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???
did you check the fuses in the Kid ?
Larry
You bet, both fuses are solid.
thanks Larry.
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
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?
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
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
Hope that does the trick !
Larry
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.
Larry have you updated the FW and got a message saying NO SERVICE?
I have checked by using another USB [port and same message?
Quote from: Westbranch on June 13, 2021, 06:55:00 PM
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
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?
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
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
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
Both of the update procedures will work on Windows 10.
The trick is to convince Windows that you know what you are doing and that you really want to connect the KID to your PC THEN that you really want to send a file.
The Windows 10 installer is supposed to make Windows behave.
I have had the best results when I have the installer running on the PC, the KID in download mode THEN hook up the USB cable. If you have the cable hooked up to the KID and PC before you start the installer bad things happen.
-Kyle
Kyle I have a W7 , now back on site with W 7 laptop...The W10 is a desktop at home. I will try your order of connections in the AM.
My second issue is I need guidance as to where the best location for the Negatives is in your opinion.?
thanks,
Eric
Quote from: Westbranch on June 19, 2021, 11:34:16 PM
Kyle I have a W7 , now back on site with W 7 laptop...The W10 is a desktop at home. I will try your order of connections in the AM.
My second issue is I need guidance as to where the best location for the Negatives is in your opinion.?
thanks,
Eric
You can still get free upgrade to Windows 10 from 7 for free if you want to - if your laptop hardware will support it.
Larry
Larry I would not be able to do that,I believe, as it has multi language set up and It drives me nuts as you-have to check every word ... I had to type most of this twice...
Eric
Quote from: Westbranch on June 20, 2021, 01:47:43 AM
Larry I would not be able to do that,I believe, as it has multi language set up and It drives me nuts as you-have to check every word ... I had to type most of this twice...
Eric
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-download-windows-10-for-free-now-that-windows-7-is-dead/
https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/
Kyle I just remember that The Negatives I am referring to are the the ones on page in the KID Installation Manual on page 44/45 in the IMPORTANT MESSAGE on the left side of the page.
Eric
PV negative must go directly to the Kid, It can not be common as the current sense is on PV negative. If they are common the kid will not charge