Outback Power Flexmax 80 stuck in "Charged mode.

offgridcabin2015
offgridcabin2015 Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭
Hello fellow experts. 

My issue is : Outback Power Flexmax  80 stuck in "Charged mode FOR hrs and this is the 3rd time i've noticed it / / Glad i did for the batts were dropping in voltage as i was using power / watching tv.

so after a quick google search i see i'm not alone with this.  I"m a single / stand alone flex user. So based on this. what can i do.
to fix this. I feel it's outback's issue really. Am i wrong here?

some say: the fix is firmware (factory only) ugh not sure if true.
some say to fix is to force float mode: (not sure even how to do that)

I'm really concerned as it happened to me 3 times . 
Any advice plz. 

Neil. 

Comments

  • boB
    boB Solar Expert Posts: 1,030 ✭✭✭✭
    What does "charged mode"  mean ?  What does the manual say ?  Is the display messed up ?  Is the FM80 NOT charging ?  Or is it just giving the wrong information on the LCD ?

  • gicamuci
    gicamuci Registered Users Posts: 38 ✭✭
    I set my FM80 to auto restart each 90 minutes.
    Enter the settings and go to Advanced -> Auto restart -> Mode and set it to 2 (default is 0).
    6.2kW, 12 × 250W + 4 x 275W + 4 x 285W + 3 x 330W (driving the pool pump MPPT controller or charging batteries on cloudy days) solar panels , FM80 MPPT CC, WavePower 6kW pure sine inverter, 16 x Dyno D90 in 8s2p strings 420Ah @ 48V battery bank.
    Champion Dual Fuel 7.2KW gasoline/6.5KW propane gen for emergencies only.

  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 2021 #4
    There is information in the manual which covers this, it describes that when the transition from absorption to float occurs! the display will state  "charged" until the voltage drops from the absorption value to the float value programed. This is from memory, the wording in the manual may differ, but essentially it's normal to see this, the time it is displayed would correspond directly to the battery capacity and the loads present at the time.
    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.
  • offgridcabin2015
    offgridcabin2015 Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭
    so i wanted to share with you guys. Something is broken of off here. 
    when the screen displays charged , that mean my batts are full charged and that the solar array should be holding back .
    Thus when it says charged for hrs on end  it really NOT, for when i put meter on i'm only reading 24.xx volts on my  24v bank. Meaning i'm using power and the solar array not bringing in power for the flex max is saying batts are charged.

    Google it. it's a known issue. something is wrong here. I hope this is coming across as an serious issue . Thankyou..
    note folks who belive it 's charged and dont' do anything will completly drain batts and not even know it. Batts are not cheap to replace
    and i'lll do everything i can to protect em.

    PLz google this condition anD plz advice.
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Here is an Outback thread or two from last year--Did not see any resolution--Just some questions so far:

    https://forum.outbackpower.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8601
    https://forum.outbackpower.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8584
    https://forum.outbackpower.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=14948 (may be related???)

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • petertearai
    petertearai Solar Expert Posts: 471 ✭✭✭✭
    What level firmware are you ?
    2225 wattts pv . Outback 2kw  fxr pure sine inverter . fm80 charge controller . Mate 3. victron battery monitor . 24 volts  in 2 volt Shoto lead carbon extreme batterys. off grid  holiday home 
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    The first thing I would do is a cold reboot, disconnect PV  then disconnect battery, wait a few minutes then connect battery then PV. There may have been an error in the EPROM preventing the normal operating sequence, can't do harm and may resolve the issue, so worth a try.
    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.
  • offgridcabin2015
    offgridcabin2015 Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭
    Thanks for the reply Bill and Mcgivor. 
    petertearai .... uknown to me / had this for 4 years , so no warranty i'm sure and not in a financial position to send away to guees if firmware tho aNd be without solar for mths. 
    What i wish is that outback would address the issue as it's all over thier forum. 'im not alone with this symtum.
    People are chalking it up to guesses and software bug. 

    I caN tell you that : it's not heat or external source of power. I will Take Mcgivor's advice aNd control the contriliblesaNd disconnect all of it and clean as ai go and reassemble and see from there.

    Question. Is there a good way to haVe a disconnect between CC and comibiner box. ( i curretnly dont have one)

    Thanks EVERYONE. 
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    A DC circuit breaker, DC rated switch, or a large Knife type disconnect would work (DC arcs sustain much "better" than AC arcs--So DC switches are heavier duty/rated for (typically) lower voltages than their AC counterparts). At night, you can disconnect the solar array without fear of sparks at night (as Mcgivor says--Always make DC battery power first, then solar... And disconnect solar first, then battery power. Most solar charge controllers get their computer power--And 12/24/48 volt bus voltage setting--from the battery bus. If solar side is powered first, can confuse the computer during boot and on some controllers, even cause damage to the controller).

    Besides the disconnect power (you can do this at night and not worry about the solar array), and let the controller sit for 5 minutes and restart--The other thing I would try--Write down all of your settings, and then do a factory reset (if the Outback has a restore factory defaults function) and then reprogram... Sometimes, the setup memory can get corrupted (on any computer) and reset to defaults (clear configuration) and starting over can "fix" these strange problems (not directly referring to Outback controllers--Just computers in general, and have been seen on the occasional solar charge controller).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • offgridcabin2015
    offgridcabin2015 Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭
    ThaNks bill for the feedback.
    What i haVe done is....as soon as it when into chared mode: i immediatly turned off ALL combiner solar breakers and watched the outback CC forced into float mode. Soooooooooooo so far so good.

    I  haVe been disconecting wires at night time / playing it safe and always makings sure it the CC sees the batt volatage / 24v) first. 
    But i feel i will need to find a dc shut off. I know princess auto sells a knife switch, not sure if dc or not. i'll have to ask
    I do love it , for it reminds me of the one in the old tv series " the munsters" where grandpa has one in his lab down stairs.
    I feel it has a cool factor.

    Ty all. your are SOLAR rock stars. 

    I love solar so much and i am really anxious to get to  48volts one day.
    I"m trying to decide between magum inverters ( for they allow parallel stacking ( up to 4 units) 
    or SCHNEIDER XW Series (im told i can parallel stack these as well) not sure how many tho.
     My goal here is to have both 120 /240 for my wood working shop. to power all my tools.

    compressor big draw, / 110v   (2 hp) 
    table saw,  (currently is  1.2 hp)  but i want to upgrade to 3hp- 5hp  240v. biggest tool i own.

    I was wondering tho if cheaper if i keep to 120 inverter  that has a huge surge like evo 24v/4000 / has 3x the surge
    and thenuse a 110 -240 up scale . 
    Your thoughts?

    ps. Have a great day guy/ gals. and continue to be SAFE. 
    Neil 


  • petertearai
    petertearai Solar Expert Posts: 471 ✭✭✭✭
     My firmware is 2.0.0  . I remember seeing charged some years ago . But can't remember the fix .  I did increase the input  voltage from 44 bolts to 88  .  I think that may have helped.   My place is primarily a holiday home    albeit it has had extended periods of continual use . So i don't gef to see  on a regular basis the charge controller.
    My system  is 24 volts also. 
    2225 wattts pv . Outback 2kw  fxr pure sine inverter . fm80 charge controller . Mate 3. victron battery monitor . 24 volts  in 2 volt Shoto lead carbon extreme batterys. off grid  holiday home