Classic seems to have died?

[Arkansas Tom]

The Classic 150 I bought last summer [2013] is powering on, the display is lighting up but no battery voltage is showing. 12 volts briefly shows then nothing where 24 volts normally shows. I have a 24 volt system off grid. The lower two lights are lite [green and yellow] in the display. I have had to drop some of my panels but luckily my outback mx60 purchased 8 years ago is still carrying some of my panels.

Any ideas whats wrong?

I came back a trip and found the classic in this condition.

Tom

[dgd]

Sounds like no battery connection to the Classic, check the breaker/fuse between Classic and battery. Use a voltmeter to check the voltage on the Classic's battery terminals and check the wiring is tight in the terminal block.
The Classic may appear to be connected but it may be input from the solar panels that are keeping it alive and lighting leds/mngp.

dgd

[Westbranch]

I have a 24 v system and one of my Classics , strangely, reverted to seeing my battery as a 12 volt battery.  I had to load in the latest firmware and do a Factory Reset ( the Vulcan Mind Meld) which intales disconnecting from both PV and battery power, holding the < and > arrow down simultaneously and powering back up...

hope it solves your problem, mine flattened the battery... but it appears to have recovered to normal voltage...

[Arkansas Tom]

Dgd The classic is connected to the battery bank. It lights up the menu screen but doesn't show battery voltage and doesn't charge.

Westbranch I'll try your suggestion but not sure the classic is going to let me reload the firmware if it isn't showing the battery bank, I believe it has the April 2014 firmware.

[dgd]

Ok, its just that I had something similar with a Classic in that the battery connection in the Classic had become loose and was not making good contact. The screw down connector was initially tightened down but the copper wire had settled and become loose over time.
The interesting thing was that there was no battery voltage displayed but otherwise the Classic was alive, the PV input voltage was keeping it alive.
This is probably not your issue if the battery is well connected.

dgd

[boB]

If the Classic is charging but it's just the display that is not right, you can remove the Display and get it
sent back to get fixed or replaced.  Call and get an RMA number if you do that.  You can tell if the Classic
itself is working but taking a volt meter to look at the battery voltage while the Classic is turned on
and in a minute or so, it should raise the battery some.  Also, the PV voltage will at the same time
be dragged down from open circuit voltage to somewhere around 75% of that Voc.

If the Classic doesn't work either, then the whole thing can be RMAd of course.
Check all your connections first and you might want to unplug the MNGP remote from
the top phone jack inside the Classic cover and try it in the middle jack to see if
it works there.  The middle phone jack does everything the top jack does except
light up the 2 bottom LEDs on the left side of the MNGP (Green and Yellow LEDs)

[Arkansas Tom]

Bob, thank you for your reply. I will get back in a day or two.

Tom

[Arkansas Tom]

Okay, I tried Bob's suggestion. Nothing changed.

I just did the Vulcan Mind Meld per Westbranch instructions. I powered up and entered Solar at the first screen, entered 24 volt at the second screen, and entered the time, hit enter and it gets stuck on the sending data screen with this on the screen, 4136    502 and underneath 255  all three lights are lite up.  Oh and to be clear there is no charging.

Any other suggestions, attachment showing what is on the screen.

[Resthome]

Okay, I tried Bob's suggestion. Nothing changed.

I just did the Vulcan Mind Meld per Westbranch instructions. I powered up and entered Solar at the first screen, entered 24 volt at the second screen, and entered the time, hit enter and it gets stuck on the sending data screen with this on the screen, 4136    502 and underneath 255  all three lights are lite up.  Oh and to be clear there is no charging.

Any other suggestions, attachment showing what is on the screen.

Well there was a similar issue with some firmware when the WB jr code was added. You might want to check this thread. Although that issue was resolved so not sure what may be going on with your update. It has to do with the order you do the update MNGP vs Classic.  http://midniteforum.com/index.php?topic=1687.0

[ClassicCrazy]

Disconnect the PV , and then reset the Battery breaker and see if it restarts normally .  If you get back to some screens see what version of firmware you have installed .

[boB]

Modbus address 4136, as shown in the "stuck" position on the LCD, is the very first modbus register
to be written during a VMM like he is doing.

The Classic is obviously not responding.  The yellow and green LEDs staying ON (lit up) on the MNGP
are being driven by the Classic itself (not the MNGP) so this means to me that the Classic itself
may be dead, Tom.

Please call the factory on Monday morning for an RMA to get your Classic fixed.  Extension 2.

Raechel or Roy or Ryan should be able to help  you.

I'm sorry about this...  Not sure what is happening here.

boB

[Arkansas Tom]

Well darn, thanks Bob and everyone else for your suggestions. I will call Monday morning.

[Halfcrazy]

Tom
Email me ryan@midnitesolar.com and I will do the RMA today. Snowing here so I am gonna use the day to get caught up.

Ryan

[TomW]

  Snowing here so I am gonna use the day to get caught up.

Ryan

Shh, if you mention the S word it will show up here, too! Nice for a catch up day by the fire, tho. 

Sorry for the topic drift.

T

[Arkansas Tom]

In case anyone wondered what was wrong with my classic, here is what I got after I sent it in:

We found a defective Ethernet chip that was causing the 3v line to be low. Parts where replaced and tested for 16 hrs.

I though it was a quick job of fixing the controller.  It sure taking a long time to get it shipped back here 7 days via UPS ground. I sent it in via usps priority. For 13 dollars it took two days to get out to Arlington WA

Tom L.