[RE-wrenches] Fortress Shutdown?

Thu Aug 29 17:26:53 PDT 2024

I've gotten word back from Fortress on this issue.  Here's what they said:

/The problems you were describing align with an issue in the earlier 
eVault Max batteries that we call "ghosting." Batteries with this issue 
would turn off like you described when being idle or taking very little 
current, for an extended amount of time.   A firmware update should 
resolve this issue./

Thought you all should know.  I'll keep you updated on how the firmware 
update goes.

Thanks,

Ray Walters
Remote Solar

On 8/27/2024 4:20 PM, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches wrote:
>
> I have both controllers set to the Fortress recommended absorb 
> settings of 54.4 vdc for 2 hrs.  Its always possible that there was 
> voltage over swing or something.  I did check that the voltage on the 
> controllers was within a0.1 vdc of the battery voltage at the 
> Fortresses. I'm now using a pair of Midnite Hampton Bay Controllers.  
> They're rated to 90 amps, but I set them down to 85 A output, just to 
> provide some head room.  I don't mind the very occasional clipping.  
> The array is two strings of Jinko 425s, 10 per series string, so 4250 
> w per controller.
>
> I wonder if the voltage that causes trouble for Fortress might have 
> changed due to the possible lightning surge?
>
> Ray
>
> On 8/27/2024 3:46 PM, jay wrote:
>> I have a buddy in tech support at Fortress.
>>
>> I asked him and he said that elevated absorb volts above 55.2 could 
>> cause this situation.
>> And then the power cycle would reboot the BMS.
>>
>> I am presuming its open loop, and the fact you mentioned that there 
>> was more PV and then the shut down sure might be connected.
>> You might check the charge voltages/time to make sure they are 
>> correct and I can’t remember if the classic has battery sense wire 
>> connections.
>>
>> jay
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Aug 27, 2024, at 2:51 PM, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches 
>>> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> The SPD was on one of the PV inputs before it came into the house.  
>>> There were two Classics, each fed with its own PV input and SPD.  It 
>>> actually caused an underground splice to fail (high resistance) 
>>> which I replaced the splice and restored full voltage, and both 
>>> Classics were working fine. Just seems unlikely ( but not 
>>> impossible) that the surge would make it past the Classic without 
>>> damage, but then damage the Fortress BMS in an otherwise 
>>> imperceptible manner.   That is our current best theory at the 
>>> moment though.   I added an SPD on the 48 v buss, before this latest 
>>> total shutdown.
>>>
>>> Ray Walters
>>>
>>> On 8/27/2024 2:35 PM, Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>>> When I have had someone lose an SPD (I assume it was on DC buss) 
>>>> there is often latent damage (shows up later) to many of the 
>>>> devices.  In a Hi Rel mode, it is recommended to replace it all. 
>>>> Most offgrid is not that critical but try telling that to someone 
>>>> with rotten food.
>>>> The freezers and reefers are often full of spoils that smells never 
>>>> go away. YUK !
>>>>   
>>>> *Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar "we go where powerlines don't" 
>>>> <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/>https://offgridsolar1.com/ 
>>>> <https://offgridsolar1.com/><http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/> 
>>>> e-mail offgridsolar at sti.net text 209 813 0060*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 2024-08-27 1:02 pm, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Greetings All;
>>>>>
>>>>> I have Fortress Battery installation with a pair of E Vault 
>>>>> batteries set up in a Master/ Slave arrangement.  Its been working 
>>>>> fine for over a year, but the customer just had a complete 
>>>>> shutdown of the batteries which left multiple freezers, and 
>>>>> refrigerator with rotting food. When he rebooted the batteries by 
>>>>> turning on/off the main breaker on each, they both come up and 
>>>>> showed 100% SOC on the Master, and 98% on the other.    There were 
>>>>> no fault codes.   I just recently installed a larger PV array, and 
>>>>> so the system has been reaching full charge every morning.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have multiple calls in to Fortress, but not hearing anything 
>>>>> back from them at all.  We did have a lightning surge event a few 
>>>>> months ago, that damaged a Midnite SPD (first ever for me), and 
>>>>> took out the control board on the generator.  One VFX inverter has 
>>>>> an LED out, but we only use two inverters of the Quad stack, so I 
>>>>> just switched to another inverter.  All other equipment appeared 
>>>>> fine: Midnite controllers, rest of the Outback VFX quad stack, and 
>>>>> never any issues seen with the Fortress batteries.
>>>>>
>>>>> The other odd thing, is since he rebooted the batteries, the 
>>>>> system is working fine, and recharging to 100%  by 9:30 am as 
>>>>> before.    Is it possible the Fortress BMS were damaged and are 
>>>>> now having an intermittent shutdown issue? I did ask him to 
>>>>> temporarily disconnect the comms between batteries, in case it is 
>>>>> a bad BMS on one, it will isolate it from the other.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is a tough one to figure out, since it hasn't happened again, 
>>>>> and there are no fault codes.  The Mate 3 shows a low frequency AC 
>>>>> code, but that's usually just from the generator shutting down.    
>>>>> Any help, ideas, experiences, would be greatly appreciated.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>> Ray Walters
>>>>> Remote Solar
>>>>>
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