question

hoverjocki avatar image
hoverjocki asked

MPPT is not charging

After updating the mppt firmware my battery charging isn’t the same.
i have 2 x 370w solar panels with 2x mppt 100/30 smart chargers.
With any form of daylight I am getting a charge and remains that way till dark but as of the update it seems as though something isn’t right.
i have daylight but no charge going in to the batteries. I have a -4.5amp draw and my batteries have dropped to 12.75 volts. Normally they are charging all day with no negative draw till dark.
Am I missing something here?

firmware update
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2 Answers
Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) avatar image
Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) answered ·

Hi @Hoverjocki

It looks like your panels are not configured correctly, so the PV Voltage is not getting high enough to start charging.

It needs to be at least +5V higher than the battery voltage (ideally much more). Your system is showing a difference of only 2.59 V (12.76 batV - 15.35 solV).

Solar voltage needs to be over 18 V minimum to start.

Your panels will need to be wired into a series configuration, they look like they are currently wired in Parallel.

Please read the Solar Section 4.10 of the Wiring Unlimited guide for more info.

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hoverjocki avatar image hoverjocki commented ·

They are single panels with their own mppt charger, they are not connected and are dependent of each other.
From the mppt chargers they out put to a bus bar then to the batteries.

Not sure I understand what I’m to do.

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jurjenhoekstra avatar image
jurjenhoekstra answered ·

Hi @Hoverjocki, I am using the same 2 x LG 370 Wp set up, but with just one MPPT100/30. Panels connected in series, as @Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) recommends. Why use 2 MPPTs? When in series, the combined voltage does not go over 100 V, so one MPPT100/30 will work and you will much more easily reach the +5V the MPPT needs to start charging.

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hoverjocki avatar image hoverjocki commented ·

Hi.
This setup is installed on a sailboat. Im using 2 chargers so that if I get shading on one panel from the boom or when the sails are up it won’t diminish the power from the 2nd panel.
That’s the idea anyway.

Regards

Justin.

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Rob Fijn avatar image Rob Fijn hoverjocki commented ·

Hello @Hoverjocki, when you measure the PV voltage with a multimeter, what do you read?

best regards, Rob

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hoverjocki avatar image hoverjocki Rob Fijn commented ·

Hi Rob.
Im away from my boat till next week but I’ll put up pictures of my panels before I left. i was told the chargers only take what they need to charge the batteries so I’ve always seen low wattage.
I’m seeing I have to have +5v above battery voltage for the panels to charge but my charging amps are low.

I’m still learning to understand this system so apologies if I’m not getting it.

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