[RE-wrenches] Fried Classic150?
bob at midnitesolar.com
bob at midnitesolar.com
Tue May 31 12:24:26 PDT 2016
Aaron, lead acid batteries will "self discharge". Letting them sit for
more than
a couple of weeks may not be that good for them as they can sulfate
without a good absorb
charge cycle every once in a while at least for a couple of hours.
The inverter and charge controller will always draw some power from the
batteries just being
connected. This is due mainly to the internal auxiliary supplies and
microprocessors. If the main battery
breakers were turned off when the customer left for the winter, the
batteries will still discharge
themselves and start to sulfate but the voltage dropping would not
happen quite as fast.
You might want to add a small backup generator and tilt the PV array
more vertical to help
shed the snow during the winter months if nobody is around to take care
of the system.
boB
On 5/31/2016 10:43 AM, Aaron Mandelkorn wrote:
>
> Thank you everyone for your input. I am quite sure this controller was
> just doing what it was supposed to do. The inverter disconnected from
> low voltage and the solar modules were covered with snow for months.
> The classic was trying to reconnect all this time and I believe acted
> as a load on the batteries. Essentially the classic brought the system
> down but poor design and actions by the customer are what led to this
> disaster. I will be pulling the batteries and changing/ load testing
> at the shop. Hopefully we didn't destroy this battery bank.
>
> Aaron Mandelkorn
> Owner/Solar Specialist
> Renewable Energy Outfitters
> www.reosolar.com <http://www.reosolar.com>
> www.offgriddepot.biz <http://www.offgriddepot.biz>
> 970-596-3744 <tel:970-596-3744>
> 719-221-5249 <tel:719-221-5249>
> reosolar at gmail.com <mailto:reosolar at gmail.com>
>
> Hi Aaron,
>
> A customer of mine had a very similar situation happen couple years
> ago, except with the added fun of frozen batteries, split open and a
> resulting mess. (system was installed by others without a proper
> battery box / spill containment).
>
> This fault was traced back to a failed MX60 controller that was not
> only preventing solar input, but had a small parasitic load on the
> system that was enough to discharge the batteries. Replaced
> controller, new batteries (with spill containment!) and the system has
> been fine since.
>
> Kevin
>
> *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of
> *Aaron Mandelkorn
> *Sent:* May-30-16 9:35 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
> <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>>
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Fried Classic150?
>
> The more I think about this the stranger it seems. All system breakers
> were left on before leaving for the winter. Inverter was also on to
> power two small AC fans. How can a 48 volt battery bank get so
> discharged to the point of almost complete depletion (13.7 volts). The
> inverter low battery cutout was programmed to 48.1v and there are no
> DC loads. Isn't the point of lbco to protect against this exact
> situation? What could have brought this bank down so low? I am
> wondering if my client may have reset the lbco and other settings by
> throwing the inverter breaker by accident.
>
> Aaron Mandelkorn
> Owner/Solar Specialist
> Renewable Energy Outfitters
> www.reosolar.com <http://www.reosolar.com>
> www.offgriddepot.biz <http://www.offgriddepot.biz>
> 970-596-3744 <tel:970-596-3744>
> 719-221-5249 <tel:719-221-5249>
> reosolar at gmail.com <mailto:reosolar at gmail.com>
>
> On May 30, 2016 8:43 PM, "Dan Fink" <danbob88 at gmail.com
> <mailto:danbob88 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> MPPT does need a minimum battery voltage to wake up and start
> charging, at least 9 volts -- I once arrived at a remote site on a
> sunny day, the PV input breaker had tripped, batteries were under
> 9v, no charging despite the sunny weather until I woke the MPPT up
> with jumper cables from my truck battery.
>
>
> Dan Fink
>
> Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute
>
> IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
>
> ~ PV Installation Professional
>
> ~ Small Wind Installer
>
> Executive Director, Buckville Energy
>
> NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers™
> 970.672.4342 <tel:970.672.4342>
>
>
> On Mon, May 30, 2016 at 5:59 PM, Aaron Mandelkorn
> <reosolar at gmail.com <mailto:reosolar at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi all. I returned to a off grid site today after having no
> winter access. It appears as though the classic 150 charge
> controller has failed. The batteries are completely
> discharged. The classics screen will flash occasionally as
> well as a yellow light on this left front of the controller
> but wont turn on. Does the classic have a minimum voltage
> requirement needed to turn on? Has anyone else experienced
> this? I can't figure out what happened to cause this issue.
>
> Thanks
>
> Aaron Mandelkorn
> Owner/Solar Specialist
> Renewable Energy Outfitters
> www.reosolar.com <http://www.reosolar.com>
> www.offgriddepot.biz <http://www.offgriddepot.biz>
> 970-596-3744 <tel:970-596-3744>
> 719-221-5249 <tel:719-221-5249>
> reosolar at gmail.com <mailto:reosolar at gmail.com>
>
>
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