Hi all,
We are employing the SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 in a number of remotely located instrument cabinets that will eventually be inaccessible to people. To remotely monitor the SmartSolar device, we are utilizing a Serial to Ethernet bridge. This device also allows us to also perform any mandatory firmware updates remotely, but with a caveat.
In order for us to be able to take advantage of the SmartSolar’s load current sensing, our load (‘Ethernet Devices’) needs to be connected to the LOAD output. However, during a firmware update, the LOAD output switches off at the 4% mark, thereby causing the firmware update to stop indefinitely. D1 solves this issue by sourcing power directly from the battery (Batt) when the LOAD output switches off (during a firmware update). The side effect of connecting the Batt terminal to the LOAD via D1 is that the LOAD output never comes back on, despite VictronConnect stating that the LOAD is ON. Instead current continues to flow through D1, therefore current sensing on the LOAD terminal never takes place. Only by utilizing D2 does the load current flow through the LOAD terminal and reported in VictronConnect.
Our question: Before we invest time in building a low-power-loss device (FET in place of D2) to circumvent this issue, is Victron able to provide a firmware update that ensures that either the SmartSolar LOAD output always stays on during a firmware update, or at least a firmware update that would allows us to omit D2? And failing a response here, how can we contact Victron directly with this request?
Thanks in advance,
Michael
