System Settings

Masterjoe
Masterjoe Registered Users Posts: 86 ✭✭
edited October 2017 in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Ok so I went ahead and copied all the settings to make sure things are programmed right.  Currently middle of October low 70's Battery temp is low 60's, the batteries are only floating for 2-3 hours a day.  Is that normal with the temps and less sunlight?  I remember back when we had the system working in September 2015 the batteries floated for 8-9 hours.  For 2 years they received that 2 stage charging from the inverter connected to the grid.  Batteries were filled back in September of 2017 and battery S/G was from .1275 - .1250.  

XW4024 Inverter

LBCO= 22v
LBCO Hysteresis= 2v
LBCO Delay= 10 sec
HBCO= 35v
Search Watts= 50w
Search Delay= 2sec

Charger

Battery Type= Flooded
Battery Capacity= 1170ah
Max Charge Rate= 100%
Charge Cycle= 2stage Nofloat
Battery Temp= Warm
Recharge Volts= 25v
Absorb time= 180 min

80 600 CC

Batt type= flooded
batt capacity= 1170ah
max charge rate= 100%
charge cycle= 3 stage
recharge volts= 25v
absorb time= 180 min
batt temp= warm
batt voltage= 24v

AC Settings

ACpriority= AC1
AC1 Breaker= 60a
AC1 lo volt= 106v
AC1 hi volt= 132v
AC1 lo freq= 55hz
AC1 Hi freq= 65hz
AC2 Breaker= 60a
AC2 lo volt= 80v
AC2 hi volt= 138v
AC2 lo freq= 55hz
AC2 hi freq= 65hz

Grid Settings

Grid Support= 32v
Sell= enabled
Max sell amps= 18a
Load Shave= disabled
4.5kw 24v System
18 Solartec 250w polycrystalline panels
Xantrex XW4024 Inverter/Charger
Conext MPPT 80-600 Charge Controller
12 Trojan L16G-AC 20 hour 390ah batteries tied in 3 strings at 1170ah total
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Comments

  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Masterjoe said:
    ...the batteries are only floating for 2-3 hours a day...

    Charger

    ...
    Charge Cycle= 2stage Nofloat....

    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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  • Masterjoe
    Masterjoe Registered Users Posts: 86 ✭✭
    edited October 2017 #3
    I apologize Photowit I missed an entire page of info. I updated my post. I have an 80 600 CC set up as 3 stage. The 2 stage no float is coming from the inverter the CC is the 3 stage which is set to float. I also noticed the inverter and CC do not read the same battery voltage, inverter reading .2 volts less than CC. Maybe they aren’t synchronized?
    4.5kw 24v System
    18 Solartec 250w polycrystalline panels
    Xantrex XW4024 Inverter/Charger
    Conext MPPT 80-600 Charge Controller
    12 Trojan L16G-AC 20 hour 390ah batteries tied in 3 strings at 1170ah total
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    If you copy the settings of both charging sources CC to inverter they would exactly the same, each device has to have a name or number, in order to do this with the SCP or Combox, it could also be done manually of course, having the grid float the battery overnight  would be a good thing, I would think.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
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  • Masterjoe
    Masterjoe Registered Users Posts: 86 ✭✭
    #5
    Not sure how I could do that. I posted nearly all the settings I can change. What got me this morning was I am on acpassthru, dark outside, on grid voltage and inverter is reading 25.4v next thing I know the batteries are getting an absorption charge from the inverter for nearly 3 minutes taking voltage to 26.7. I left for work. I produced 10kw of power and batteries floated for 3 hours. If recharge volts is 25v where did this absorption charge come from and then when did the CC start it’s 3 cycle charge and only float the batteries 3 hours. It will be Saturday before I can monitor each hour and take the S/G of the batteries. That’s why I’m wondering if the 2 are synchronized as they were not 2 years ago and I called Schneider to get the terminals and buses wired right.
    4.5kw 24v System
    18 Solartec 250w polycrystalline panels
    Xantrex XW4024 Inverter/Charger
    Conext MPPT 80-600 Charge Controller
    12 Trojan L16G-AC 20 hour 390ah batteries tied in 3 strings at 1170ah total
    · Share on Twitter
  • Masterjoe
    Masterjoe Registered Users Posts: 86 ✭✭
    #6
    Yeah something definitely not right. The batteries just got another inverter absorption charge to 29.3 volts
    4.5kw 24v System
    18 Solartec 250w polycrystalline panels
    Xantrex XW4024 Inverter/Charger
    Conext MPPT 80-600 Charge Controller
    12 Trojan L16G-AC 20 hour 390ah batteries tied in 3 strings at 1170ah total
    · Share on Twitter
  • Raj174
    Raj174 Solar Expert Posts: 795 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    @Masterjoe  
    Do you leave the inverter's charger on while the system is in ACpassthru? If charging from the grid at night, I suggest checking the charger settings in the inverter. If not, then I would turn the charger off. Just guessing, since I don't know the purpose and goals of the system.

    Rick
    4480W PV, MNE175DR-TR, MN Classic 150, Outback Radian GS4048A, Mate3, 51.2V 360AH nominal LiFePO4, Kohler Pro 5.2E genset.
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  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    I don't know the size of your array or daytime usage, it might cycle back into bulk/absorb/float with a load. Heater water, air and cooling devices are typical heavy draws

    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
    · Share on Twitter
  • Masterjoe
    Masterjoe Registered Users Posts: 86 ✭✭
    #9
    The array is 4.5kw. For both inverter and CC the bulk and absorption voltage is set to 28.8v. Float voltage for the CC is set to 27v.
    4.5kw 24v System
    18 Solartec 250w polycrystalline panels
    Xantrex XW4024 Inverter/Charger
    Conext MPPT 80-600 Charge Controller
    12 Trojan L16G-AC 20 hour 390ah batteries tied in 3 strings at 1170ah total
    · Share on Twitter
  • Masterjoe
    Masterjoe Registered Users Posts: 86 ✭✭
    #10
    Unfortunately I was at work when the new CC was installed. My installer told me I had the settings set all wrong. No sir since the strike I never touched a button in 2 years lol. Back then we floated for 9 hours and I never noticed the charger charging the batteries st night. Now I’m trying to figure out what changed. The purpose of the system is to have batteries full and ready. Cut electric bill down and run from panels during day and sell back excess.
    4.5kw 24v System
    18 Solartec 250w polycrystalline panels
    Xantrex XW4024 Inverter/Charger
    Conext MPPT 80-600 Charge Controller
    12 Trojan L16G-AC 20 hour 390ah batteries tied in 3 strings at 1170ah total
    · Share on Twitter
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #11
    Masterjoe said:
    The array is 4.5kw. For both inverter and CC the bulk and absorption voltage is set to 28.8v. Float voltage for the CC is set to 27v.
    The voltage, bulk/absorbtion is set too low, according to Trojan, it should be 29.64V, have you done SG readings? That will give a good indication of what the state of charge is, perhaps being under charged is the root cause  of the problem, tall cells need to gas, to stir the electrolyte, 28.8V won't do that because the current will drop, promoting float to occur too early.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
    · Share on Twitter
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #12
    Any chance you're getting some partial shading. The sun is getting lower in elevation with less azimuth between sunrise/sunset - maybe some morning or evening shade issues? Trees grown some since 2015?

    It doesn't take much of a branch to really cut output.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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  • Masterjoe
    Masterjoe Registered Users Posts: 86 ✭✭
    edited October 2017 #13
    Yes you are correct. Trees line the edges, but don’t block the sun in the evening. Got to thinking today with the shorter days. In the morning we start charging around 10:00 am and produce until 2:00-3:00 pm. So naturally the batteries would also float for less time (duh). Today they floated for 4 hours and 10 minutes and the system produced 9.6kwh at a peak 1,653w. I also set the bulk/absorption to 29.4v. Just wondering if it should be set to same 29.4 on the inverter/charger too.
    4.5kw 24v System
    18 Solartec 250w polycrystalline panels
    Xantrex XW4024 Inverter/Charger
    Conext MPPT 80-600 Charge Controller
    12 Trojan L16G-AC 20 hour 390ah batteries tied in 3 strings at 1170ah total
    · Share on Twitter
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #14
    I would set the charger the same as the controller, but also check dc voltage at the terminals on both and adjust for any discrepency (from different wire lengths, etc.).
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
    · Share on Twitter

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