I got the new cable from SS and upgraded my two batteries in 2 minutes. I didn’t need to change the pack id to 0 but had to choose the correct id. The soc better synchronizes at 100% with other batteries and bms in parallel. I don’t know if I will get better cell balance but time will tell.
EG4 Lifepower4 48V Top Balancing Firmware.
- Thread starter Markus_EG4
- Start date
MaikaiLife
Solar Enthusiast
So what does this mean, are you saying the recommended max charge voltage has now been increased but is not document?
MaikaiLife
Solar Enthusiast
Looks like EG4 just released new firmware for the communications hub and it seems to be related to my question.
Zapper77
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I installed 1.10 on my hub, it has the same issue and only reports 99%...until the voltage reaches a specific voltage. I don't recall the exact number. However version 1.10 seems to help with topbalancing.
MaikaiLife
Solar Enthusiast
Does it seem like the voltage you're trying to recall might be your float voltage? So it's configurable to whatever you set it to?
n2aws
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I just saw the LifePower4's have a new firmware update for schneider systems too.
I just upgraded my comms hub to 1.10, 1 battery to 3.30, and mu insighthome to 1.18. testing that combo. then I'll probably put the insighthome back to 1.17 again, since schneider pulled 1.18
Zapper77
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The LP4 firmware update seems to make top balancing simple (possibly slower than manually performing a forced top balance).
If you are hands on and able to manipulate voltage and amperage then you shouldn't need to do the update (unless you want native 18Kpv support).
If you want to be hands off....do the update.
I’m curious as to why people think top balancing is better or faster. My understanding is that the balancer is passive and very little current so it would take quite a while to top balance. If the firmware allowed balancing even without a charge current and for a longer time, maybe we can see a difference sooner.
ChillnGrill
Solar Enthusiast
I updated my hub. Is the voltage really supposed to be at 57.6v? My lifepower4 goes over voltage on at least 2 packs at 56.2v
n2aws
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The top balancing will help with that, as they get balanced out, you'll stop having those packs showing overvoltage alarms.
ChillnGrill
Solar Enthusiast
So I should let it overvoltage for now and ignore it?
MaikaiLife
Solar Enthusiast
Does anyone notice that the communications HUB doesn't show the same amount of current as for example the inverter? In some cases, my Sol-Ark shows say 50 amps coming from the batteries, but the HUB only shows say 32 or in almost all cases something less. When I toggle through the batteries, some of the batteries are reporting zero current discharge. Is the onboard BMS in batteries reliably transmitting these values to the communications hub?
Zapper77
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How many batteries do you have?
You can test with a clamp meter to see which one is correct.
Assuming you have EG4 Lifepower4 Batteries...the BMS doesn't report current under 2'ish amps.
Zapper77
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Assuming the batteries make it to 56v...you are good. The updated firmware lowered the pack and cell cutoffs voltage. You can use the BMS test program to view battery details for cells, temps and bms settings.
ChillnGrill
Solar Enthusiast
They will make it to 56v but at 56.2 cell overvoltage on at least 2 packs
n2aws
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While theoretically, the BMS should stop accepting a charge when any individual cell overvolts..
I personally wouldn't go that far. I'd bump the voltage up incrementally over time. if 57.something is the new recommendation, I'd take it up in maybe .3 or .5 increments. then when one of them alerts, I'd back it down and leave it at that level for a day or two to let the cells balance. then bump it .1v at a time until you get to the new recommendation.
I've got 6 lifepower4 batteries.. but I have them wired to the bus bars 3x3, so that I can take 3 batteries out of service for maintenance without taking the whole system down. when that's done, I put them back into service and do maintenance on the other 3.
MaikaiLife
Solar Enthusiast
I think you're correct. I have 12 batteries, and it seems that some of them might be just a tad under some level of discharge around 2.1 ish and those batteries do not show up, but then when I power cycle them for a moment, they're at say 4 amps, they show up for a while until amperage evens out and then they're reporting zero again.
I wonder what the exact cutoff is for them not to report the amperage draw. Is this configurable? I would prefer they all report down to 1 amp.
MaikaiLife
Solar Enthusiast
I’d really like to find a way to make the batteries report at 1 amp, in a larger system like mine my inverter is using near 1000 watts and the amperage is too low per battery to report any discharge??
Zapper77
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How long has your system been working?
MaikaiLife
Solar Enthusiast
It’s been in a semi-design/operational optimization phase for about 4 weeks. I’m building the the entire system, cables, drawings, and reporting/monitoring packages, and stress testing with quality metrics before I break it all down and transport it to another location for reassembly and final install.
That said, I’ve rain numerous load/charge tests and configuration automations and this battery bms not reporting current under 2.2 amps is my final kink to work out so the entire monitoring and reporting package is complete and accurate.
Do you know of any way to change this? I tried looking with the BMS test tool but didn’t see a value that might allow configuration of this threshold. The problem will become larger the more batteries I add because the c rate will be so minimum each battery just drips a little current, which the inverter and my amp meter clearly see, but sure would be nice for the batteries to report that also.
Zapper77
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After 1 year, I no longer follow the discharge rates of individual batteries.
Edit to add, with low discharge rates it's easy to use voltage as a SOC indicator.
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MaikaiLife
Solar Enthusiast
I discovered another problem with the batteries not reporting their current draw below 2.2 amps. Today when I decided to do a full charge of the batteries, they hit 100% SOC and then continued to charge for another 2 hours while SOC was at 100% and the voltage stayed pretty constant. This indicates the SOC was off by quite a ways since the batteries are not keeping track of the low current discharge.
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Zapper77
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Correct. I've noticed similar results in the past. I haven't noticed it in the last 3 weeks...but the clouds have been thin.
I'll know more on Friday. Last two days of solar have been low.
PunchySunshine
Solar Enthusiast
Reporting back here on our battery. Four LiFePowers in a rack showing 2% difference interpack balance between the two center and the two outer batts. It's wired via the top/bottom bus bar method so I feel like the load and charge are spread properly. I'd certainly like them all the same but 2% is better than the ^5% difference we had before updating the firmware. Perhaps this will change with more time. I put the house back on grid last week for a separate project (heat pump install!) and let the pack top balance all week. As it was only running idle it was only getting drained to 85% at night so I'm not sure that those count. Maybe some more full cycles are needed.
Happy Batteries!
Happy Batteries!
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