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cosmini avatar image
cosmini asked

bad SmartSolar 100/50 firmware update?

hi folks, a few years ago, I had a nice solar system comprised of a few panels, a Victron SmartSolar 100/50 with a Novopal 2000W inverter that was working beautifully for a few month, but it's been since, put in storage.
I've resurected the setup and it has been running fine, until I decided to update the android app, which also found two firmware updates, that performed them sequentially, without any problems, I believe up to 1.64.

It now appears that the SmartSolar Charge Controllers is spiking voltage up to 15.2 V at times (when the sunlight is brightest), into the inverter -- I don't think it manages the voltage capping well, anymore -- and it makes the inverter start intermittent beeping with an "error" and frequency 0, at times, at the DC In into the inverter reads back to 0V, etc, and then it resets and the cycle repeats. So I've stopped using the controller for the time being, being inclined to use the 100/30 backup controller that was also working fine (but without any firmware updates).

I'm having a feeling that the SmartSolar firmware updates are not behaving properly, as, when I disconnect from it, the inverter works beautifully, with any errors.

Has anyone encountered firmware update issues with the SmartSolar Victron Charge Controllers and if so, how can I downgrade the firmware, if so?

thank you kindly,
Cos

firmware update
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4 Answers
cosmini avatar image
cosmini answered ·

latest updates:
#1 when I disconnect the SmartSolar 100-50 controller from the inverter, the inverter works beautifully, off of the battery only.
#2 the setup works fine with with the SmartSolar 100-30 (the initial, lower rated controller that I bought a few months prior to the 100-50), that I have not upgraded to the latest firmware of 1.64.

so it seems to me latest firmware 1.64 applied to SmartSolar 100-50 is questionable. I would like to refresh it back to 1.59. Any way to obtain the 1.59 firmware?

thank you kindly,
Cos

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Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) avatar image
Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) answered ·

Hi @cosmini

It sounds like a bad physical connection on your DC bus. With the MPPT isolated (disconnected) check the voltage of the battery with a multimeter, along the DC bus, to the inverter.

Most likely there is a blown fuse or bad connection.


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cosmini avatar image
cosmini answered ·

hi Guy,
I was told it might be a battery imbalance issue as I have not used the LiFePO4 batteries for about 3 years, and I'm just now resurrecting that system. Have to run down the batteries to cycle them, as the likely resolution. But will doublecheck things as you mentioned also. thanks kindly for the fast response.
Cos

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cosmini answered ·

that looks like it might have been the issue. Running the batteries down, to cycle them.

The only thing I've noticed is the 100/50 Smart solar gets pretty hot when getting some 600W (63V & 9.7A from solar, off of 4x200W panels).


thank you,

Cos

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Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) avatar image Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) ♦♦ commented ·
It does get hot, but it's fine and will self regulate to stay within its limits if necessary. Just make sure you have good airflow.

A battery cell imbalance could be the complete explanation as well, my other ideas posted above are just also common troubleshooting and good place to start.

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