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Sakkie Van Heerden avatar image
Sakkie Van Heerden asked

EasySolar-II GX Display "Solar: ESS"

I've installed a EasySolar-II GX 48/3000 off grid with only a generator, solar panels and a BlueNova BN52v-125amp-6,5k LI battery connected via CAN port and BMS. Communications between EasySolar and batteries seems to be fine.

On the display circle of EasySolar, it shows "Solar: ESS". What does that mean? Batery SOC is 74% but MPPT is not charging. It is cloudy, will this result in solar displaying ESS?

Ve.Connect APP shows under settings, ESS: "No ESS Assistant found" which is right because I'm off grid.

The way I understand is that ESS is a function related to the grid and not to the MPPT.

Multiplus-IIESSsolardashboard display
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Sakkie Van Heerden avatar image Sakkie Van Heerden commented ·

Sorry, I mean .... "display cycle", not circle...

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JohnC avatar image
JohnC answered ·

Hi @IJvH

It used to mean what is now 'External Control', and in your case possibly between the BMS and GX/mppt. This was progressively tidied up in the firmwares as it was confusing users. Maybe you still have a remnant in firmware.

It won't hurt to leave it if all is working well, but you could try updating firmware(s) if it's annoying you.

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Sakkie Van Heerden avatar image
Sakkie Van Heerden answered ·

Thanks John. My firmware is updated to the latest version 2.73. I am awaiting a replay from baterye manufacturer, think you are right, BMS and GX/mppt issue. Everything seems to be working fine, except for display not displaying real state of charge for instance: bulk, absorb or float.

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JohnC avatar image JohnC ♦ commented ·

@IJvH

I'm personally unfamiliar with those particular batts, but it's typical that the mppt ceases displaying it's own charge status when that is now under control of the bms. There's a little about those batts here: https://www.victronenergy.com/live/battery_compatibility:bluenova


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Sakkie Van Heerden avatar image Sakkie Van Heerden JohnC ♦ commented ·

Thanks for the response. I've read through the linked document and I think it might be the new firmware that I've loaded. Let me explain chain of events (also keep in mind, this is my first installation and I'm a ordinary farmer):

I installed 2 identical systems (not connected parallel). First I couldn't get the charger to see the BMS, only to find out that for the BlueNova batteries the RJ45 cable must be connected to the GX's VE.Can port and not the VE.Bus port. After I've corrected that, everything was fine and MPPT's was displaying the "state of charge" correctly: bulk, absorb, float etc. Then I had to make sure of charging voltages and was busy configuring the EasySolars via Ve.Connect and saw that I had 2 different firmware versions on both GX's and both were old. I tried to update it online and had to create a hotspot with my cellphone. The signal was weak and on and off all the time and before I had a proper connection, I DISABLE "Create Access point" and there you go: NO WIFI! That's when I start searching this community for answers, only to find out I made, yes, a rookie mistake. Couldn't find a solution from suppliers nor on this comunity, but it turn out to be very easily solved by just connecting via eathernet and to enable "Create Access point" again. Bear in mind that I was fairly frustrated at this point and battled my butt off to get things to connect again.

So I abandoned online update and go for usb update which work fine. At that time it was also late afternoon and sun was fading. Only the next day I realized the "display error" displaying ESS on Solar cycle. Of course I didn't though it might be because of the update, but after your discussion, I want to see if that might be the problem for BMS and MPPT communication.

Is it possible to upload a older firmware version onto my EasySolar?

Attached is a photo of display

screenshot-20211029-074545-video-player.jpgImage Caption

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nickdb avatar image
nickdb answered ·

You need decent signal - have you got a hotspot (such as your phone) that you could use temporarily?

If you have a ve direct to USB cable, you can connect to the mppt via the victron connect (local) app and apply the update that way as well.

You can do the same with the mobile phone app and bluetooth (if it supports bluetooth).

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Sakkie Van Heerden avatar image Sakkie Van Heerden commented ·
Hi nick, yes I can set my phone as a hotspot, but cellphone signal is not stable.


I will try to connect with Bluetooth to mppt and see if if I can manage.

Another problem is, I helped my nabour farmer installing the same setup and he don't even have cellphone coverage. Once I've got mine sorted, I'll need to help him...

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Sakkie Van Heerden avatar image Sakkie Van Heerden commented ·
See my comment to @JohnC answer.
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