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elenabr avatar image
elenabr asked

Are these panels ok for SmartSolar 100/20 MPPT?

Hi,

I got a Smart Solar 100/20 MPPT installed on our van.

Is this panel ok for this regulator? (https://eu.ecoflow.com/products/220w-bifacial-portable-solar-panel)

captura-de-pantalla-2023-11-29-a-las-195059.png

What shall I be checking?

Thanks for your guidance in advance,

Elena

MPPT SmartSolar
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klim8skeptic avatar image klim8skeptic ♦ commented ·

@elenabr looks like a 32 cell panel (with voltages to match), and as such does not meet the 36 cell minimum requirement in the manual.

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kevgermany avatar image
kevgermany answered ·

Your shot above shows absorption, so the MPPT is still in charge mode. What's happening is that the battery BMS has cut the charge current. This is normal. Guessing that as it's a new setup, the batteries need to balance internally. This will take a while.

Given your location from the other thread, the 32 cell panel will probably be ok as it's working now.

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elenabr avatar image elenabr commented ·

Thank YOU @kevgermany I didn't know that either, that new batteries need some time to balance (and I must google what that exactly means :D) For instance...you mean that one battery may be drawing more than the other because their cells aren't balanced yet? or does this balancing happen within each single battery too, in their cells? I assume this balancing is run by the BMS itself, and I don't need to do a thing.


Now I thought that once the battery monitor shunt showed 99% or 100%, the victron app was going to indicate state: floating (as per explanation learned here https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/63640/charging-bulk-absorption-and-float.html) but will the victron mppt pick that correctly from the relion batteries? What if I see in the monitor 100% and still open the victron smart solar app and read Absorption?

Thank you for being this helpful.

Elena

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kevgermany avatar image kevgermany ♦♦ elenabr commented ·

Balancing is two things. Equalising the cells in a single battery and keeping all batteries in an installation at the same voltage. The BMS should balance the cells, but usually with low current and once cells are close to fully charged. Depending on the batteries/BMSs, the balance between the batteries may be carried out by the BMS between the batteries, or you rely on individual BMS per battery to keep things ok.


A battery monitor/shunt in Victron does no management. It reports what it sees and interprets that according to it's settings. Float/absorption/bulk comes from the MPPT or other charger and is independent of the shunt. Settings have to match. So if the battery is fully charged at 14.2V on the shunt and the MPPT is set to 14.4V, the shunt will show 100% while the MPPT is still in absorption.

If there's a GX device (e.g. Cerbo) in the system and all connected correctly, the GX can use the shunt readings to control the MPPT charging. If the BMS has data Comms that talk to Victron and is connected by the right cable to the GX, the BMS may report to and control the GX and charging and means you don't need a battery monitor/shunt. It's really dependant on the BMS.

Sorry, but I don't know how much of this your batteries can do, you need to get this from the supplier/manufacturer.


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kevgermany avatar image
kevgermany answered ·

Take a look at the MPPT calculator in the link below.

There's not enough info in your post for a proper answer, but the answer is probably, depends...

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elenabr avatar image elenabr commented ·

Thank you @kevgermany for replying so fast. I've checked the MPPT calculator and inputted all the info I have about the Ecoflow 220 w (except temp coeff data, which I can't seem to find), the result is Smart Solar 100/20


captura-de-pantalla-2023-11-29-a-las-231539.png


(The camper van setup is 2 relion lifepo4 12v batteries 100ah each, the Victron Solar Smart MPPT 100/20, and there plugging in the foldable/portable solar panel from Ecoflow)

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