It certainly appears that the BMS either has a problem or is turned off for some reason.
Growatt SPF 3000TL LVM-24P - won't turn on
- Thread starter ger164
- Start date
iamrich
Solar Addict
What is the voltage at the Anderson connector? It sounds like you have a bad BMS and assuming you are past sending it back I think I would remove/bypass the BMS and just hook right into the pack. As long as you don't push the battery in either direction (below 24v or above 27v) I don't think you will have a run away cell issue.
Maybe big battery will send you a replacement BMS?
Maybe big battery will send you a replacement BMS?
THANKS.. I've just sent them, Big Battery another email explaining issue and asking for help... I've also been on another thread in this forum dealing with the exact BMS and battery.. Very interesting and intelligent members, and a lot over my head..
Will keep plugging away...This is the other thread for those so inclined... Very informative, I think.. cheers https://diysolarforum.com/threads/t...nits-can-anyone-read-this-chinese-label.4436/
Instead of a battery charger (that like to sense voltage before they try to charge), hook up a cheap power supply and try giving it 28 volts to see if it wakes up the BMS. Some BMS will wake up when you put some charging current through them, but most chargers won't send current if they don't sense high enough voltage.
This would mean through the Anderson connector. The voltage you see is a BMS that is "asleep".
This would mean through the Anderson connector. The voltage you see is a BMS that is "asleep".
Thank you. I will look into that. Cheers
Good morning all from Ontario. Just wishing to update my status or more accurately my system status at my cabin in Northern Ontario. I recently returned after finally getting to the problem of my issues with my BigBattery/Growatt system. I've included a few pics in order to help anyone in a similar situation down the road. After having no luck with my recent battery charger and abnormally low output voltage even though the input side showed plenty of voltage I followed others leads from this forum and did a voltage check between the various pins with a volt meter on the plug. In the end I spotted on cell registering .04 volts with all others showing 3.3 or 3.4 volts. So I dove deep into disassembling the case and exposing the 8 cells inside. Sure enough one of the cells clearly was different from the rest and I tried to get a pic of it. It appeared a "meltdown"occured in one of the circular ports. This was a wonderful discovery and so I am now in the process of exploring my options. I was quoted and estimate from BigBattery of between $1000-$1500 for repair if they can even repair it. So I will now explore building a new system or replacing the one damaged cell. BigBattery now has a Canadian distributor near my location (Toronto) but do not do repairs themselves and would have to ship the unit to the west coast in the States (thus the high cost). Anyhow, I'm up to date on my reporting and wishing everyone a great fall/winter
!! cheers ger
!! cheers ger
iamrich
Solar Addict
You can build a much better battery under $1000 with brand new cells, so repair is definitely not recommended unless it is under warranty. The unit you have is good to about 3kwh on a good day, so maybe 125ah at 26.7v. I have two of those packs and am very happy with them, but even I have moved on to buy new cells.
It might be possible to remove the bad cell, but you will not likely find a replacement as each cell has posts on both ends. I am really surprised that Big Battery is not offering a replacement as this is very obviously a DOA type failure. It is not shocking to see bad cells in these used packs, but that cell is dead and the unit should be replaced for free in my opinion.
thanks iamrich... I like your thinking better than theirs. One learns a lot about relationships when things don't go necessarily well. I would have hoped they would have stepped up here. Moving on - I have the winter to play with learning about building and good new cells to buy. I will even try to reuse the cabinet on wheels to house them as this was a nice look up at the cabin. Have a great day!!
iamrich
Solar Addict
Just out of curiosity, have you tried to charge the battery directly (without the BMS and case)? Might be a long shot, but I wonder if the bms is just crap and not charging that cell. I have seen pictures of that white goo stuff on these packs before, but I am not sure that means that cell is beyond hope. If you could somehow get 3.3v of charging on that cell, it would be perfect, but if you can hit the whole pack with 26.7v or so on the main terminals and just see if the cell rises at all. It will take a while to get the other cells up to 3.65max, so you will have time to measure.
Here are some resources on taking the pack apart:
diysolarforum.com
Here are some resources on taking the pack apart:
BYD 24v battery packs
I know these are long gone for the most part, but if you happen to have some and are still looking for a solution to the terminals, here is what I did. I got this idea directly from this video, I just took it a little bit further. I started out by striping the heatsinks off the top and...
diysolarforum.com
more wonderful advise iamrich... This will add make the process much easier... I will give the battery a charge without the BMS as well.. Will keep you posted on how this all goes.. cheersJust out of curiosity, have you tried to charge the battery directly (without the BMS and case)? Might be a long shot, but I wonder if the bms is just crap and not charging that cell. I have seen pictures of that white goo stuff on these packs before, but I am not sure that means that cell is beyond hope. If you could somehow get 3.3v of charging on that cell, it would be perfect, but if you can hit the whole pack with 26.7v or so on the main terminals and just see if the cell rises at all. It will take a while to get the other cells up to 3.65max, so you will have time to measure.
Here are some resources on taking the pack apart:
BYD 24v battery packs
I know these are long gone for the most part, but if you happen to have some and are still looking for a solution to the terminals, here is what I did. I got this idea directly from this video, I just took it a little bit further. I started out by striping the heatsinks off the top and...
Just tore down the battery again with definite dead cell... good voltage on the other 7 cells... such a shame/waste... At least I know to move forward. Not sure if I will build or buy a new complete unit. Been checking out these EG4's and seeing if they ship or are available in Canada. I've got the winter to look into my next move.. cheers
iamrich
Solar Addict
That sucks! You can still make a 12v battery out of it. Not sure if you have an application for 12v, but it would be probably 125ah or so.
Would love to just change out the bad one for another and see how that goes?? Right now I'm looking at the raw cells recommended by Will.. It would be nice to find similar size or slightly smaller cells and use my existing case, circuit breaker, bms, Anderson quick connect and LCD readout.. Not sure the BMS would be compatible but it's worth playing with looking into.. Hoping your day is going well iamrich.. Thanks
iamrich
Solar Addict
In theory you could buy a single 120ah cell and wire it into the pack to replace the bad cell, but it is not going to look pretty. You would have to clip the bus bars on the bad cell and wire in the new cell. Or maybe just parallel the new cell to the bad cell, but I don't think that would work as the bad cell would probably kill the new cell. You would also have to rewire the BMS to attach to the new cell. It could be done, but I am just not sure how reliable it would be. Probably better off getting new cells and just building a pack inside the current enclosure. You will definitely have room, because the new pack won't have those huge heat sinks.
Yes indeed, that did free up a lot of space and weight... I'm pricing out Fortune 100ah cells which ship to canada for a reasonable price...A little less power but I don't need a whole lot and these should last a while.. I will avoid replacing the 1 bad cell.. Maybe make a 12 volt for some other project..
Those are also known as Frey cells by the manufacturer who specializes in mining equipment power. You might try contacting the manufacturer, they make some really nice packs.Yes indeed, that did free up a lot of space and weight... I'm pricing out Fortune 100ah cells which ship to canada for a reasonable price...A little less power but I don't need a whole lot and these should last a while.. I will avoid replacing the 1 bad cell.. Maybe make a 12 volt for some other project..
FREY 3.2V LiFePO4 Cells, FREY 3.2V LiFePO4 Cells direct from Jiangsu Frey Battery Technolog Co., LTD. in CN
FREY 3.2V LiFePO4 Cells from Jiangsu Frey Battery Technolog Co., LTD.. Search High Quality FREY 3.2V LiFePO4 Cells Manufacturing and Exporting supplier on Alibaba.com.
frey.en.alibaba.com
Thanks for this lead... I will check them out.. I've also been looking at 24V 200AH Lcd battery by EG4. They are a nice complete package, have great interface with Growatt inverters and seem to get good reviews.. I'm awaiting a quote for shipment to Ontario.. cheersThose are also known as Frey cells by the manufacturer who specializes in mining equipment power. You might try contacting the manufacturer, they make some really nice packs.
FREY 3.2V LiFePO4 Cells, FREY 3.2V LiFePO4 Cells direct from Jiangsu Frey Battery Technolog Co., LTD. in CN
FREY 3.2V LiFePO4 Cells from Jiangsu Frey Battery Technolog Co., LTD.. Search High Quality FREY 3.2V LiFePO4 Cells Manufacturing and Exporting supplier on Alibaba.com.
I'm also going to move on my BYD battery set up. I have 7 good cells and all the plastic snap in pieces etc. I would be happy to give it to anyone wishing to play or repair their systems. You would just need to pick up or pay shipping... Hoping someone out there can get an early Christmas present.. cheers.??
Similar threads
