I upgraded the firmware on my Classic 150, to App revision 807, net revsion 783.
Also upgraded the MNGP at the same time.
The controller powers up fine but will not let me change the charge mode to 'on' unless the PV array is disconnected.
I can set the mode to 'on' with the PV breaker 'off', but as soon as I turn on the PV array the mode turns 'off'!
Tried reloading the firware from two different PC's, windows xp and windows 7. Still can't set the controller to 'on'
So now what.
Jim
Could you list the things you've tried? Same thing happened to me but no use in telling you something already tried. Experienced several scenarios like that.
I've reinstalled the firmware a number of times. I am quite confident that it has been succesful. My Local App indicates that the firmware number upgraded and a number of the menus on the controller are different.
If I turn on the battery breaker and leave the PV beaker off: the mode can be turned on
If both battery and PV breakers are on: I can even select On as an option
If I shut of the PV breaker and let the voltage bleed down to somwhere below 20V: I can turn the mode to 'on'
I am running approx 60 to 70 Voc from the panels into the Classic 150, to charge a 24V battery bank.
Bob Gudgel from Midnite solar just emailed me some pictures of a resistor to cut out. Will post my results.
The check if I needed this fix, he had me check: From the main status screen hold down the left arrow and tap the enter key. Brings up a screen with an array of numbers. In the top middle mine said 27, and the bottom right the number was 1023. Bob said this meant that it had a resistor installed that wasn't supposed to be there.
Off to cut out that resistor
Can you give us the serial number off that controller as well? I am trying to keep a range of ones with the resistor.
Thanks James....
This issue only a possibility of being a problem with 120V battery systems (Classic 250KS) which
have all been taken care of (we don't ship as many of those units), but I still wanted to have the user
clip this out as a "just in case" precaution. There were not many of these PCBs made with this
resistor added, but it will be so obvious, this is a good reason for this post. As of today, I think
James' is about the fourth person to have seen this problem.
If anybody else that has this same problem where (usually after a firmware upgrade), the mode
will not stay "ON", this may be the issue.
Like James already posted, to tell if this is the problem, in main STATUS screen,
HOLD the LEFT ARROW key and TAP the ENTER key. It will show you a screen
with a bunch of numbers. The top middle number is the "Reason For Resting" (RFR, or why
it stayed OFF). This particular issue should show up as RFR 27 and also the number
in the lower right of the screen will be somewhere around 1023. It is normally something
less than 500 or so.
If this is the case, download this picture and clip out R132 which is
circled in RED.
http://fusion.midnitesolar.com/Classic_R132.jpg
One lady used a pair of toenail clippers to do this.
Something like that or a pair of wire snips should be fine.
It should not need to be un-soldered. Make sure the Classic
is powered OFF (input and output circuit breakers OFF).
R132 is connected to very low voltage circuitry (less than 5 volts).
This is a small (0603) surface mount resistor and shouldn't make
any fragments, but if the Classic is on a table, you might want to
turn the Classic on its side. Mounted on a wall should be fine because
any fragments should just fall out.
SUCCESS!!!
The resistor I cut out is r132 its on the left side (see the attached picture). Its very small. I actually ended up crushing it with my small cutters.
I've also posted a picture of the diagnostic screen after the resistor was cut out. Before the operation: the 5 was a 27 and the 120 was 1023.
My serial number is 547
PS: Many thanks to Bob for his quick response. He saved my Saturday.
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Hi all,
I am having a similar issue with my Classic 150 (serial number 599) on a 12V bank. It will come out of resting in the morning and bulk charge for a couple of hours then switch to MODE OFF, with a reference to RFR 27 and R132. Having done the left arrow and enter keystrokes on the Classic, it shows 27 at the top of the screen and a number hovering around the 1005 mark in the bottom right of the screen.
I upgraded the firmware straight to 11-9-11 (app revision 807, net revision 783) as soon as I got the Classic installed, so do not know if it worked correctly before the upgrade.
It sounds like I need to snip off R132, but I would like confirmation that this is the correct course of action to take, before I do anything.
Chris.
Quote from: cpfl on January 22, 2012, 10:41:01 AM
It sounds like I need to snip off R132, but I would like confirmation that this is the correct course of action to take, before I do anything.
Chris.
Chris, that is definitely the problem with your Classic. Snip out R132 if you can. That number, 1005, represents an internal voltage and it just took it a while to reach the high number when your batteries got to Absorb for a while.
I am sorry you had to do this. A few units got out with R132 stuffed in there and this is the only problem with that being in there.
Luckily, the people that buy Classics are smart and the fix is pretty easy.
boB
Bob,
I went ahead and removed R132 as per your instructions. My PCB design was slightly different to the one shown in your photograph so I have attached an animated photo of mine both with R132 in place, and with it removed.
Now I understand why you said "Snip out R132 if you can". It was extremely small!!!
Unfortunately the weather down in south west Texas has meant that a full test of the Classic has not been possible, but I am sure it will work perfectly now. If not, I'll let you know! :-)
Chris.
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Chris, absolutely perfect "snip" you did there !
Thanks for the nice pictures of it as well just in case we needed the alternate version.
Yeah, that will fix that problem.
boB
boB,
It fixed the problem! :-)
Chris.