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Puredrive Battery

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭The devils


    I'm on night/day rate- I'm not due to change for a little while still. So maybe when I do ill change to 3hr window ;)

    Discharge rate ? Was that on my first pic ?

    Cheers



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    Puredrive apparently sent my upgrade kit a while back but I guess it's stuck in their postal strikes. They're going to send it again. If I get two then I may have one up for grabs or perhaps it can get passed around if anyone is stuck.



  • Registered Users Posts: 8 AutomanUKPD


    Final update:

    So after 3 weeks of back and forth firmware updates / new cables ect PureDrive couldn't resolve my issue and are replacing both my batteries under warranty tomorrow :)

    Obviously would rather not have had any issues but I guess you can't fault them for the way they have dealt with the issue. Here is a quick pic of how my 2x5kw DC batteries are charging at the minute which I think clearly shows the issue I was having.




  • Registered Users Posts: 8 AutomanUKPD


    Think you pretty much nailed it lol except the jumps got bigger over 3 weeks to the point where a 10Kw battery became 1.4Kw battery.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    3 month since I raised the issue with PureDrive and still no upgrade kit. My battery dropped out twice over the weekend on Saturday & Sunday. I purposely didn't charge it up as we had good generation so it was at around 30-35% at the start of each day. As soon as the kettle went on it dropped to 10%.

    I've just called them up and asked that they send the kit again but tracked. Not sure if I'll get it but will see by next week I suppose. 😑



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  • Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭The devils


    That's terrible by puredrive..hopefully u get it sorted..no other way to update firmware?



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    You need a certain cable to plug into the battery. Another guy on Facebook is having similar issues and has given me a contact so I'll try that also. Shotgun approach at this point contacting everyone.



  • Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭The devils


    This connection marked down..I wonder is it ethernet to usb just required if so ill check here or I'll order one



  • Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭The devils


    Ordered one the other day for work..always handy to have



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  • Registered Users Posts: 84 ✭✭Murt2


    Hi Folks,

    I've another issue with my Puredrive batteries since the recent firmware update I've carried out. They now won't charge to 100%. It's actually been slowly dropping over the last few weeks, down to 97% max charge now. At this rate I'll be down to below 90% in a few months. Does this rectify itself over the year or should I be worried?

    Thanks.



  • Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭The devils


    I'd ring them ASAP...very helpful in my opinion and tell them the issue your having.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,945 ✭✭✭SD_DRACULA


    Not sure this is an issue at all, I had many discussions with Solis/Puredrive, etc in the past and apparently it is close to impossible to calculate an 100% accurate SOC value (you wouldn't think that)

    I have seen it with the puredrive and with my dyness batteries too, it basically approximates a SOC value based on voltages and what the BMS tells it, so it can be full at 98% or at 97%, it all depends how you use them, if they are cycled full to empty regularly, etc.

    Basically 97% is still within the normal parameters, now if it goes to 90% then not so much.



  • Registered Users Posts: 84 ✭✭Murt2


    Thanks, did they give you any idea how low before it's an issue, or is 90% the point for escalation to manufacturer?


    Agreed, you'd imagine they'd have perfected battery level calculations by now.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,945 ✭✭✭SD_DRACULA


    No they didn't, essentially the SOC is a guesstimated value. I said 90% as that would sound a bit to low to me.

    I am currently seeing fully charged values sit anywhere between 98/99/100 but I also have not seen the battery get fully emptied in months so that may be a factor.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    Still haven't received the upgrade kit despite chasing numerous times. Their support seems to be pretty bad. Constantly saying they've done something and then it turns out they haven't.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭THE ALM


    The are at the SEAI energy show today and tomorrow if of any use to you.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    Finally received the cable. I have the software also, but will let them do the initial update in case there are other issues.



  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,918 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jonathan


    Must get on to them to get one myself. Any customs etc due to Brexit?



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    It was held up a good few days. I think due to them putting value as N/A. I did make sure that they sent it tracked.

    It only took about 4 months for me to get them to send it. They kept telling me they had done it, but hadn't.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    🤔 wonder how this will work. App for DC batteries.



  • Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭The devils


    Saw that on FB , interesting 🤔 I didn't know there was such a thing



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    I believe their AC batteries are basically victron inverters in the box with the batteries. I'm guessing the DC may be some victron BMS. Some of those have bluetooth for use with their app. So, it's probably that.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    I called them up earlier to do the firmware update but they weren't able to at that time, said to call back Monday. Still as I was up there in the attic with the cable I plugged in for a look. Here's what my battery looked like on the Puredrive BMS tool. Current version seems to be 2.3.5 and mine is 2.2.12. I could upgrade it myself but on the off chance that there is a fault with the battery I'd prefer PD to see.




  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,918 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jonathan


    At least you have that set up now and climb up and check the BMS next time you get the sudden SOC drop. Probably a cell dropping out.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    Good idea, I may do that if I can catch it happening.

    What do you think about that external fan/heater section on the tool? I was looking for info on it but don't see anything. That would be handy.



  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,918 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jonathan


    Other option is to get a Raspberry Pi and use socat to extend the serial port over the network. No need to climb up to the attic with the laptop then. Not sure if anyone has reverse engineered the BMS protocol yet. Unlikely Puredrive designed their own, so just a case of figuring out what BMS they are using.


    Yeah, fan/cool options are interesting. I just have mine surrounded by insulated board. Was going to take it off last week but forgot. Good thing I didn't with the chill were getting here for the last few days at night.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1 Revere2000AD


    Hi all,

    I have a few questions after reading this thread. For background, I have 6kW panels, 6kW Solis inverter and 3 Puredrive batteries 5kWh each.

    One of the batteries was bought 2 years ago and it doesn't balance with the other two (unless I top balance to 100% and switch it off while the other catch up). Puredrive says that is because the different hardware versions have different BMS.

    Another question is from a screenshot you show 100A charge and discharge from batteries, but mine is configured to 50A. The manual for the inverter says max 62.5A. Which is the correct setting please?

    I am looking to buy 2 more, but the prices from the installer is very high for them. Does anyone have a way to get them wholesale? I can install them myself.

    Thank you!

    Alex



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,051 ✭✭✭silver_sky


    @Revere2000AD I'm not entirely sure sorry. I heard there are different versions of even the same battery and some are not compatible with each other. Bit of a mess. As to the charge and discharge I've not changed any settings as it was installed/configured. I've got a Solis 6kW hybrid inverter and single puredrive II DC 5kWh battery.


    Finally got round to doing the firmware upgrade. I called puredrive and they were like you can just download it from the site and do it. I knew that but figured I'd get them to do it in case any issues.

    Upgrade went OK but battery SOC plummeted afterwards. It dropped from 93% to 50% and now after some charging from PV it jumped back to 100%. Very odd.




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  • Registered Users Posts: 154 ✭✭alfa_aficionado


    Given the issues some people seem to have had with their Puredrive batteries would you suggest getting Dyness/Pylontech instead? The upside of this is that they are slightly cheaper and can be expanded on a DIY basis.

    What had initially attracted me to the Puredrive battery was it's 1C rating although maybe this is less important with Solis hybrid inverters given that their maximum charging rate decreases after a short period? Additionally the Puredrive batteries were warrantied for 10,000 cycles versus 6000 cycles for the Dyness batteries? Again how important is this?

    I can likely save at least €200 per battery by opting for Dyness over Puredrive - maybe this small saving isn't worth it for the benefits listed above?



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