It has taken a while for me to notice this because of all the clouds we have had for the last 6 weeks..
Over the course of 1 to 2 minutes it will go from a ~720 watt (full) charge to zero and back to ~720..
I can do a "quick start" reset and it will work fine the rest of that day, but the next it starts up the same rollercoaster..
It is only 4 months old and I have it mounted in an RV with 9 - 100 watt solar panels and 6 trojan t-105's..
(video here of setup..: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La6DUgDOLjk ..)
Is this something I have hooked up wrong or set wrong.?
Or could it be a faulty 200SL.?
TIA
My classic 200 worked fine till a cloud came along, then it went wonky.
I changed the MPPT style to
4197,3,LgcySweepIntervalSecs,3,
(That line is from the local app settings download.) I use Legacy Sweep, and it's been fine ever since.
I found what you were talking about.. we'll see if it makes a difference.. Thank You..
I, too, had wondered about changing the Mode, from the probable Solar, to Legacy P&O -- this is in the Mode menu on the SL.
Since this IS an SL, would bet that the LA will not be accessible.
If there many clouds, smoke, or hazy skies, Legacy P&O often works better than Solar, although when the Classics here have had issues in Solar mode, the Classic would still make some power (not "zero" power).
When the Classic is producing zero power, with some sun on the PVs, what message is shown on the bottom right of the display? Does it say "Resting"?
Did you buy this Classic as a new one from a reseller/retailer, or was it from an individual? If you press the Status button (left small white round button) about six or seven times, you should be able to see the Firmware version numbers for the Classic, and the MNGP, what are those numbers?
Later, thanks for the added info, Vic
Quote from: deserthorizons on August 11, 2018, 05:02:46 PM
does it matter that the "SL" model has no ethernet capabilities, at all.?
how do I apply "apps" to it.?
It primarily matters, that you will not be able to use the Local Application (LA on your computer).
Vic
I am in southern AZ and it has been cloudy due to monsoon season.. However, now
there is not a cloud to be seen and it was still doing the same thing.. Up and Down and Up
and Down and Up and etc.. I found the mode menu and changed it..
now to see what happens tomorrow morning.. Thank You.!!
Quote from: Vic on August 11, 2018, 05:14:25 PM
When the Classic is producing zero power, with some sun on the PVs, what message is shown on the bottom right of the display? Does it say "Resting"?
Did you buy this Classic as a new one from a reseller/retailer, or was it from an individual? If you press the Status button (left small white round button) about six or seven times, you should be able to see the Firmware version numbers for the Classic, and the MNGP, what are those numbers?
It never changed from Bulk MPPT
I bought it from Missouri Wind and Solar in April '18
.....4294967295
mngp 2186 ; 11/29/'17
classic 2126 01/11/'17
OK, thanks for the FW version numbers, that is current FW.
OK, so, when the Classic was producing "zero" (00.0 watts), it still said that it was in Bulk?? Is it possible that "zero", was a relatively low number of watts, but not zero? Normally the Classic will "Rest..." when there is less than about 15 watts being produced.
Will check back later, Thanks, Vic
it will only be on 0 watts for a split second before the wattage starts climbing again quickly to full
power where, over the course of about one minute, it slowly drops back down to 0 watts and we start the ride all over again..
The thing is, with no clouds in the sky and loads being placed on the batteries,
it should be pulling in at a minimum 300 watts.. up and down as loads increase or decrease..
This thing about it dropping down to 0 is a new development..
I can understand fluctuations because of passing clouds,, which is what I thought it
was,, until I noticed it doing it without a cloud in the sky..
In the Mode menu, what Mode is the Classic setting?
In Solar Mode, the Classic Sweeps for a new Voc, about every three minutes. Wonder if this is what causes this repetitive cycling. In this mode, the sweep only takes a second or so, though ...
You might want to check ALLl of the cable connections on the PVs, breakers, and the Classic terminal block, inside the front cover. Battery connections, too.
FWIW, Vic
It has been in "Solar" mode since day 1..
Even though this setup is in an RV,, it has not moved since I installed..
I will get to checking all connections, again, more thoroughly this time..
and 1 full cycle of the charge rollercoaster takes considerably less than 3 minutes..
if this doesn't work better on Legacy P&O I would say it may have an issue with current sense, The trips to 0 are to calibrate I do believe. Email me ryan@midnitesolar.com if it still bothers I will get you taken care of
Yeah, FnG and others have a good idea to try Legacy mode.
In the SOLAR mode, it looks for changes and then does a sweep-cal. If it doesn't see enough change, it will
do one at the interval which has a default setting of 3 minutes. I bet that's what you are seeing as the
cycling period.
BTW, what is "quick start" ?
boB
Quote from: boB on August 12, 2018, 07:48:29 PM
I bet that's what you are seeing as the
cycling period.
BTW, what is "quick start" ?
The "cycling period" was half as long.. 1 and 1/2 min was longest,, sometimes less..
So I have serious doubts about it being the "sweep"
You know it is serious when it stops doing it and you don't know why..
The last 2 days it has not done it at all..
I went in and put it in Legacy mode, entered out,, went right back in and put it back in Solar..
(don't know why, but I did.). that was 2 days ago and it has been working fine since then..
In the manual it is called different things in the same paragraph;;
1 is Commissioning the Classic SL (Quick Start)
2nd is in the description it is called Quick Set
With the power off to the CC hold left and right arrows, turn power on, answer questions..
If I just tried to go in directly and change stuff, it either would not save it, or start the charge rollercoaster again..
.
.
Quote from: deserthorizons on August 13, 2018, 01:18:36 PM
BTW, what is "quick start" ?
....
In the manual it is called different things in the same paragraph;;
1 is Commissioning the Classic SL (Quick Start)
2nd is in the description it is called Quick Set
[/quote]
Ahh yes ! Now I remember. There used to be a "Quick Set" I believe it was called in one of the CHARGE menus and
we changed that to the VMM (Vulcan Mind Meld) factory default setting method but that was a LONG time ago.
Some things get stuck in time and limbo and just don't go away.
OK, so if you have this problem again, try the Legacy mode again and see if that fixes it.
Not sure why it would cycle every minute and 1/2 ? Conditions aren't usually that repeatable.
It is limited to doing that sweep/cal no more often that every 30 seconds I seem to remember.
boB
Be sure new setting is saved before exiting that screen.
This being on a mobile RV, are you parked with the mounted array facing due south, or just by best quess orientation toward south?
It makes a big difference plus your may have to often change postions if you travel.
Quote from: bee88man on August 14, 2018, 10:35:03 AM
Be sure new setting is saved before exiting that screen.
This being on a mobile RV, are you parked with the mounted array facing due south, or just by best quess orientation toward south?
It makes a big difference plus your may have to often change postions if you travel.
Not saving it properly may have caused a problem,, don't know,, but the fact that it did it for over a week unless I "quick set" reset it,, I figure I would have "saved" it properly at least one of those days..
The "orientation" does make a huge difference in how much energy is produced by the panels, yes..
However, that is not going to make the CC go on a rollercoaster charging ride at noon on a day with no clouds..
btw, this mobile RV has not moved since I installed the system in April..
This is acting like a short circuit in the CC, only because of it's intermittent nature..
If it does it again I will try "Legacy" mode,, but now it is on it's 3rd day of working properly..
It worked flawlessly for over 3 months as I am always watching the CC..
Originally I thought the problem was clouds, until I was outside one day and there was
not a cloud in the sky.. I walked back inside and it was doing it..
I am not worried about Midnite standing behind their product if it turns out to
be a problem with the CC..
Have you revisited every connection and attempted to re-tighten all...your symptoms sure sound of a dirty and/or loose connection...it only takes one and replacing the CC can still leave this unfixed.
High strand-count cables, like welding cables can 'creep' after initial tightening and make a loose and high resistance connection...and even more than one connection in the same circuit. So very important to revisit before suspecting componets themselves as suspect.
well,, it did it again yesterday afternoon..
So I put it in "Legacy" mode and now just waiting to see if it happens again..
For those that think this is a loose connection:
WHY would changing settings on the CC make it stop.?
WHY would doing a "quick set" reset make it stop.?
for 3 days of full sun and full charge.?
I have checked all connections and they are all good..
If you email me ryan@midnitesolar.com I am happy to do an RMA and get you fixed up, As i mentioned earlier I believe you have a hardware issue and not one that we can solve on the forum.
Quote from: deserthorizons on August 15, 2018, 02:54:51 PM
... For those that think this is a loose connection:
WHY would changing settings on the CC make it stop.?
WHY would doing a "quick set" reset make it stop.?
for 3 days of full sun and full charge.?
I have checked all connections and they are all good..
Hello desert..,
May I just add, that almost all of us here are just fellow Enthusiast Forum members, trying our very best to understand the situation as reported by someone asking for help. There is never enough information, so, quite often, we begin asking questions, and guessing, a bit.
This can be somewhat frustrating for many involved.
Please try to understand that we ARE just trying to help, in an imperfect world, where there never seems to be enough data/information, based on the observations from afar.
Thanks! Vic
Yeah, and I really do appreciate any and all help offered.. I am sorry if I came across otherwise..
I was just adding emphasis, not screaming.. my bad..
and it was because of forum members such as yourself was why I joined the forum even before I purchased to
see about any potential problems.. The only "recurring" theme I found was that Midnite builds a quality product
and stands behind their product..
so I bought one.. I in NO way want to do a change out (RMA),, this is not a ploy for that..
I would much rather find an easier solution..
I put it in Legacy yesterday so I am waiting to see if the problem recurs..
may take a few days again,,but I got lots of time..
I was really kinda hoping that someone else had had a similar problem and it was because
of operator error..
UPDATE:
I put it in Legacy mode on Aug 15th.. It has worked perfect ever since.. No more rollercoaster.. yay..
Ryan (from Midnite Solar) sent out a new Classic CC for an RMA ..
It has taken until today (Sept 7th) to get all the parts (branch connectors and cables) to do the changeout..
........ living off grid means everything takes much more time..........
So now I have rewired the solar panels (2 strings) and hooked up the new CC..
It went much easier than I have been imagining for the last 3 weeks.. :)
Big Shoutout to Midnite Solar and Ryan for their help in getting this problem resolved.!!!
I am so very glad I went with Midnite and their team as they seem to care about their customers..