KID with 12.3 to 12.4 volts NO Watts showing on rewell this one hhasme adout

[Westbranch]

Well this one has me stumped !!
problem: Lake neighbour has 2 X 330W panels on the metal roof of their cabin power system has worked for 4+ years. System a little undersized for  Husband died last fall used new wire in his home grown set up. He has a small bar fridge  that can only be used in the summer due to the amount of snow in this valley. they came out to do some ice fishing and cleaned the snow off the panels  and used the Genny and charger the next  week and all  batteries were topped off.

Yesterday I was walking by the side of their cabin and the low power alarm was squealing. Batteries were at 11.3V.
Shut off the Inverter and went to the KID panel and it was reading 11.4V now but there were NO watts measuring at the KID.
Next went to the batteries 4 x 12 volt @ 11.3
 This morning the Kid Panel read Input  11.3 V and  Batteries 12.3V to 12.4V, 0.0  A, RESTING ,0W.

The fridge  was running last week ( NO check of state of batteries)

All I can think of there is a poor connection.

All suggestions accepted...

tried to get some pic off my smart  phone but it won't  let them go???

[ClassicCrazy]

did you check the fuses in the Kid ?

Larry

[Westbranch]

You bet, both fuses are solid.

thanks Larry.

[ClassicCrazy]

Well you know - it is going to take some multimeter work at all the connections and breakers to find if there is an external issue or if a problem in the Kid itself has problem.
Did you do any of that ? Not sure how much you are inclined to do on your neighbors system there.

Larry

[Westbranch]

Larry,

Yes you are right about meter work, I started to do a bit of that  after I saw that zer'0' watts message.

 today I dug out my 12V 40 A  True-Charge charger and hooked up my Honda inverter genny and hooked up-to the best V. battery and it took only 5 amps  and when  I went inside to the  KID it was showing  a BLUE LED = CLP  LOADS on / off.

I was looking through the  Manual   for a  reference I read  a few years ago , that the KID will not kick on until it is getting  ~ 10.3V but no luck.

I did go to the  Main  Circ. box  but it is on the outside and the wad of mono coloured wire, BLACK,is in the inside wall.

I am wondering now about  a Firmware upgrade?

[ClassicCrazy]

Seems like firmware updates never hurt .
Or maybe a factory  reset would get it  going.
You know how to do all the stuff - lucky that they have you for a neighbor !

Larry

[Westbranch]

I JUST LOCATED MY  USB cord.... right where I last had a finger on it... still plugged into my KID! A bit of a rarity  in the boonies.

I think you may have hit the correct order, Factory Reset first , then  Firmware  UPDATED.

thanks,
Eric

[ClassicCrazy]

Hope that does the trick !

Larry

[Westbranch]

Larry, decided download the newest FW. and then if necessary do the Factory RESET..
reason is i saw  the same  zer'0' Watts resting on my KID after I finished some rewiring ...

later, boss is calling.

[Westbranch]

Larry  have you updated the FW and got a message saying  NO SERVICE?
I have checked by using another USB  [port and same message?

[ClassicCrazy]

Larry  have you updated the FW and got a message saying  NO SERVICE?
I have checked by using another USB  [port and same message?

I haven't updated my Kid for awhile , but there is a document that talks about common upgrade problems .
Maybe that will have something helpful in it.
http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmware/kid/MNKID_firmware_1864/KID_Firmware_Upgrade.docx

larry

[Westbranch]

I was following  their cheat sheet and this is before the first hiccup in the list... it  is supposed  to work with W10 and down?         

[ClassicCrazy]

yes I think it should work with Windows 10 .
That is what it says anyway.
I guess keep trying and see if it goes.
Someone else had trouble and maybe you can look up his post - he was skipping some step .
http://midniteftp.com/forum/index.php?topic=5152.msg48117#msg48117
Larry

[FNG]

I would reach out to Kyle either by phone 360-403-7207 XT34 or by email kylem@midnitesolar.com he is our resident guru on this subject and should be able to help with the firmware issue. My guess is though if the kid is not showing pv voltage in then you have a system problem in the wiring unrelated to the kid. In most cases firmware updates never really fix a charging issue they usually add features or fix little bugs in stuff

Ryan

[Westbranch]

Will do Ryan, I have picking away every and am convinced it is act , as you surmised, a wiring issue.  I'll contact Kyle next . will take soe pic with my Nikon camera rather than the camera that has them but wont transfer for an email.

thanks Again,

Eric