Aaron, lead acid batteries will "self discharge". Letting them sit for
more than
a couple of weeks may not be that good for them as they can sulfate
without a good absorb
charge cycle every once in a while at least for a couple of hours.
The inverter and charge controller will always draw some power from the
batteries just being
connected. This is due mainly to the internal auxiliary supplies and
microprocessors. If the main battery
breakers were turned off when the customer left for the winter, the
batteries will still discharge
themselves and start to sulfate but the voltage dropping would not
happen quite as fast.
You might want to add a small backup generator and tilt the PV array
more vertical to help
shed the snow during the winter months if nobody is around to take care
of the system.
boB
On 5/31/2016 10:43 AM, Aaron Mandelkorn wrote:
Thank you everyone for your input. I am quite sure this controller was
just doing what it was supposed to do. The inverter disconnected from
low voltage and the solar modules were covered with snow for months.
The classic was trying to reconnect all this time and I believe acted
as a load on the batteries. Essentially the classic brought the system
down but poor design and actions by the customer are what led to this
disaster. I will be pulling the batteries and changing/ load testing
at the shop. Hopefully we didn't destroy this battery bank.
Aaron Mandelkorn
Owner/Solar Specialist
Renewable Energy Outfitters
www.reosolar.com <http://www.reosolar.com>
www.offgriddepot.biz <http://www.offgriddepot.biz>
970-596-3744 <tel:970-596-3744>
719-221-5249 <tel:719-221-5249>
reoso...@gmail.com <mailto:reoso...@gmail.com>
Hi Aaron,
A customer of mine had a very similar situation happen couple years
ago, except with the added fun of frozen batteries, split open and a
resulting mess. (system was installed by others without a proper
battery box / spill containment).
This fault was traced back to a failed MX60 controller that was not
only preventing solar input, but had a small parasitic load on the
system that was enough to discharge the batteries. Replaced
controller, new batteries (with spill containment!) and the system has
been fine since.
Kevin
*From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of
*Aaron Mandelkorn
*Sent:* May-30-16 9:35 PM
*To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>>
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Fried Classic150?
The more I think about this the stranger it seems. All system breakers
were left on before leaving for the winter. Inverter was also on to
power two small AC fans. How can a 48 volt battery bank get so
discharged to the point of almost complete depletion (13.7 volts). The
inverter low battery cutout was programmed to 48.1v and there are no
DC loads. Isn't the point of lbco to protect against this exact
situation? What could have brought this bank down so low? I am
wondering if my client may have reset the lbco and other settings by
throwing the inverter breaker by accident.
Aaron Mandelkorn
Owner/Solar Specialist
Renewable Energy Outfitters
www.reosolar.com <http://www.reosolar.com>
www.offgriddepot.biz <http://www.offgriddepot.biz>
970-596-3744 <tel:970-596-3744>
719-221-5249 <tel:719-221-5249>
reoso...@gmail.com <mailto:reoso...@gmail.com>
On May 30, 2016 8:43 PM, "Dan Fink" <danbo...@gmail.com
<mailto:danbo...@gmail.com>> wrote:
MPPT does need a minimum battery voltage to wake up and start
charging, at least 9 volts -- I once arrived at a remote site on a
sunny day, the PV input breaker had tripped, batteries were under
9v, no charging despite the sunny weather until I woke the MPPT up
with jumper cables from my truck battery.
Dan Fink
Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute
IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
~ PV Installation Professional
~ Small Wind Installer
Executive Director, Buckville Energy
NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers™
970.672.4342 <tel:970.672.4342>
On Mon, May 30, 2016 at 5:59 PM, Aaron Mandelkorn
<reoso...@gmail.com <mailto:reoso...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Hi all. I returned to a off grid site today after having no
winter access. It appears as though the classic 150 charge
controller has failed. The batteries are completely
discharged. The classics screen will flash occasionally as
well as a yellow light on this left front of the controller
but wont turn on. Does the classic have a minimum voltage
requirement needed to turn on? Has anyone else experienced
this? I can't figure out what happened to cause this issue.
Thanks
Aaron Mandelkorn
Owner/Solar Specialist
Renewable Energy Outfitters
www.reosolar.com <http://www.reosolar.com>
www.offgriddepot.biz <http://www.offgriddepot.biz>
970-596-3744 <tel:970-596-3744>
719-221-5249 <tel:719-221-5249>
reoso...@gmail.com <mailto:reoso...@gmail.com>
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