Off grid solar can be concerning.

softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Colorado just had a week of snow and thick clouds. Was not a huge problem, I just augmented battery power with a couple hours/day of generator power.

Today it seems the inverter bypass switch has quit working. Flipping the usual switches does nothing at all. The generator is not being recognized.

The outlets on the generator do still power appliances. That doesn’t seem to be the problem. 

Cause for concern. 
First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
· Share on Twitter

Comments

  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    May have generator recognition now. Unsure so far. 

    I’ll try to post update when info becomes more clear. 

    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    The generator was supplying house power but not charging batteries. Now fixed. 

    Be careful when you start flipping switches. aka: trying everything. Now operating normally after flipping the needed switches back into the needed position.

    Lost most security cameras - still. Lost internet for awhile - working again. 

    All a bit strange. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #4
    Perhaps a simple line drawing of your major electrical systems (Genset, inverter, battery, AC house panel, etc.)?

    Get some cheap indicator lights and/or panel meters so you can quickly monitor the various critical points in your system(s)? I.e., meter on the Genset output voltage/current, the various switched circuits (gensets--maybe fuel and oil pressure, engine temperature, alternator temperature, RPM, etc, AC mains, AC inverter input/outputs, battery bank, AC frequency meters,  as appropriate, etc...).

    Was something I learned decades ago--With complex/critical systems that you need to maintain/repair/get back operational quickly, using indicator lights/meters/etc. and having a basic schematic made things a lot easier and quicker to diagnose--Especially on a round bottom ship at sea, and being sea sick.

    You can do a lot of debugging with a meter and clamp meters--But opening access panels and probing wiring/connections takes time and effort too.

    And as we age, having the "proper procedures" written out (AC transfer from inverter to genset, issues that you had before like this--not charging battery bank, etc.) documented--As we get older, our memory may not be what it was, and those one time every couple of years "issues" become lost/confused....

    Best wishes,
    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Yea, batteries are not being charged. Wrong switch configuration most likely. Threw switches a few dozen times last night.

     Only played with eight. Four on top left. Four on bottom left. Ugh. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 10 #6
    Have a 2013 Outback 3648 inverter and FLEXpower ONE with MATE. Placed into service in 2015. 3648 replaced a few years ago. The system where everything comes mounted on one steel plate. Can’t find any youtube vids for equipment of that age. 

    Brain feels fried from a week of battery charging and generator challenges. Especially last night when things went sideways for quite awhile. 

    A pic of the proper switch settings would be perfect. Just perfect.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 10 #7
    Bought some time. Genset is charging the battery bank. A bank that appears to have suffered significant injuries during the week long weather anomaly. 

    Was showing a COM error on the MATE box. 

    I have not played with the buttons on the MATE or FM80 controller for so long that the idea seems quite risky. Almost no memories at all. 

    My “situations” always happen on weekends. Though I have some reservations that our host, and provider of said equipment, could help. 

    Could be a somewhat tricky problem. Not helped by the fact that changes can take ~ 1/2 minute to properly reflect in the MATE. 

    The charge controller will not come out of SLEEPING mode. That seems to be THE issue. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Can anybody share a pic, or something,  of the proper switch settings on the left side of the FLEXpower ONE?  Mine is a 2013. Unsure when or if changes have been made. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Seems I destroyed all solar panels. Voltage measurement from the 48 array is .6 volts. About 1/2 volt. Should be ~ 80 volts on this sunny day. 

    Guessing that backfeeding AC power from the generator did it. After several days of, I thought, doing the same thing. 

    UGH!
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    #10
    Batteries are also destroyed. All showing resistance over 10 with very little power. Maybe 10% at best.

    Weird, they were doing good a month ago. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #11
    Yep... The cost of being your own electrical utility. You are responsible for "everything" and all the costs comes from your wallet.

    You might have a dead short or an open between the solar array and the DC charger input... (switch in the wrong position?). Would  be "difficult" to feed Genset AC power to the solar array directly in a "standard" system configuration.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    #12
    Hope so. Going up on roof soon for direct measurements on the panels themselves. Perhaps a blown fuse?

    Thanks for help!
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    #13
    Tested 7 panels. 82 volts with "no load". 79 volts under a cheap blue tarp. 

    Internet keeps going out. Circuit breakers etc. Diesel genset now smoking. Not a good time. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,891 ✭✭✭✭
    #14
    Though fantastic that all tested panels are ok. So why .6 volts at the charge controller? Had a LOT of wind and snow but I’ve seen far, far worse. 

    The major combiner box does not lend itself to a voltage check. No fuses to blow. All of the small combiner boxes have a fuse. Some sparking when checking fuse - even with blue tarp over appropriate panels. 

    So easy to do true damage to this equipment. Panels anyway. 

    How hard is it to fix panels ruined by hooking up under load? They were under a blanket - about 90% as I recall. That was a few years ago. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
    · Share on Twitter

Categories