quick question re equalizing

[bbbuddy]

Trying to get a low cell up, equalized yesterday but ran out of daylight so want to continue today but 150 is in float and also reading eq done(back and forth)
Even though I am pressing eq start and the screen SAYS equalizing started it doesn't start.

What to do?

[boB]

Hmmm...   Should be trying to start an EQ but try turning the classic off and on again maybe ?

Or, possibly try going to tweaks and forcing a bulk and then an EQ to see if that helps.

What is your software version or date ?  Maybe it's real old or something ?

If you have only one low cell, I would suggest using an external power supply or charger
on that one battery to bring it up again.  Then, you will be targeting just that one or at least
just that group of cells....  Unless it's a 12V battery and your system is only 12V.  Then,
nevermind that suggestion.

boB

[bbbuddy]

6/29/12  1043 classic
8/7/12 1042 mngp

Ok, I'll force bulk,if that doesn't work I'll go out side and turn off solar for a minute and see what happens.

[bbbuddy]

Well heck I forced bulk, it went to absorb quickly, but is just staying in absorb even though I reset absorb minutes to just 15 since it didn't go to float.  End amps for absorb are 6, and the amps into batteries is only 1.7....

So it's ignoring both absorb time and end amps now

[boB]

What is your software version and/or serial number ?

And, does your Absorb time setting have a minimum AND maximum absorb time
showing or is it just Absorb time without a maximum or minimum time adjustment ?


boB

[bbbuddy]

Min and max shows and set.
Where do I find software version?

[boB]

What is your minimum and maximum time set for ?

To find the software version, press the STATUS button a few times and a
screen will show that information for the MNGP and the Classic.
They may be different from each other.

boB

[bbbuddy]

Oh that, see my second post above...

I had min set to one hour and max at 4 hours...but after I reset bulk I changed the min to 15 minutes since the batteries were already charged and I wanted to get into float to equalize.  It said the change was sent to the 150, but still stayed in absorb for an hour...So by that time it was too late today to equalize, will have to try again tomorrow or next sunny day.

[boB]

Oh that, see my second post above...

I had min set to one hour and max at 4 hours...but after I reset bulk I changed the min to 15 minutes since the batteries were already charged and I wanted to get into float to equalize.  It said the change was sent to the 150, but still stayed in absorb for an hour...So by that time it was too late today to equalize, will have to try again tomorrow or next sunny day.

Yeah, don't try to Absorb for any amount of time...  Just go straight to EQ as soon as you can.

I was thinking that maybe, for some reason, forcing a bulk might make you able to then start
an EQ...  Forcing a Bulk instead of turning the Classic off and back on again, which will also
force a new Bulk/Absorb.  Then, if you see it go to Absorb, hit the EQ start.

If you can Absorb, there's a good chance you can EQ.

boB

[bbbuddy]

Ok thanks, here I thought it had to be in float to start equalizing, never knew it could start from absorb....

[bbbuddy]

Well dang it we got sun after all so I set it to equalize and it's doing the same thing, just flashing back and forth between saying eq done and float...So I set float to as hi as it will go, 30.9 and will have to keep an eye on it...

[Vic]

buddy,

Be certain that you have an EQ Time set.

Sometimes,  you need to push the Up key (is that the one that starts EQ ?) several times to initiate an EQ.

May be too late today,  bit,  you could always set the Float V to the desired EQ Voltage,  and reset it to the correct Vfloat after the EQ (for now_).

The 6/29/12 FW does have trouble clearing the EQ DOne message at times in my experience.   Why not UD to the latest FW ??

Good Luck,  Vic

[zoneblue]

Time to upgrade dude. In the midnite timeline firmware 1043 is somwhere back in the middle ages!

[boB]

Yeah, I heard of this happening once before where it just said EQ done and that was it.

Now if I could remember exactly what the problem was ?

The newer software only makes you press the up button once to  enable EQ
and down once to stop it.

You should be able to start an EQ from either float or absorb.

When done, it will always go to Float.  If you stop it prematurely, it
will go back to either Float or Absorb, whichever mode you started it
from.

boB

[bbbuddy]

Why not update?  Well I would if I could just take the laptop out there and plug it in, but I need a wireless bridge I guess and someone to be ready to turn it on and off while I'm in the house with the mngp....
So it's not something that has been high on my priority list to get done since it was working fine.  But got some new batteries since my other ones never recovered from the incorrect charging when I first got the 150 and the mngp was bad. One of the new batts seems to have 2 very low cells that I'm trying to get up, and if I can't will have to replace..