question

Jon S avatar image
Jon S asked

MPPT 150/85 TR does not use voltage from victron lithium batteries

@Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff)


I have an issue with the MPPT's not using voltage from the victron lithium batteries. The MPPT 150/85 TRs are connected to a GCCX via USB cable. The 2 MPPTs are connected together via a bluetooth group. The GCCX is also connected to a Lynx-ion 800 amp shunt.


The solar controllers go to float before they should. It was mentioned to try DVCC but I cannot find that setting in my GCCX.


Any ideas?


Below is a diagram of my system.

Thanks,

Jon


MPPT Controllers
1584468040132.png (135.2 KiB)
2 |3000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

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

Hi @Jon S

Please read:

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:start#dvcc_-_distributed_voltage_and_current_control


And please control the Balmar charge regulators, not the output.


I -strongly- advice you to hire an experienced installer, this is a lot of expensive equipment that you can damage like this.

17 comments
2 |3000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

Jon S avatar image Jon S commented ·

@Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff)


See my other post regarding hiring a so-called Victron certified expert.

My GCCX is at firmware 2.11. I do not see DVCC in any of the menus on my version. The article mentions 2.3, but didnt indicate if DVCC came in some newer version or not. I can upgrade the GCCX, but there is a warning that enabling DVCC can have some problems for some systems. There is not much detail in that statement to know if DVCC will help.


Based on the models of devices attached in my system. Do you believe DVCC fixes the early float by the MPPTs? The GCCX has auto selected the Lynx shunt as the battery monitor. The GCCX displays the same voltage that using bluetooth from my phone and connecting with victronconnect to the batteries shows. I am still trying to figure out why this info is not shared with the MPPTs so they go into float at the right voltages and come out if I am at 100% and the hot water heater comes on and uses 100amps.

Any ideas?


Jon

0 Likes 0 ·
Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) ♦♦ Jon S commented ·

Hi @Jon S

v2.11 is very old, please update it. the manuals are about the latest version.

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:start

all other requirements are in the manual also

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:start#dvcc_-_distributed_voltage_and_current_control

'early float' of MPPT's: that is due to the MPPT's settings, please read the MPPT's manual for that.


DVCC is helpful but not a 'must'


When trying to fix a system, the first step is always to have all products on the latest firmware.

0 Likes 0 ·
Jon S avatar image Jon S Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) ♦♦ commented ·

Hi @Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff)

I was able to update the CCGX to the latest firmware version 2.53.


I also got the CCGX connected to the VRM portal and updated the MPPT controllers to 1.47.

I need to update the Quattros to a newer version. They are both on 2633413.


The Lynx BMS is on v1.08.


How do I get the software to update these?


More info on what I am seeing: I have 3 LG 365 panels connected in parallel to one MPPT (A) and 2 connected to the other MPPT (B). The 2 panel MPPT (B) seems to always stay in bulk as it should. Only the 3 panel MPPT (A) drops to absorption and float too early. By too early I mean it's noon and the CCGX is showing 70% with 13.1v.


My assumption is DVCC enabled will have the batteries telling all connected devices what they can take which should keep both MPPTs in Bulk up to 95%ish before going to absorption.


Let me know if this is accurate.


Thanks,

Jon




0 Likes 0 ·
Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) ♦♦ Jon S commented ·

Hi @Jon S

With DVCC, your Multi will control the MPPT's, not the batteries. The Lynx Shunt is a battery monitor, not a BMS

DVCC can / will also conflict with the smart network you setup.

Can you show us what the MPPT's settings are?

on upgrading the inverter firmware:

https://docs.victronenergy.com/victronconnect-vebus.html#firmware-updates

0 Likes 0 ·
Show more comments
Jon S avatar image
Jon S answered ·

@Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff)


I wanted to give everyone the final update on this issue. First off thank you Daniel for all your efforts to educate me on my setup. Without your support my issue would not have been solved.


The solution to get both MPPTs to charge correctly was several things.

1 - enable DVCC. This required firmware for all parts of the system to be updated (versions listed below).

2. MPPTs - need to be updated to 1.47 and disable the ve.smartnetworking (eg bluetooth network) they were connected in.


Firmware versions currently being used:

CCGX - 2.53

MPPT - 1.47

Lynx Shunt - 1.08

Quatro 5000 - Product ID 2633 Firmware 474


I upgraded the Quatros on the morning of May 11th and setup DVCC. As you can see, after that date, the only day the MPPTs went to float were because we had reached 100% (I had left the boat connected to shore power over night so we were already at 100% in the morning). We are an all electric galley and I turned on the hot water heater which is why we still generated 5kWh that day.


Thanks again Daniel.


Cheers,

Jon


img-0051.jpg (277.8 KiB)
img-0050.jpg (277.9 KiB)
2 |3000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.