Please help with Hyper Voc.

[Paulcheung]

I start the PV solar off grid system from August 2013, and it finished setup on November 2013. I have 28 panels and two charge controller on 16 Rolls 400 and 425 amps batteries. The panels install 4 in a series and 3 series connected to one controller and the other 4 series controller connected to one 96 amp midnite classic 150.

The inverter is Magnum 4448PAE and the controller was 2 Outback 60 amps charge controller. the one with 4 series of panel has problem on March 2014. the fan failed and won't put out the power. I bought a Midnite Classic 150 instead the old Outback and the amperes push pass 60 amps sometime.

It work ok for the past years without any problem and last week Jamaica has few days of rain and no sun. the Classic 150 stop work after the rainy days. it say hype VOC in the screen and it won't start. the 4 series panel connect to it has 38.3V VOC on some and 37.35V VOC on some. I know the Voc is a bit close to the limit but we Never has cold weather in Jamaica and also that is one of the reason why I bought the Classic 150 as it has the hyper VOC to protect the controller.

The classic report the VOC is over 200volts and when I use the multi-meter to check the meter say 115 to 135 volts. and the other chrge controller say 110 to 130 volt in the morning.

Is my controller dead or there is something I can do for it.

Thank you in Advance.

Paul Cheung from the tropical Island.

[Westbranch]

First, welcome back Paul.

Have you done a Factory reset?...  you power down the Pv then the battery and while holding both the /left' and 'right' soft keys on the MNGP turn on the battery power then the PV  power and keep holding till the lights stop blinking and the fans are off again.  IIRC the MNGP screen says 'Solar'
What FW are you currently running?  There have been many changes to the FW since 2013/2014.
Have you done a Firmware upgrade?

It sounds like you have several different panels in series? Can you please clarify the VOC of each string of 4 panels.

thanks.

[ClassicCrazy]

Maybe you could run this calculator for your system and do a printscreen or copy of the results on here ?
http://www.midnitesolar.com/sizingTool/index.php

And yes to what Westbranch suggested - firmware update for sure .

Larry

[Sunshine]

Hi Paul,
What voltage are you running your battery bank at?

[Paulcheung]

48 volts. I haven't got the time to try those suggestions yet as I have taken it off line and borrow an Outback 80 amperes controller replaced online so the system can continue run.

Thanks

[Westbranch]

to update, you can do it on a 'bench ' or table as long as you have a battery with at least 9 volts, that will turn on the on-board computer ...  enjoy.

[Paulcheung]

Connect the Classic 150 on the battery bank and the PV panels yesterday, Reset to Factory default and it still has the same problem. VOC over 150 to 200 volts at times. what can I do next? is it toasted?

Thanks.

[ClassicCrazy]

Connect the Classic 150 on the battery bank and the PV panels yesterday, Reset to Factory default and it still has the same problem. VOC over 150 to 200 volts at times. what can I do next? is it toasted?

Thanks.

Did you update the firmware also ?
So exact same system and wiring works okay with Outback but when you put Classic on it you get Hyper VOC problem ?
You can always open up support ticket with Midnite online and they will let you know if it is warranty or repair issue.
Larry

[Paulcheung]

Yes the same series panels which always work before this happen. I just take one string of the panel and put back to the Classic 150, the outback with the other 3 strings still work fine and the classic with the single string are on Hyper VOC and won't work. Do you think firmware upgrade would help?

Thanks

[ClassicCrazy]

Updating the firmware is an easy thing to try .
Westbranch and I  have recommended that you update firmware and try it to see if it makes any difference.
If that makes no difference you can rule that out as a problem and then perhaps it is a hardware issue.

Larry

[WizBandit]

Sounds like the PV voltage sense resistors have an issue.  It will need to have an RMA and sent in for repairs I'm afraid.

[Paulcheung]

I have never done the firmware update yet. what do I need to do that? I do feel the sensors get mess up during the raining period.

[Westbranch]

Paul, go to here http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmwareReport.php?firmware_ID=9&firmwareProduct_ID=1&act=edit

and follow the instructions on the page...  you will nee at least a 12 volt battery connected to the Classic to power the update on the Classic.

[boB]

Does the battery read correctly according to your handheld volt meter ?

It may be what Wizbandit said.  Possibly something wrong with resistors that control the PV voltage sensing.

That would be a simple problem to fix but maybe not so easy in Jamaica ?

If the Classic 150 has been running and it is suddenly doing this problem and does not show
"wrong code" on the display,  I do not think that re-updating the firmware will help.  It might
but not a good sign.

Take the cover off of the Classic and take a quick look to see if there is anything that doesn't look
right.  Maybe take a picture and we might see if there is anything obvious ?

boB

[Vic]

Just one observation.

Over the past weekend,  Updated the FW in the remaining Classics here,  with older FW.

The first Classic in the group readily accepted all Updates.   The second one  was more reluctant.

Updating the Classic went well,   but the MNGP took a number of tries.

Twice,   after the GP Update seemed done,   the VMM done,   questions answered,  and so on,   the  Vin to the Classic showed 37 V  ...   all seemed OK.

BUT,  when the PV breaker was turned back ON  the Vin to the Classic 150 showed 186 V,   and  the LA and MNGP displayed Hyper Voc - Resting (on this 48 V bank).   Measured the Vin to the Classic  --  it was 93 V.

Tried Updating the MNGP again,   same thing.

Updated the Classic and MNGP several more times   ...
Finally unplugged the two-foot long Network cable from that Classic at the Router end,   tried one more MNGP UD,   and it worked then ...

Know that this does not directly apply to Paul's Classic,   as he has never Updated the FW.

Just something observed,   and wanted to mention it.

Perhaps this is just a confusing detail,    Vic