Solar system not functioning

Jades · September 2023

I removed my panel from the roof for four days (was going to paint the van) and figured I'd let the batteries (2 * 100 AMP hour Battle Born) fuel the fridge, lights, water pump etc. Once the batteries shut off, I assumed they had died, but when I connected the solar panel again, the charge controller (Victron 30Amp) wasn't lighting up either. Everything goes through the Lynx Distributor, and I've checked the fuses and they are fine. Batteries are at 11V, and I checked BattleBorn specs, and they don't disconnect until 10, so it's weird that I'm getting no battery and charge controller isn't working. Do you think the issue could still just be the charge controller not charging the batteries (and the battery disconnect happened a little higher). How do I go about diagnosing this issue?

Thanks,

James

BB. · September 2023

I am a little confused... Is the battery bus voltage 11.x volts, or zero volts?

If the battery bus is zero volts (and typically 9 volts or less), most solar charge controller will not boot. The solar chargers need a stable battery bus voltage of >9 volts to (as I recall) around 17 volts maximum to "auto configure" to the 12 volt battery bank.

If your batteries are still at zero volts, then connnecting an external voltage source (12 VDC battery charger, another jumper battery, etc.) is usually needed to "reset" the BMS controller for your Battle Born Batteries.... Manual:

https://battlebornbatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BB10012-Manual-Edition.PIM_BB10012Rev020_08282023.pdf

High Voltage Disconnect (> 14.7V) If an individual cell voltage exceeds a prescribed threshold during charging, the BMS will prevent a charge current from continuing. Discharge is always allowed under this condition. If the batteries have not been balanced for a long time, high voltage disconnect could occur at a lower voltage. The batteries will rebalance after several full charges.

Low-Voltage Disconnect (< 10.6V) If an individual cell falls below a prescribed threshold during discharge, the BMS will prevent further discharge. Although the battery is in “low-voltage disconnect” mode, it will still allow a charging current.

NOTE: Many chargers must detect a voltage over 10V to send a charge to the battery. Please be aware that some chargers may not sense a battery in low-voltage disconnect and you may need to jump it with a 12V source to “wake up” the battery. You should jump your battery within 24hrs of entering low-voltage disconnect otherwise you risk damaging your battery and voiding the warranty.

Check the terminal voltage at your MTTP Victron solar charge controller and ensure that you are seeing >9.0 volts, and the correct polarity.

-Bill

littleharbor2 · September 2023

Temporarily connect a second 12 volt source to the Battery terminals on the CC. This will wake up the controller and start the charging process.no need to loosen the terminals on the CC just touch the + and - wires to the screws if you can do this safely. Some solid (not stranded) Romex type wire should work great

Jades · September 2023

BB. said:

I am a little confused... Is the battery bus voltage 11.x volts, or zero volts?

If the battery bus is zero volts (and typically 9 volts or less), most solar charge controller will not boot. The solar chargers need a stable battery bus voltage of >9 volts to (as I recall) around 17 volts maximum to "auto configure" to the 12 volt battery bank.

If your batteries are still at zero volts, then connnecting an external voltage source (12 VDC battery charger, another jumper battery, etc.) is usually needed to "reset" the BMS controller for your Battle Born Batteries.... Manual:

https://battlebornbatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BB10012-Manual-Edition.PIM_BB10012Rev020_08282023.pdf
High Voltage Disconnect (> 14.7V) If an individual cell voltage exceeds a prescribed threshold during charging, the BMS will prevent a charge current from continuing. Discharge is always allowed under this condition. If the batteries have not been balanced for a long time, high voltage disconnect could occur at a lower voltage. The batteries will rebalance after several full charges.

Low-Voltage Disconnect (< 10.6V) If an individual cell falls below a prescribed threshold during discharge, the BMS will prevent further discharge. Although the battery is in “low-voltage disconnect” mode, it will still allow a charging current.

NOTE: Many chargers must detect a voltage over 10V to send a charge to the battery. Please be aware that some chargers may not sense a battery in low-voltage disconnect and you may need to jump it with a 12V source to “wake up” the battery. You should jump your battery within 24hrs of entering low-voltage disconnect otherwise you risk damaging your battery and voiding the warranty.
Check the terminal voltage at your MTTP Victron solar charge controller and ensure that you are seeing >9.0 volts, and the correct polarity.

-Bill

Thanks, Bill. Sorry for the confusion. Battery bus is at 11.07 volts. I don't know that BB batteries can go to Zero volts as BMS would shut them off prior, no?

Jades · September 2023

littleharbor2 said:

Temporarily connect a second 12 volt source to the Battery terminals on the CC. This will wake up the controller and start the charging process.no need to loosen the terminals on the CC just touch the + and - wires to the screws if you can do this safely. Some solid (not stranded) Romex type wire should work great

Thanks, I will try this out!

BB. · September 2023

The BMS turns off the battery terminal... so battery itself does not fall below (roughly) 11.5 volts.

This protects the cells against over discharge.

Bill

Dave Angelini · September 2023

Sometimes, along with what Little Harbor said the battery may not be able to "Dark Start" You need to put a charge source on the battery and cycle the battery contactor with charge voltage/current on the battery terminals.

Battery needs to be with a charging mode source when you cycle. I do not use that make and have no idea how it is designed.
Just a generic thought. Often a genset is used for this with an 12 volt charger connected and on.

Good Luck!

Jades · September 2023

Hmmm…so I just got another charge controller on Amazon and even that isn’t putting anything out, so I wonder whether it’s something with the Lynx distributor? Again, fuse is fine, but maybe something with the circuit board. Actually, I then tried to connect directly to Battleborn and nothing but when I connect to car battery, it lights up. If I go back to Battleborn, still nothing, so I think Dave may be right.

Can you explain what a genset is? Is there a specific charger I should get?

thanks,
James

SteveK · September 2023

Since you have a car battery just connect the + and - from it to your Battle Born + and - for minutes or for up to an hour. Your charge controller will then "light up" and begin charging. Then you can disconnect the car battery.

See here: https://battlebornbatteries.com/low-voltage-disconnect/

Then you can return that Amazon charge controller and get one version of these devices that suits your current needs to stop it from happening again. I think they sell them at the store above.

A genset or genny is a generator.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6024911/uploads/editor/24/pgalc4mbd1hr.jpg

Jades · September 2023

SteveK said:

Since you have a car battery just connect the + and - from it to your Battle Born + and - for minutes or for up to an hour. Your charge controller will then "light up" and begin charging. Then you can disconnect the car battery.

See here: https://battlebornbatteries.com/low-voltage-disconnect/

Then you can return that Amazon charge controller and get one version of these devices that suits your current needs to stop it from happening again. I think they sell them at the store above.

A genset or genny is a generator.

Ah, got it, thanks!

Jades · September 2023

So actually, I see now what little harbor was saying—to keep pv and battery connections intact and use two wires to from other 12v to reboot. Did that with the car battery and worked like a charm, so glad to have power charging again. Will clean out the fridge and be back in action again!

thanks so much!

littleharbor2 · September 2023

Jades said:

So actually, I see now what little harbor was saying—to keep pv and battery connections intact and use two wires to from other 12v to reboot. Did that with the car battery and worked like a charm, so glad to have power charging again. Will clean out the fridge and be back in action again!

thanks so much!

Happy to hear it worked for you.

Solar system not functioning

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