[RE-wrenches] New Lithium Batteries on Sunny Island System

Wed Nov 26 06:17:08 PST 2025

I did forget to mention that there is a generator on site that would charge
through the sunny island inverter.  I was there late in the day checking
the job and haven't taken many notes on that.  Only thing I'm pretty sure
of is that there aren't AGS features yet, but I would need to see how to
incorporate that.  I've witnessed problems on another system where the
sunny islands did not like it when the Lithium Batteries got up to almost
full charge charging off the generator and threw an error on the inverters.

On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 5:43 AM Jay via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Thx Sue
>
> I have dozens of open loop lithium batteries out here with classic
> controllers working perfectly configured like you say.
>
> Jay
>
>
>
> On Nov 26, 2025, at 6:26 AM, Sue Stankevitz via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> 
>
> Key points of using the Classic for charging lithium are to unplug the BTS
> and turn off temp comp, set equalize to 1/10v higher than absorb(in case
> someone button pushes) and disable equalize. We have thousands in the field
> successfully charging lithium batteries. A WBJR and shunt can be added to
> provide accurate SOC.
>
>
>
> Sue Stankevitz
> MidNite Solar, Inc. <https://www.midnitesolar.com/index.php>
> (360) 403-7207 (XT122)
>
> <image001.gif>
>
>
>
> *From:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> *On
> Behalf Of *Jim Gowdy via RE-wrenches
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 26, 2025 12:51 AM
> *To:* william at millersolar.com; RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> *Cc:* Jim Gowdy <gowdyelectriccambria at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] New Lithium Batteries on Sunny Island System
>
>
>
> Thanks for the information.  I emailed both SMA and Midnight and we'll see
> what they say.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 7:08 PM William Miller via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> I just left the temp sensor dangling in mid air. This way the Sunny Island
> at least could react to ambient temperature.
>
>
> William Miller
> Miller Solar.com
> 805-438-5600
> www.millersolar.com
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarage01 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> William, Wrenches,
>
> I have done several over the past couple years, the only issue I had, I
> needed to build a resister that mimiced the BTSas 75 degrees, because the
> SI.s will brop and raise max voltage according to the temp, this must be
> changed to prevent this as the battery BMS will or at least should do that
> anyway. Now I dont know about your batteries and I would suggest that you
> look at the battery cables sizes, I looked at a system that had these so
> called hight output batteries with # 8 plug in cables, worked very poorly
> just a FYI
>
> Fun times
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 9:42 AM William Miller via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> Jim:
>
>
>
> I haven’t tried lithium batteries with a traditional charge controller
> yet.  All of the equipment you list was designed for lead acid.  The
> narrower voltage range of the lithium may confuse the charge controller.
> Same with the AGS triggering.
>
>
>
> I know if you call SMA for tech support they may hang up on you when you
> tell them there are lithium batteries.
>
>
>
> It may work right away or you may spend a lot of time making it kind of
> work. I hope you can make the client understand this is an experiment. Tech
> support from the battery manufacturer may not be great being a Chinese
> company.
>
>
>
> These days I pair lithium only with inverters designed for them.
>
>
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> William Miller
> Miller Solar.com
> 805-438-5600
> www.millersolar.com
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 7:33 AM Jim Gowdy via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> Hello All,
>
>      I have a client that just got some lithium batteries and they have a
> sunny island inverter with a Midnight Charge controller.  I've heard and
> experienced integrating Lithium batteries into a Sunny Island inverter is
> challenging and could create problems.  Has anyone had experience with
> these batteries or installing lithium batteries with these components?
> Below are some details about the system so far.....
>
>
>
> System:
>
> 48v
>
>
>
> NEW BATTERY:
>
> China Aviation Lithium Battery CO.
>
> model: CA180F
>
> nominal voltage: 3.2v
>
> rated capacity: 180Ah
>
> rated energy: 576Wh
>
>
>
> Inverter:
>
> Sunny Island
>
> model: SI 4548-US-10
>
>
>
> CHARGE CONTROLLER:
>
> Midnight Solar Classic 150
>
>
>
> SOLAR ARRAY:
>
> N/A....it was dark when I was at the site so I couldn't take any notes
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Jim with Gowdy Electric
>
> Cambria, Ca 93428
>
> business  805 927 2630
>
> cell  805 975 5279
>
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> --
>
> Jim with Gowdy Electric
>
> Cambria, Ca 93428
>
> business  805 927 2630
>
> cell  805 975 5279
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Jim with Gowdy Electric
Cambria, Ca 93428
business  805 927 2630
cell  805 975 5279
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