It's 0715 and my 250 controller didn't seem to wake up, it's still on float and not bulk MPPT. When is it suppose to wake up and what tells it to wake up?
This is the first I've noticed this but it is always on bulk as soon as there is any morning light.
I just upgraded to the latest firmware and made a small change to ending amps (7a) and Absorb time (minimum 1 min, max 4 hours). I can't imagine this would have caused this.
Paul
Quote from: plongson on May 24, 2012, 09:23:25 AM
It's 0715 and my 250 controller didn't seem to wake up, it's still on float and not bulk MPPT. When is it suppose to wake up and what tells it to wake up?
What time does your MNGP and Classic think it is ?? The updates and nite time should
happen at midnight, or actually 23:59:30
Please let us know if the time is correct.
The MNGP Remote will bug you about setting the time but it only looks at the year.
A newly installed Classic or one that has lost its time will usually be sitting at year 2000...
boB
boB,
I set the time (it lost it when I did the firmware update) and it is correct. I had pump-house issues this morning and really didn't have time to sit with it so I just rebooted (shut off the power, then back on) and it went to BULK MPPT.
Where else should I look? The only setting that are different are, I set absorb time to MINIMUM 1 minute/MAX 4 hours then END AMPS at 7amps.
Paul
Quote from: plongson on May 24, 2012, 03:53:27 PM
boB,
I set absorb time to MINIMUM 1 minute/MAX 4 hours then END AMPS at 7amps.
Paul
OK, will look at the requirements for waking up but it's probably something to do
with the anti-click sensitivity in the Classic.
The Classic will stay in Float from the previous day until it actually does wake up.
Coming into summer now, I would think that it would wake up earlier, not later.
Are you in the northern hemisphere ?
boB
Yes. 38n 114w
Well, day 2 and it didn't wake up. It went from RESTING and then when the sun came up it went directly to FLOAT.
EDIT:
When I powered down yesterday to reboot and get it to BULK MPPT, I didn't realize I lost the time. I hope that is why it didn't wake up this morning. Anyway, the time is now correctly set. I sure hope it wakes up tomorrow, I'm running out of time to play with it, I'm back on the road nest week.
If it doesn't wake up, what do you think about going back to my original firmware?
Paul
Paul
I feel like it is do to the 1 minute min absorb time. I have no idea why but I am thinking this may be it. I have not seen any issue here with this behavior. I would run the Min time out to say 15 min and see what it does tomorrow.
Did the battery go to float yesterday? Also how full are the batteries in the AM? I would think being off grid they would be down some?
I still tend to think the 1 minute is somehow making the Classic think you want to defeat Absorb although it should not. boB will be along in a bit and he will have some thoughts I am sure? I will play with it here now just to see what I can create.
Ryan
Thanks Ryan, I bumped the minimum to 1 hour and the max to 4 hours with EA at 7a. Checked and rechecked the time, let's see what it does tomorrow.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
Paul
I have a stupid question ...
Recently, noticed that one of the Classics had lost time info. Got something like "invalid date/time" message when trying to look at the logs from previous days.
When one is done seting date/time, must this info ge sent the MNGP by pressing enter? Seems that if this was not sent to the MNGP, and later the battery breaker for the CC is switched off, that possibly then the CC loses the time data(?). Am at a different loaction now, and cannot test this. Thanks, Vic
not sure if this could be it either, but what of the battery in the mngp?
Quote from: Vic on May 25, 2012, 11:24:41 AM
I have a stupid question ...
Recently, noticed that one of the Classics had lost time info. Got something like "invalid date/time" message when trying to look at the logs from previous days.
Uh Oh !! Vic, did you notice what the time/date (mainly date) was on the MNGP ???
And did the Classic's power get turned off at any time since you set the time/date last ??
And try this... Set the time/date in the MNGP then unplug the MNGP for a minute.
Plug the MNGP back in and check its time/date. Did it change or stay correct ??
If it changed or reverted to year 2000 your coin cell battery may be dead.
It should be somewhere between 2.0 and 3.0 volts if it is OK.
boB
I would mention there has been a few occasions of the glue holding the "Remove" tag to the battery staying balled up on the battery and causing it not to make connection.
Ryan
Mine reverts back to 2000 every time I power down the controller. Is the battery pretty obvious when you pull the cover (the location)? What is the number of the coin battery?
Check these screen shots and tell me what they mean... I see the date of the firmware, and the correct date today, but what is the 11/09/2011??
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/Odds%20and%20Ends/IMAG0312.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/Odds%20and%20Ends/IMAG0311.jpg)pg
The second picture shows the date of the firmware revision. You have fairly old MNGP (Display) firmware and an update there may help as well. As for the coin battery it is right under the bottom right corner of the display. As soon as you gently slide the cover off the display it will be pretty obvious. I would check it for residue left over from you removing the white "Remove" tag with red letters. I do not have the Battery number in front of me but I will get it and I will also add a little blurb to the manual on the battery.
Ryan
plongson,
The firmware version in your Classic is fine but your MNGP / Remote firmware needs to be updated.
11/09/2012 doesn't update the time and date inside the Classic nearly as well as the latest
firmware does. So, this would be a good reason why your data logging time stamps might not be
as good as they could be and also why the Classic may not be updating its kW-hours and
starting a new bulk/absorb in the morning. It is probably doing it sometime in the middle
of the day instead.
Thanks for posting those pictures !!
boB
Thanks guys,
Where is the download for the MNGP? All I'm seeing on the site is the 04-29-2012 firmware??
Quote from: plongson on May 25, 2012, 08:29:31 PM
Thanks guys,
Where is the download for the MNGP? All I'm seeing on the site is the 04-29-2012 firmware??
The MNGP software comes with the Classic software. Instead of clicking on "Classic 250"
in the update screen, click on MNGP. Still, you have to turn off the Classic first, click
"MNGP" and then power up the classic. The MNGP updates through the Classic just
as if you were updating the Classic.
The MNGP will take longer to update though since it has more code in it.
boB
Great, boB,
I'LL get on it first thing in the morning.
EDIT: Before I got a chance to update the MNGP firmware it had woke up this morning and was on BULK MPPT. HOORAY, so I know it will work until I get a chance to work on it again. The two things I changed were increasing the MINIMUM absorb time up to 1 hr from 1 minute and setting the date correctly.
I know you guys are going to get tired of hearing it but, you provide absolutely the best product support I think I have ever had. You have a fabulous product and respond to problems super fast and are VERY professional and friendly.
If anyone cares to ask, I will surly recommend Midnite to ANYONE! Keep up the good work...
THANKS AGAIN!
Paul
boB,
Thanks for the info on the MNGP code version's effect on the time.
My classics are in the 1660 to 1680 S/N range, forget the exact #s. These both have the original 11-09-11 code, so that is probably the issue here.
Will probably wait to update for the rev of the Classic FW which includes the EA function. The site with dual classics has no internet port available, so will need to try copying the files and trying the update from a laptop.
Do certainly agree with Paul on the great support from you folks in Engineering, and Ryan. It is by far the best anyone could ever hope for.. Thanks! Vic
Good morning amigos,
This thread is interesting...
This morning my Classic 150 did not wake up. It retained the daily KWH accumulated value and was in float at 8:30 am. This happened a few times about 2 months ago, but seemed to go away?
The time/date in "misc" are correct.
I reset it by cycling the power breakers and it went back to bulk.
The firmware is the last Feb version....I could update this?
The MNGP rev is 1/10/10 per "misc" page. (?)
Seems to be intermittent....doubt if it is the little battery, but..?
this is one of the best toys I have had...<g>
thanks
steve
2nd post this morning,
The MNGP rev using the status button show 01/27/2012...so this is likely OK.
little update,
steve
Greetings
I updated the Classic with the latest firmware and all is well again. The 150 has been waking up on cue the last two days. :)
Day 1 in the log is yesterday....which is good.
now if we had some sun in the east...
steve
Quote from: plongson on May 24, 2012, 09:23:25 AM
It's 0715 and my 250 controller didn't seem to wake up, it's still on float and not bulk MPPT.
Hi Paul. I am wondering what you mean by it has not woken up yet but is in float ??
i.e. How are you determining that it is in Float ?? (it would say "Resting" before waking up)
Are you going to the Charge-Voltage-View menu and seeing that the target battery
voltage is what you would expect for Float ? Or are you viewing in the Local App or
something like that ??
The Classic may be in Float from the previous day, or maybe the Clock is not set correctly and
re-bulking at a time other than at midnight ?? Actually, with the most recent firmware,
the Classic should do this reset at time 23:59:59 and 30 seconds.
It is possible that the clock got messed up for whatever reason and I am wondering
if this may have happened.
boB
hey boB
I finally got it straightened out (with lost of help from you guys).
That morning, it went from RESTING to FLOAT and did not stop at absorb. I'm running the 4/12 firmware and it appears:
1.) The correct time was lost when I turned off the power and cycled it back on to update the firmware.
2.) A 1 minute minimum absorb time won't work.
I bumped the min time to 1 hour and corrected the clock and it works fine. I need to check my little coin battery.
Question, What is different about the next release in regards to end amps? I'm now using an EA setting and it seems to work fine. I must be missing something...
I'm just heading out for the day and got to go but I can elaborate later.
THANKS bob!!
Quote from: plongson on June 01, 2012, 08:45:29 AM
hey boB
1.) The correct time was lost when I turned off the power and cycled it back on to update the firmware.
2.) A 1 minute minimum absorb time won't work.
Question, What is different about the next release in regards to end amps? I'm now using an EA setting and it seems to work fine. I must be missing something...
THANKS bob!!
Yes, please try and check the coin cell battery voltage. A new one is around 2.9 to 3.0 volts or so.
The time should be kept alive with it down to 2.0 volts or lower. Maybe there was some goop or
something insulating the battery ? One thing I do sometimes is to press the 2 prongs down
with a small screwdriver before putting the battery back in the holder. With the Classic and
MNGP powered up, that little coin cell battery shouldn't be working at all. Even then it should
last months if not a year or more but I don't find they last more than about 6 months or so.
1 minute doesn't work, huh ? Maybe we better make the minimum absorb time 5 minutes.
What I found was that Ending Amps did not work. You may be seeing the placebo effect ??
Not sure about that one. I better check closer but I do know the next version will definitely
be correct.
Thank YOU !!
boB
What do you mean by "Placebo Effect"?
Is it SAYING it is switching from Absorb to FLOAT but really doing something else??
Or giving me false comfort that it is working...LOL
Quote from: plongson on June 01, 2012, 05:42:28 PM
What do you mean by "Placebo Effect"?
Or giving me false comfort that it is working...LOL
Finally !! A placebo that really works !! (LOL)
boB
The Classic CC is a really great product! It is so sensitive -- empathetic really, that it intreprets what the user wants and believes, and does it.
I've seen this with my very eyes, also seeing it end Asorb via EA.
I believe that I'm going to make a million in the Stock Market next week. Come on MN Classic, help me out.
Thanks for the hard work, boB. DE Vic
Jez...you guys are KILLING ME!!! LOL...
Now back to our regularly scheduled program
Quote from: Vic on June 01, 2012, 07:30:02 PM
I believe that I'm going to make a million in the Stock Market next week. Come on MN Classic, help me out.
Thanks for the hard work, boB. DE Vic
Well, the Classic ~COULD~ actually display a sequence of random numbers for you to use for the lottery !
Hmmmmm......
boB
Great news boB,
Have not played the Lottery ... but, ... with the inside track from the Classic ...
Thanks! Vic
What's with the TEXT ENHANCE highlighting on the forums ? (seen on Vic's post) A new forum "feature" or something Vic did ?
Quote from: mike90045 on June 06, 2012, 01:36:14 AM
What's with the TEXT ENHANCE highlighting on the forums ? (seen on Vic's post) A new forum "feature" or something Vic did ?
I don't think that I am seeing any
enhancing of Vic's postings. What kind of text enhancing should I be looking for ? ?
How do I disable the "Text Enhance" affiliate platform that is present on all my web surfing ?
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/887190
Apparently, there is a rogue app, that installs itself, that got past NoScript. I've gotten it cleaned, this forum was the first clue that something was really amiss. (why would midnight be advertizing *@%& on their forum)?
There is apparently several ways it camouflages itself, and works via cookies, unwanted add-ons, browser tool bars and even installed programs. No real info on how it gets itself installed.
Quote from: mike90045 on June 09, 2012, 12:30:46 PM
How do I disable the "Text Enhance" affiliate platform that is present on all my web surfing ?
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/887190
Apparently, there is a rogue app, that installs itself, that got past NoScript. I've gotten it cleaned, this forum was the first clue that something was really amiss. (why would midnight be advertizing *@%& on their forum)?
There is apparently several ways it camouflages itself, and works via cookies, unwanted add-ons, browser tool bars and even installed programs. No real info on how it gets itself installed.
Did you get some kind of spam from the midnitesolar.com site ??
I use No Script as well.
boB
Quote from: boB on June 09, 2012, 04:32:27 PM
Did you get some kind of spam from the midnitesolar.com site ??
no, it was "in-line" links "provided by text enhance malware"
Quote from: Halfcrazy on May 25, 2012, 06:12:43 PM
I would mention there has been a few occasions of the glue holding the "Remove" tag to the battery staying balled up on the battery and causing it not to make connection.
Ryan
I just spent about an hour mucking around with this yesterday, and finally got the glue off the inside of the battery holder. Easy to get the glue off the battery. And of course, got FW upgraded and now a new set of weirdness.