Suggestions? Classic 200 not making power...

[alyaz]

The neighbours are heading to their place (next door) at Easter and I have been watching their off-grid systems.  They have a 1000 watt array hooked to an older Outback controller and another 1000 watt array hooked to a year old (or so) Midnite Classic 200 controller.

Both arrays/controllers had been working great until a couple weeks ago.  The Classic 200 shows battery voltage, and array voltage but is not making any power (no amps - no watts).  The controller is going between resting and MPPT bulk status but never makes any power.  All the connections have been checked and are all tight.  The Outback controller has been hooked to the Classic 200’s array and works fine.  Have rebooted it etc and nothing has changed.

Could the Classic 200 simply need a firmware update, maybe the problem has resulted from a power surge/lightening issue? 

Thanks.

[Westbranch]

Have you tried doing a Factory Reset (also known as VMM)?  turn off the PV then the battery....  turn the batteries back on While

pressing the left and right arrows,  it will whirrr and blink at you so you know it is back in shape.... then turn on the PV...

BEFORE you do that reset, use the Local App to record all the settings...

IF that proves successful, look at the version of FW and it probably needs an update, current V. is FW 2079

[alyaz]

Thanks Westbranch.

Yes, tried the factory reset.  It powered up again, but amps/wattage was still sitting at zero.  The other array was in the general area and was producing a few hundred watts.

[Westbranch]

what are the settings for charging and End amps etc?

[Vic]

Hi alyaz,

A few questions and comments;

What is the input voltage to the Classic when there is good sun on its PV array?

Is there any shading (shadows) on the PV array for the Classic?

What is the Reason For Resting (RFR) number when the Classic is resting,  here is a Link to determine the RFR:
http://kb1uas.com/mnsforum/index.php?topic=2034.0

When there is good sun on the PVs,  try switching off the PV input breaker to the Outback CC.  Does the Classic wake up, and make reasonable power during Bulk?

Are you saying that essentially the Classic never makes any reasonable amount of power,  even when there is good sun on its PVs,  and the OB CC is in Bulk?

On the main Status of the MNGP (if it is a Standard Classic),  how much power was produced for the day?   In order for the Classic to be in Bulk,  SOME power needs to be produced  --  at least about 15 Watts.

With two independent charge sources,  there is a greater likelihood that one of them will rest during Absorb,  if the other charger is producing power at a bit higher battery voltage,  than the Absorb voltage setting on the other CC,  but both CCs should produce reasonable power during Bulk,  if both CCs have good sun on their PVs.

If in the absence of the neighbors there is very little discharge of the battery bank,  the Bulk stage could be short,  and perhaps you might not have seen it ...  know that you appear to have two Classics,  and are probably quite familiar with how they operate.

Thanks,    Vic

[CDN-VT]

Did you turn on the solar after resetting the Classic

VT

[alyaz]

Yes I ensured it was in solar mode and hit enter.  It never shows any amps or watts, just sits at zero... even in full sun.

[alyaz]

I will need to check the settings for charging and end amps - what are acceptable parameters?

[CDN-VT]

alyaz
acceptable parameters are If you have done as WB posted on a resetting the classic back into basic mode (VMM to some) then the first screen should be asking you voltage of the battery bank & is it in hydro / wind/ turbine mode. DID THAT HAPPEN ?

DID you see that ?
If you did , then the Classic should   be in a standard acceptable parameters of that voltage.
We are reading your sig line of a totally different system .

So solar panel breaker off (the IN of power ) , then main battery breaker off (the out of the power) classic should go off & black MNGP panel of all of whats .

Then as WB posted Have you tried doing a Factory Reset (also known as VMM)?  turn off the PV then the battery....  turn the batteries back on While

pressing the left and right arrows,  it will whirrr and blink at you so you know it is back in shape.... then turn on the PV...



DID that happen in that order ?


VT
ill add in a bit after I look at my classic ,
edit add . main menu , MODE, solar picked & ON ?
needed to check the path to that.


Your a neighbour , so did you hear a thunder storm ?? Where are you that lightning might be an issue ?
Could the Classic 200 simply need a firmware update, maybe the problem has resulted from a power surge/lightening issue?
SPDs have any LEDS out .
I see on your sig line , 4 lightening arrestors.

If you see full sun & it clicks  between resting and MPPT bulk status , Im leaning towards bad panel to controller connection .
if im guessing 1000 watt awary is in series parallel of some sort 

VT

[alyaz]

thanks guys.  i will wander over today and have another look at things. 

sorry for the confusion, their set up is of course different than my ‘signature.’ 

i followed the manual for the reboot which did not say to turn the array off, just to power the 200 off and on while holding the side arrows.  when i did the reboot it did power up and asked me for voltage, date, etc., so i assumed it rebooted properly.

we did have a lot of lightening this winter, which is unusual for this area.  they only have one Midnite lightening arrestor (i urged them to get lightening arrestors last year and they chose to only get one and their electrician placed it on their AC side).   

[CDN-VT]

Im really thinking that the DC panel feed to the classic is the problem . BE SAFE because its an unknown voltage for us here & you till you know the wiring hook up.
1000 watt would be a few strings , count the combiner breakers helps.

[Vic]

Hi alyaz,

OK,  when you Reboot (or set to Factory Defaults),  the Charge voltage defaults to a fairly low value.  This is really too low for Flooded batteries;

What type of batteries does this system have?

You will need to check the Limits in the Charge menu to make sure that these limits are wide enough to correctly Temperature Compensate for the type of batteries that this system is using.

In addition to telling us the type of batteries on this system,

What is the Absorb voltage setting?
What is the EA setting in the Charge>Advanced menu?
What it the Input voltage to the Classic with good sun on the PVs?
What is the Absorb time setting?
What is the RFR on the Classic?
What is the power production from the Classic,  on the lower left of the Main Status screen?

This system does not really need a WBjr set up to end Absorb,  at this point,  so no need to set all of those parameters.

BUT,  please try turning OFF the PV in to the OB CC,  and see what the Classic does with good sun on its PV array.

If this system is using Flooded batteries,  it is quite possible that the OB has higher Absorb voltage settings that does the Classic.  This could make the Classic Rest during the Absorb stage.  Please DO check the RFR on the Classic if it is resting.

Thanks for answering the questions that have been asked,  this should be helpful.

Good Luck,   Vic

[alyaz]

Hi Vic

I can answer some of those questions before heading over there...  when they had their system installed set up, the electrician left everything in default settings, so i called the battery manufacturer and obtained the proper set points.  i helped them set up the controller and the settings on custom are:’
absorb 29.4v
float 27.2 v
they have agm batteries

they have two strings on the 1000 watt array which runs to the Classic 200.

the rfr may shed some insight into what’s going on there... thanks for that!

will report back.

[Vic]

OK,  Thanks alyaz for that information,  will look for any additional information that you can provide later.
Thanks,   Vic

[CDN-VT]

Good catch VIC .
I assumed   !! THat his neighbours system  had 2 arrays & 2 CC & two  battery banks !!

The Outback controller has been hooked to the Classic 200’s array and works fine.  Have rebooted it etc and nothing has changed.