question

johanbosman avatar image
johanbosman asked

Issues with Cerbo Firmware v3.0 using VE.CAN MPPTs

I have the following equipment:

Multiplus II 5kVA (Firmware 505)

Cerbo GX (Firmware v2.94)

Bluesolar MPPT (VE.CAN type) 150/85 (Firmware v2.05)

Bluesolar MPPT (VE.CAN type) 150/70 (Firmware v2.05)

Energy meter ET112

LiFEPO 4 battery (without BMS that interfaces with Victron system)


I want to report a problem with Cerbo Firmware v3.0 and up. When I updated the Firmware on the Cerbo to v3.0 and the latest version, the MPPT's did not respond to settings in order to minimize grid usage. It only charged the battery according to the battery SOC, the went into "sleep" mode.

It does not matter what ESS setting you use. It only responds to battery SOC and ignores the grid requirement, in other words, you use energy from the grid while the MPPT's do nothing.

I did set all the VE.CAN settings correctly after updating the Firmware. I adjusted almost every setting imaginable, but it does not work.

When I booted with Firmware v2.94, everything worked again as it should. My conclusion is that there is an issue with Firmware versions from v2.95 and up regarding MPPT's connected with CAN BUS.


cerbo gxfirmware update
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nickdb avatar image nickdb ♦♦ commented ·

It isn't overly clear what you are asking. Could you perhaps take a few screenshots of the issue in action from the console, some supporting charts and what your settings actually are.

Did 3.01 behave the same?

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johanbosman avatar image johanbosman nickdb ♦♦ commented ·

I must admit, it is rather difficult to explain what the issue is. Basically the Cerbo does not instruct the MPPT's to deliver power to the inverter in order to minimize consumption from the grid. For example, when in the ESS setting "keep batteries charged", the MPPT's only charge the batteries with the required power according to the charge limits, while there are much more PV power available to reduce grid consumption as well. Then when SOC is 100% the MPPT's do nothing.


This is a screen shot from the current system in operation with Firmware v2.94 running as desired. (Grid feedback is set to 800W).... even though SOC is 100%, the MPPT's are trying to minimize grid consumption (and also grid feedback when consumption is low).

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This does not happen with Cerbo Firmware v3.0 and v3.01. In this case, the MPPT's would have delivered 0W each and the grid consumption would have been 57W + 113W.... around 170W+ even though 6kW PV power available.




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2 Answers
Paul B avatar image
Paul B answered ·

if it is a uissue then try updating the the latest re pre release or stay on 2,94 untill another version comes out were its fixed

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hopsolafrica avatar image
hopsolafrica answered ·

Good Day Everyone,

We had the same issue regardless of the Cerbo GX Firmware.

Just an overview, we used the MPPT 150/100 Tr_VE.Can type with a Quattro 15000kVA, Fronius Primo 5.0-1, Cerbo GX and BYD Batteries 30kWh.

Whenever the Batteries reach 100% the first time of each Day, it looses BMS Communication and thereafter the system is shutting down.

We tried multiple things to resolve this and it ended up being the VE.Can communication which freezes when the Batteries go from 99% to 100% and the ESS on the Cerbo is trying to reduce the MPPT to 0 Watts.

We were lucky to have the VE.Direct port on the MPPT and inserting this cable, solved this issue. Therefore make use of the VE.Direct Cable instead of the VE.CAN for now.

I believe this is a Firmware Issue on the CERBO GX which Victron needs to attend to ASAP.


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Thank you.

Regards,

Hopsol Africa (Pty) Ltd


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