question

sound like the fw did not update properly, please do the fw update again, note your phone or computer must be connected to the internet to do this,

Hi @QuaiOui

You mention "Both green and yellow LEDS ard now rapid flash in unison", but are they alternating or flashing in unison indeed?

If they are alternating, it means that a firmware update was not finished and it is still waiting for a complete firmware. In this case, the MPPT control will also show "DISCONNECTED" as it is unable to get any information from the MPPT.

When they are flashing in unison, it would normally mean "Battery of PV over-voltage". In this case there is also something wrong with the connection between the MPPT and the MPPT Control.

Kind regards,

Thiemo van Engelen

Thank you for you early response.

Both are flashing in unison. Not alternative.

As far as I am aware, the firmware is as supplied. I have no way to update it, and I've not requested it to be updated during any service.

Yesterday there was full sunshine, and upon arriving back the the Camper, both House and Start Battery were over voltage at 15.3V. The House Battery also showed 1.3A charge being supplied at it was at 100% capacity.

This information from the Schault System as OEM equipment. It ony shows Voltage for the Start Battery.

The Camper was also plugged into "Shore Power".

To protect the Batteries I disconnected the Solar Panel Negative, the the Battery negative. The battery negative to power down the unit for overnight, with the intent to restart the unit, and see if that made any difference. The control panel is still powered, so it appeares to have its own supply, rather than by the connection cable.

I would conclude from the battery overvoltage, the MPPT Unit is faulty.

Hi @QuaiOui

You say "The Camper was also plugged into "Shore Power".". Is that system also able to charge the battery or is only the MPPT cable of doing that? If only the MPPT is able to charge the battery then it seems that is indeed faulty.

Kind regards,

Thiemo van Engelen

Thank you Thiemo for your response.

From recall, both charge the battery.

I've tried to reconnect without shore power and with shore power with the same result.

I shall order a replacement unit with Bluetooth and a replacement cable.

The question, is there any known cause for failure. The Camper was last used in October 2022, and has been in storage, with the Engine being started and run about once a month. While in storage, the power is off at thd Schauldt Control Panel. The Solar Panel has limited sunlight. The original installation was with a PWM unit, but I asked this be changed out for the Victron BlueSolar MPPT unit complete with Control Display. That has been in service about four years and with a similar regime. In use ALL summer (around 5 months), and in storage ALL winter with an outing about once or twice during the storage period and otherwise the motor run one time a month.

Good morning Thiemo,

I've installed a new BlueSolar Smart unit. This has been set up to meet the requirements of the installed battery. It is working well. As is the App for Bluetooth interrogation.

I also purchased a new cable. This incase the existing cable was at fault. The MPPT Control Panel BMV-700 when connected using the existing cable still showed disconnected. I dismounted it from the panel and tried the new cable, with the same result.

I then tried disconnecting it completely, both the RJ12 Cable and the power cable. Then reconnecting, first the power cable then the RJ12. This shows two wee communication arrows and scrolls CONNECTING. But it remains like this. I also tried with a complete power down again and only the RJ12 Cable. This gives the same result.

I've looked through all the documentation I can find, but nothing that I can see that tells me what is wrong, or what to do. Can you kindly advise please.

Kind regards,

Duncan Gatland

Hi @QuaiOui

Well.. Then is seems as the MPPT Control is (also) faulty.

By the way: The grey power cable between the MPPT Control and the battery is not necessary when it is connected to a SmartSolar MPPT. The grey cable is only necessary when the MPPT turns off when there is no PV and that is not the case for any SmartSolar. Only the VE.Direct cable needs to be connected between the SmartSolar and the MPPT Control.

Kind regards,

Thiemo van Engelen

Dear Thiemo,

I have replace all the system components.

- Bluesolar mppt 75/15 with Smartsolar charge contoller mppt 75/15

- BMV700 with a new BMV700

- VE.Direct Cable replaced with a new VE.Direct Cable 1,8m.

When connected, I still get "Connecting" readout, just as before.

I'm at a loss as to what else I might do to get this operational again.

The original setup functioned without fault for four years.

I watched this video: - https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=208&v=MRljOaTdc3s&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.victronenergy.com%2F&source_ve_path=MTM5MTE3LDIzODUx&feature=emb_title.

From your earlier comment about not needing the RJ12 cable plugged in to power the unit, and no shunt being provided with the BMV 700, I would assume tis video is no relevant.

Looking forward to your input.

Kind regards,

Duncan Gatland

Or is the BMV 700 a mismatch with the Smartsolar charger, and the replacement should have been a BMV 712, the Bluetooth model?

So the question why does it always remain as "Connecting"? But does not proceed to being connected?

A screen shot of updated contoller

This is the old unit. The new one shows the Serial Number. I've tried both with V1.03 firmware. Same result for both. Both with the two cables. Same result.

Thank you for your reply Thiemo,

I have copied your questions and responded in italics

1. You have 2 MPPT Controls?

Yes, one old and one new

1. What is the serial number of the other MPPT Control?

Old SN: HQ1638L79Q

New SN: HQ20255YZGF

1. They both do not work with the BlueSolar because they keep showing "CONNECTING"?

Only the Old unit was connected with the Bluesolar

1. Do the MPPT Controls work when they are connected to the SmartSolar?

No, both read "connecting", as supplied V1.01 and with updated V1.03 firmware

1. You have an official VE.Direct cable between the BlueSolar and the MPPT Control and only the VE.Direct cable (and no other home made splitter things or something like that)?

Yes, both cables are Victron original. The old confirmed with Victron logo both ends. The new purchased and packaged as Victron and with logos

1. You just temporarily connected the VE.Direct Smart dongle to the MPPT Control to readout / update the firmware?

Yes, along with RJ12 connection for 12 V supply for a power source.

1. Do you have the battery cable with the RJ12 that came with the MPPT Control also connected to the MPPT Control? (To be clear, you should not do this for this MPPT)

Yes, this was installed as part of the original installation. As above, I've used it to power the units. But as per your earlier advice it has not been connected to the unit for use.

1. What is the serial number of the BlueSolar?

I don't have this unit with me. I left it at my daughters house. She is away for two weeks. I can provide upon her return if necessary.

1. You also have a BMV700 in the system? (just so I know the complete system. The BMV700 has no influence on the MPPT Control).

Yes, there is one unit in the system.

So the current system is one Solar Panel, one Smartsolar Charger, one BMV700 MPPT Control.

This is connected to the AGM Varta LA95 Professional Battery. On a reasonable day it brings the battery to 100% according to the Schauldt unit.

For the sake of good order, the original failure occurred when the Camling Car was not in use. During the Winter it is in covered storage, and a trustworth family member who has had camping cars for about 40 years attends to it once a month. He runs tge engine to keep all system working, and then it is connected to the Mains for three days to bring the batteries to full charge.

ON system extension.

I intend to install a Phoenix 12/375 into the system as well. To protect the battery, I thought to connect the load controller to the remote all as per the details on page 7 of the SmartSolar charge controller manual. I assume that this single cable is from the +ve terminal of the "Load" connection? With the circuit being completed via -ve cables on the units.

Kind regards,

Duncan Gatland