[RE-wrenches] Fortress Battery Problems

[Ray Walters]

I finally heard back from Fortress, I'm going to try their suggestion of 
"equalizing" the batteries at 55.5 v, and adjust some settings.  I'll 
report back to the list on what I come up with.  This is an interesting 
application: quad stack of VFX inverters with Midnite CCs.   Using the 
aux out on the Classic to control a relay to turn on/off the inverters 
for LVD, since Outback programming (like Schneider) won't allow LVD 
settings above 48v.

Ray

On 11/16/2022 12:40 PM, Chris Sparadeo via RE-wrenches wrote:
> Hi Ray,
>
> I would suggest pushing the latest firmware update to both units.
>
> https://www.fortresspower.com/firmware/
>
> re: tech support…
>
> I have had good luck speaking directly to Tom:
>
> Thomas Honey
> Fortress Power
> Applications Engineering
> (215) 613-4318 x4318
> tomh at fortresspower.com
>
> I agree that Fortress’ Discord, online ticketing system and phone 
> support are subpar. Call me old school, but an answered phone call 
> when on-site is a must have feature of any manufacturer.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> -Chris
>
> On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 2:20 PM Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches 
> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>     Hi Ray,
>     I have been having a difficult time communicating with Fortress as
>     well.  I filed a support ticket several times and only got a
>     response a couple of days later asking another question that was
>     easily answered, but then do not receive any reply to that without
>     filing another support ticket, which again takes days for them to
>     respond to. Very unsatisfactory and frustrating after having
>     invested in 7 eVault Max for a long time client. Don't have any
>     suggestions for you.
>     *Howie Michaelson
>     **Sun Catcher*
>     *****/NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
>     /**
>     **Solar Electric Systems Sales & Service
>     802-272-0004*
>
>
>     On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 2:02 PM Ray Walters via RE-wrenches
>     <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>         Greetings Fellow Wrenches;
>
>         Based on glowing reports from the RE list, I finally used
>         Fortress for a
>         battery replacement for a long time customer. Overall, it
>         seems to be a
>         better solution than others I've seen. However, we are having
>         issues.
>         First the two batteries are supposed to be linked together in
>         a master/
>         slave configuration, but they charge and discharge unevenly,
>         and have
>         SOC often 20% different.   Batteries are connected to a common
>         buss with
>         equal length 4/0 cables.
>
>         I've been truly disappointed with Fortress customer support.
>         First, I've
>         called multiple times over the past two weeks, and never got
>         through to
>         anyone.  Their online support system is quite flawed as well,
>         and I had
>         a very difficult time even setting up a support ticket. Now I
>         can't
>         even log in to view the support ticket, and I've only received
>         one email
>         back asking if I had properly paralleled the batteries.
>
>         Has anyone else had a hard time with Fortress support? Does
>         anyone have
>         a direct contact?  Customer is beyond pissed now, after almost
>         2 weeks
>         hearing nothing, and having spent tens of thousands.
>
>         Thanks;
>
>         Ray Walters
>         Remote Solar
>
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> -- 
> Chris Sparadeo
>
>
> C_802-369-4458
> H_802-728-3059
>
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