb

Unfortunately it's a similar situation, it'll enter bulk charge at 15 amp then when it reaches 27,4 approx it'll enter float. 

On 2021/04/11 at 2:14 AM, Coulomb said:

I'm not convinced that it's definitely not a firmware issue, but I agree it seems unlikely given the considerably higher version number, and in any event, the only way to fix that would be to get a firmware update file via your supplier, and it seems unlikely that this would have been fixed in the last year.

The fan algorithm for the 48V units may be different to the 24V models, so the following may not be applicable.

In the 48V units, the fan speed is, roughly speaking, when temperature measurements are not extreme, based on loads. Specifically, x% of rated maximum load (inverter or solar) causes the fan to run at at least x% of maximum speed. The fans are non-linear, such that 30% speed is barely ticking over, probably OK in a kitchen though not a bedroom, and as you know only too well, 100% is objectionably loud, and should be reserved for emergencies only. 100% speed is way noisier than 3.3x the noise at 30% speed.

The inverter's processor, which controls the fan, gets information about solar generation from a small processor on the SCC board. They communicate over a 2400 bps serial port, usually one packet is sent per second, both directions.

So what might be happening is that the information in the packet from the Solar Charge Controller is saying that the power level is very high, or the temperature is very high. You can probably figure out which by scanning through the data pages on the LC Display, or from a monitoring app. Most monitoring apps don't distinguish between 4 temperature measurements, they just report the highest. In your case, you can assume that a very high reading (over say 70°C) will be the reported SCC temperature. If you are handy with electronics, or know someone who is, you might be able to trace the circuit from the temperature sensor back and either replace the failed component, or take a risk and defeat it so it always reports a moderate temperature.

If the reported power is the problem, it might be the current sensing circuit. That one must not be be defeated though, or you could overcharge your battery. If the solar charging seems to be working normally, then problems with the reported power would seem unlikely.

Thanks for your reply. Very interesting. I have also managed to get hold of the SA distributors who have in turn, requested info from the manufacturer in Taiwan. If I receive any info of value on this, I will let you know...otherwise, all I can do is a long shot or turning the fans to blow inward.

On 2021/04/11 at 12:18 PM, Coulomb said:

I found it here:

https://forums.aeva.asn.au/viewtopic.php?p=63364#p63364

The download doesn't seem to work any more; it must not have survived the forum software change.

I'll attach it here. I hope it fixes your issue.

PIP-MSX_2-3K_MAIN_0243.zip 602.83 kB · 1 download

Hi Coulomb.

Do you perhaps have any idea where I van get a software update for this “Oldie”. 
 

 

Edited July 9, 20215 yr by Oupa

1 hour ago, Oupa said:

Do you perhaps have any idea where I van get a software update for this “Oldie”. 

What firmware does it have now? For the 3 kVA / 2.4 kW models, I have only two firmwares: 02.43 (download link a few posts ago), and 18.22. It looks like I've done a modification to 18.22 (18.22a), but it looks like it's a "force to be 24 V model" patch, not a light patch to fix the premature float bug.

41 minutes ago, Coulomb said:

What firmware does it have now? For the 3 kVA / 2.4 kW models, I have only two firmwares: 02.43 (download link a few posts ago), and 18.22. It looks like I've done a modification to 18.22 (18.22a), but it looks like it's a "force to be 24 V model" patch, not a light patch to fix the premature float bug.

I’m not sure. I’m asking for a friend. How would he find out the firmware version. I have no experience with the Axpert

On 2021/07/10 at 1:02 AM, Oupa said:

How would he find out the firmware version.

From the front panel, press the up or down buttons until you end up with "U1" at the left of the screen. Note the two pairs of digits beside it. These might be for example 20 and 44, meaning main firmware version 20.44. [ Edit: I meant to use the more likely example of 02.44, but 20.44 is still a possible outcome. ]

Edited July 11, 20215 yr by Coulomb

Good Day or must be evening in your part of the world.

Does this look right

 

 

I’m sure it is wrong. 

On 2021/07/10 at 4:13 AM, Coulomb said:

From the front panel, press the up or down buttons until you end up with "U1" at the left of the screen. Note the two pairs of digits beside it. These might be for example 20 and 44, meaning main firmware version 20.44.

Sorry Coulomb. I must be getting old. I didn’t Reply to you. Please see above. 

On 2021/07/10 at 9:48 PM, Oupa said:

Does this look right

Yes, that's the screen I wanted to see.

It means that the two 24 V firmwares that I have are of the correct series, but both (02.43 and 02.44) are older than the one your friend already has.

Sorry: firmware update files for 24 V models are rare.

1 hour ago, Coulomb said:

Yes, that's the screen I wanted to see.

It means that the two 24 V firmwares that I have are of the correct series, but both (02.43 and 02.44) are older than the one your friend already has.

Sorry: firmware update files for 24 V models are rare.

This is a 48v model. Does it make any difference. 

On 2021/07/11 at 11:52 PM, Oupa said:

This is a 48v model. Does it make any difference. 

For many models, yes it makes a huge difference. But for the smaller models, the same firmware does many nominal voltages and sometimes several power levels. I'd have to check when I get home. Please reply to this post to remind me, I can't unread a post.

58 minutes ago, Coulomb said:

I'd have to check when I get home. Please reply to this post to remind me,

No need, I remembered! 🤞🐘

Yes, that firmware series (02.4x and I'm guessing also 02.5x) seems to handle 6 models, including the 48 V / 3000 VA / 2400 W model that you have.

Edited July 13, 20215 yr by Coulomb

I'm not sure if it is of any benefit here:

For a few years I ran two PF0.8 5kVA inverters in parallel until a lightning strike right outside toasted their communications boards. They were replaced by new Mecer units that are PF1.0 5kVA. I can confirm that the newer units are significantly louder than the older units. As Coulomb puts it, objectionably loud. I can also confirm they are always loud even though the temperature is never high and solar production is always well within the nameplate capability of the units. The WAF on these units dropped from 10 to 1 as a result of the noise.

Edited July 13, 20215 yr by Nonlinear