A Forum run by Enthusiasts of MidNite Solar

Professional Installers and their info => International => Australia => Topic started by: Herman on November 20, 2015, 03:25:38 PM

Title: Help
Post by: Herman on November 20, 2015, 03:25:38 PM
Good morning From Australia

I have a Classic MidNite 150 MPPT on a 48 VDC Nife bank of batteries which for the last 3 Days has been stuck on resting with the full sun out I have gone through the reset process which has not brought it out of resting when the the sun has been on the PV Array and producing 100 VDC Does an one have any suggestions
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Westbranch on November 20, 2015, 04:30:12 PM
What loads do you have on that set?   

You can NOT charge a full battery...that is what the CC is for...
Title: Re: Help
Post by: mike90045 on November 20, 2015, 07:31:39 PM
NiFe batteries need a hand made charging profile.  I have 42 cells instead of the std 40....  I could email my register settings to you, but you still have to take 2.5V off them to have it work with your system.

Mike

Following are my settings from Morninstar controller:  (you want something close, and then play with it from there)
First, as far as the classic is concerned, you start with a 60V bank.  A 40 cell NiFe charges daily to 65V  Set your Max
volt to the warning over volt for your inverter.


Morningstar Corp. TriStar MPPT Setup Summary
Printed on 1/8/2014 7:13:28 AM
Mode: Solar Charge
Setpoints (set the System Voltage with DIP switches 2  3):
Regulation Voltage: 16.70 V (12V), 33.40 V (24V), 66.80 V (48V)
Temperature Compensation: -0.030 V/degC (12V), -0.060 V/degC (24V), -0.121 V/degC
(48V)
Max. Compensation Temp.: 80 deg C
Min. Compensation Temp.: -40 deg C

Absorption Time: 38:00 h:m:s
Absorption Ext. Voltage: 12.11 V (12V), 24.22 V (24V), 48.45 V (48V)
Absorption Ext. Time: 49:00 h:m:s

Battery Service Reminder: disabled days
Float Voltage: 16.10 V (12V), 32.20 V (24V), 64.40 V (48V)
Float Timeout: 10:00 h:m:s
Float Cancel Voltage: 11.57 V (12V), 23.14 V (24V), 46.27 V (48V)
Equalize Voltage: disabled V
HVD: 16.92 V (12V), 33.84 V (24V), 67.68 V (48V)
HVDR: 16.75 V (12V), 33.50 V (24V), 66.99 V (48V)
Maximum Regulation Limit: 16.81 V (12V), 33.62 V (24V), 67.24 V (48V)
Maximum Battery Current: 0.00 A
Array Voltage Fixed Target: disabled V
LED G -> G/Y: 15.90 V (12V), 31.81 V (24V), 63.61 V (48V)
LED G/Y -> Y: 14.50 V (12V), 29.00 V (24V), 58.01 V (48V)
LED Y -> Y/R: 12.50 V (12V), 25.00 V (24V), 50.01 V (48V)
LED Y/R -> R: 11.80 V (12V), 23.60 V (24V), 47.20 V (48V)
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Herman on November 21, 2015, 12:32:09 AM
Thank for that info guys it all helps

In ref to the full batteries they are sitting just sitting on 45 V out in the morning with full sun on the PV Array and only has 31 V going in and resting.

Mike I am very interested in your set up my E Mail is herman.vandulken@gmail.com
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Herman on November 21, 2015, 12:42:44 AM
Just one more thing Mike I do have two spare Nife Cells which could boost it up to 50.2 volt not sure that would work though.
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Halfcrazy on November 21, 2015, 06:50:01 AM
In your email to tech support you say the Classic shows like 38v on the input, That would tell me the PV array is NOT hooked up to the Classic. You will need to follow the PV + and - and see where the connection is open. Maybe a bad breaker?

The Classic will show around 30-40v on its input with a 45v battery so that shows the classic is ok it just isnt seeing the 100v array.

Tell us more about the array?
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Herman on November 21, 2015, 05:28:20 PM
12 BX65   65   375 W hrs    1.78A   2.2A   24V   36.7V   52.7   1245x741x27   13Kg   
    Type     max  Whrs/day   Imax   Isc   Vnom   Vmp   Voc     Dimensions          Weight
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Halfcrazy on November 21, 2015, 06:15:59 PM
Well it really sounds like there is an open connection somewhere so the voltage is not getting to the Classic.

How are the 12 modules wired?
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Herman on November 22, 2015, 05:37:40 AM
Hello Halfcrazy

I found the problem you where right the problem is an open circuit as you pointed out, I have now put temp fix and the classic appears to be working well. The cause has distressed some what as this system was installed by a solar Expert (well He says he is) and brings a bad name to solar installers was trying to send a attached picture of it but my net here is not that good.

What has happened is water has got into the conduit that the electrical cables where in and shorted out (shoddy workmanship) this was due to wire being soldered  for both neg and positive but he had not insulated them so when water was present in the conduit it shorted out.

The installer has repeated the same for all the other joins.

I will know have to replace all what the supposed expert has done and go over all his work and find if there is any other fault and now have to pay even more for a system by fixing what he has not done.

So much for leaving it to supposed experts ( will try to post and attachment later

Title: Re: Help
Post by: mike90045 on November 22, 2015, 02:18:00 PM
I've attached my "equinox" settings, not throttled back for summer, or amped up for winter. 42 cell NiFe 800ah bank, Classic 250 is one of two controllers that charge my batteries.  Morningstar and Classic work OK together.

And there are very few, if any, conditions where soldering connections is advisable, wire should be one contiguous run, or splices done inside an inspection box.

i too, had ordered 2 spare NiFe cells to account for possible future failures, and to have spares at hand, instead of a 6 week order process.  But then the storage maintenance requirements just lead me to install them all.
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Herman on November 23, 2015, 06:41:57 AM
Hi again just a quick update

I have got the system up and running had to replace all the connections to stuff that is more durable and waterproof

Halfcrazy to ans your question properly I have 12 BX65   65   375 W hrs    1.78A   2.2A   24V   36.7V   52.7   1245x741x27   13Kg                                                                                                                                         
                                                                             Type    Pmax  Whrs/day   Imax   Isc   Vnom   Vmp      Voc     Dimensions          Weight.
they are set up in pairs which are in series then the 6 pairs are parallel so from set up I am able to achieve good voltages

                                                                                                           
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Westbranch on November 23, 2015, 07:06:06 PM
Quote from: Herman on November 23, 2015, 06:41:57 AM
they are set up in pairs which are in series then the 6 pairs are parallel. .               

another way to say that more easily is 2S x 6P (2 series  by 6 parallel)  ;)
Title: Re: Help
Post by: Herman on November 25, 2015, 06:39:59 AM
Thanks for that Mate

As I stated earlier I am not an expert (ex = Has Been spert = drip under pressure) just learning which is causing my humble brain to overload as I do not see things logically on the electrical side more mechanical give me a motor any time






 

Title: Re: Help
Post by: BobWhite on November 25, 2015, 12:23:22 PM

Thanks for that Mate

As I stated earlier I am not an expert (ex = Has Been spert = drip under pressure) just learning which is causing my humble brain to overload as I do not see things logically on the electrical side more mechanical give me a motor any time

a motor is electrcal a engine is mechanical ;)






 


[/quote]