question

bluewally avatar image
bluewally asked

Mmpt 150/45 release a lot of smoke

Hello, just connected the mppt 150/45 to a set of 16 lifepo4 batteries. As soon as I connected smoke came out the unit. AND a the connection sbort cut. No panels connected, just batteries and EVever sinus inverter 48/220.


Any ideas? See picture

MPPT Controllers
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6 Answers
ur12vman avatar image
ur12vman answered ·

Have you put a voltmeter on the red and black to verify the other ends are actually connected to + and -? That unit is potted, so no repair possible.


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Charlie Johnson avatar image Charlie Johnson commented ·

Precisely! Although there is a reverse polarity protection fuse in the unit, it is not user serviceable.

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bluewally avatar image
bluewally answered ·

Thanks for the reply. The unit was correctly connected. Even tested before connecting. Just blows my mind what caused it.

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Justin Cook avatar image
Justin Cook answered ·

@Bluewally, how did you test the unit prior to connecting it? Do you mean that you connected it to a tabletop power supply, or you had previously connected it to this bank of batteries, or?

I would like to see some photos of the surrounding area as well; I see a large number of cables (including at least one bare end) running in various directions so I'd really like to be able to see the entire installation that shows a continuous connection from the battery bank to the MPPT.

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bluewally avatar image
bluewally answered ·

Hello Justin, thanks for asking more questions. Here is a photo of the layout. The cable below is for solor panels but they are not installed yet. It was just a trial connecting batteries, charger and inverter.


6 comments
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klim8skeptic avatar image klim8skeptic ♦ commented ·

Looks like reverse polarity connection.

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sinbad avatar image sinbad commented ·

What's the voltage across the battery bank? I see 16 batteries, but what voltage and how are they connected?

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Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image
Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) answered ·

Hi @Bluewally

That's obviously not good, please contact your dealer for a replacement.

What kind of fuse / fuse size was between the battery and the controller?


Btw. if it was connected in reverse polarity, the internal fuse should blow immediately, so no smoke.

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Charlie Johnson avatar image
Charlie Johnson answered ·

Has the unit ever been powered up with any other battery? Battery voltage sense is automatic...once. So if the MPPT was connected to a 12VDC battery for testing and then reconnected to a 48VDC battery smoke may ensue.

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Hi @CharlieJ

it should only alarm 'battery high voltage' nothing else.

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Charlie Johnson avatar image Charlie Johnson Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) ♦♦ commented ·

OK. That eliminates that action as to why the magic smoke escaped from the box.

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