Grundfos cu200 no power

allo
allo Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭
edited May 15 in Solar Water Pumping #1
hi, we have a grundfos cu200 someone who is no longer here set up with 3 big solarpanels set up feeding in to a box that says midnight and has a fuse switch thing on it then feeds in to the cu200.  No electric comes out of the midnightbox when plugged in to other things. (does the solar power the cu200 screen?).  The cu200 right plug, which i believe is supposed to go to some sensor instead was hooked up to a mini charge controller for solar to battery (which seems to not allow electric thru when hooked to other sources of power and batteries), and a little junction type thing, and a solarpanel behind it.  so apparently the little panel is supposed to send electric to the cu200.  the cu200 does not turn on.  It seems neither left big solar nor right little solar are sending electric to it.  however, when we get a battery sending electric thru a chargecontroller straight to either left, right, or both, still nothing.  Does not turn on.

plants need water 2 days max.

what is the problem?

what should we do?

can we power the pump via battery with charge controller safely and bypass cu200?

thank you

worked until winter was over this year.  a cord was found unplugged between little panel and junction.  reattached but did not work
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  • JRHill
    JRHill Registered Users Posts: 353 ✭✭✭
    edited May 16 #2
    What you have described is exactly the way I originally set my system up - I think, from your description. I had** 4ea 195 watt panels feeding a Morningstar controller to a 48v battery bank. That is half of the system. The other half consists of the CU200 (plus on mine I have the IO101 which is an automatic relay so I can run the system from 120vac) and the Grundfos well pump. Also on this half is a pressure switch and 2ea 80g pressure tanks. You don't mention how your CU200 is triggered to run the pump. There has to be a switch to the CU200 of some fashion. The only thing the two halves have in common is the battery bank.

    I can help you troubleshoot this but you are going to have to take pictures with enough detail that I can identify all the thingies.

    "can we power the pump via battery with charge controller safely and bypass cu200?: Yes but I don't know which pump is in the system. My 11SQF-2 can operate down to 30vdc but I wouldn't want to use less than 48vdc as the volume will really suffer. Also you will have to find some substitute for the on/off to the pump and whether you use pressure or a water level switch if you are filling a tank.

    There are some other things which are important here like the "fuse switch thing" between the Morningstar and the CU200. You should NEVER disconnect a solar controller from the load/batteries while the panels are making power or it can kill the Morningstar. In fact, if you are not charging batteries you don't even need the solar controller. But until you reply with some detail in the pictures I can't help.

    ** At this point I run my Grundfos pump off 120vdc from the house's solar directly through a water well pressure switch and then to the pump as it was silly to maintain a completely separate solar set up with batteries which aren't cheap. I mean, the whole water well function only draws a bit over 800 watts. I could've done this originally but the house hadn't been built yet. Still, the CU200 is cute with the LEDs and all but it wasn't needed.

    Off Grid. Two systems: 1) 2925w panels, OB VFXR3648, FM80, FNDC, Victron BMV-712, Mate3s, 240 xformer, four SimpliPHI 3.8; 2) 780w, Morningstar 30a, Grundfos switch, controller and AC/DC pump, 8 T105. Honda EU7000is w/AGS. Champion 3100. HF 4550, Miller Bobcat.
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  • JRHill
    JRHill Registered Users Posts: 353 ✭✭✭
    #3
    BTW, my CU200 is for sale as it hasn't been used for 4 years.  ;)
    Off Grid. Two systems: 1) 2925w panels, OB VFXR3648, FM80, FNDC, Victron BMV-712, Mate3s, 240 xformer, four SimpliPHI 3.8; 2) 780w, Morningstar 30a, Grundfos switch, controller and AC/DC pump, 8 T105. Honda EU7000is w/AGS. Champion 3100. HF 4550, Miller Bobcat.
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