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Battery issues

  • 26-09-2021 10:23am
    #1
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I got panels and batteries installed about 6 weeks ago.

    The initial install wasn't great and the battery had a few call outs to get it right but it seemed to work ok.


    for the last week it keeps turning its self off. When it's on it only charges to 46%.


    company who installed it have been less than spectacular since.


    its a prime module hooked up to a GivEnergy system with hot water diverter.


    seems to turn its self off at night.


    many ideas?



Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭MAULBROOK


    I cant answer the question but that looks like ****. The batteries look very second hand.



  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 6,585 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    Them batteries look rough! (But that's just looks, they are prob fine.)

    Have you any stats from any monitoring software.

    Could they only be charging to 46% because that's all the excess that's available to put into the battery, as it's now September.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    The fact that it always only charges to 46% is a give away. If that number went up and down I might blame the sun but it never goes beyond 46%


    Only software I have is the GivEnergy app.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,184 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    Hard to tell much from just those pictures... but a stab in the dark might be that there are two battery banks here (is it a 2 x 2.5kWh system?) and one of them is offline and so you are working off a max of 50% and the remaining one stops at 46% since they dont do a 100% DoD.

    Thats just a wild guess though. Ultimately you need the installer back.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,002 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Bottom unit appears to have a red LED in one photo, but the reflection of green LED's in the other. Is the bottom unit showing different LED states?



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  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Two battery banks. Each battery has 5 leds.


    4 are battery % charged the other is the battery status. Green ok. Red not charging from what I have figured.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 793 ✭✭✭reklamos


    I think the only easy way to find out is to check inverter logs or connect to battery BMS but as @KCross has mentioned it could be that one of the batteries is either dead or has some connectivity/communication problem.

    If logs or access to BMS is not available, the first I would do is power down the system is disconnect the cables and measure voltage of each battery. Most batteries have 48V nominal voltage(but please check in the manual) and it should not be lower than that. If it is then it is not all bad news but it depends how low it is. IF voltage is ok then test batteries individually. Just plug all cables to one see if it charges and then plug to the other one and see if it charges. Keep the comms(black with blue, brown wires) and power cables disconnected between the batteries. If this is ok then could be comms cable or connections on green blocks. Inspect the cable, wires and block. Measure end to end resistance and if needed redo connections.

    Important: The above assumes that you have knowledge and tools on how to do this. If you don't please seek professional help. Electricity is dangerous.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Given that it's only installed c. 6 weeks i wont be going near it



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 793 ✭✭✭reklamos


    Oh I am sorry I missed that part and looked at photos. I am sorry to say but judging from photos the batteries do not look 6 weeks old. In your place I would be asking installer to show me internal data from BMS on the spot. I would be interested to see the likes of Soh and number of cycles for both of them.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Digging a bit more into the battery.


    Two battery packs installed. BAT PACK 1 50.9v 28% BAT PACK 2 42.4v 0%

    Each battery has 16 cells. BAT Pack 1 has a max voltage difference of 1.088v. BAT PACK 2 has one cell reporting 0V and a Max Voltage difference of 3.19V


    Is that the issue?



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  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,435 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    The issue is your installer, with the best intention of friendly folk on random internet we can't see all cables and config, get onto your installer, there a lot of power there I would not be messing with



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    This is all through the app.



  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 6,585 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,113 ✭✭✭freddyuk


    Check for dated labeling in/around the installation as there should be some clues there. It does not represent a professional installation as not a sign of conduit anywhere or any clipped / tidy wiring which I would expect to see. Were you given a wiring diagram and information handover file? Thought not!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 793 ✭✭✭reklamos


    A dead cell in battery is the problem here. There is not much you can do. The whole battery should be replaced under warranty as it should not die within 6 weeks.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,874 ✭✭✭garo


    Agree with graememk and reklamos. 42.4V is too low a voltage. There's probably a dead cell or two in there as suggested by the 0V. Ask them to come back and pronto.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭MAULBROOK


    Have they not come back yet?



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Nope. Terrible to deal with.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭MAULBROOK


    Small claims court or a complaint to the SEAI.

    You where sold a pup. I'm sorry for your troubles.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    I have been on to the SEAI already.


    BER cert not done yet so they haven't been able to claim grant yet. Only leverage I have at the moment



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 793 ✭✭✭reklamos


    I agree. I would also try battery manufacture for warranty assuming it is still with in it.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Contacted the battery people as well. Haven't heard back from them either.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,020 ✭✭✭jkforde


    go legal. small claims isn't that onerous a process and is cheap.

    🌦️ 6.7kwp, 45°, SSW, mid-Galway 🌦️

    "Since I no longer expect anything from mankind except madness, meanness, and mendacity; egotism, cowardice, and self-delusion, I have stopped being a misanthrope." Irving Layton



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    The boss man said he would give me a call tomorrow.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭MAULBROOK


    How did that call go?



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Didn't turn up



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Threatened the Small Claims court this morning. Some arrived 5 mins ago. Let's see how this plays out.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭MAULBROOK


    You deserve better service than this, hope it works out for the better.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    First time they have acknowledged the fault. Battery has been taken away to be replaced.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 303 ✭✭.42.


    Did you buy recycled battery packs?



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    I was told refurbished or as Amazon say used like new



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 793 ✭✭✭reklamos


    That looked far from 'used like new'. I know there can be faults in any equipment but as I wrote before, I would be asking SoH and number of cycles for theses units.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭MAULBROOK


    The way that company has behaved i would demanding that both batteries be replaced.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,020 ✭✭✭jkforde


    I would get in another company to assess the whole installation. then demand that they (the installers) bring it up to that standard; you don't need to tell them where you got your quality criteria, none of their business.

    🌦️ 6.7kwp, 45°, SSW, mid-Galway 🌦️

    "Since I no longer expect anything from mankind except madness, meanness, and mendacity; egotism, cowardice, and self-delusion, I have stopped being a misanthrope." Irving Layton



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭MAULBROOK


    How did it all work out? Well I hope.



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  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Still waiting for the replacement battery



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 66,102 ✭✭✭✭unkel
    Chauffe, Marcel, chauffe!


    Bad idea to have one old and one new battery. They won't be a match as they will have different capacity / internal resistance / SoH, etc. Both should be replaced really.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭MAULBROOK


    Do you know how old the working battery is.

    It should have a date stamp on the data plate. You may have to move it away from the wall to see it.

    The way your installers have treated you I wouldn't believe a word from them.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    A new battery (1 single 5.2kwh battery replacing 2 x 2.5kwh batteries) is been installed now



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