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Renogy DCC50S with Renogy BT-2

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Cbull

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Anyone running Renogy's DCC50S (DC - DC charger & MPPT controller with dual DC inputs) along with Renogy's BT-2 (BlueTooth adapter fed via RS-485, rather than RS-232 AND no damn shunt needed)? This seems to be the combination that was lacking with the DCC50S (initially shipped without a battery monitor system).

"CBull"
 
Cbull said:
Anyone running Renogy's DCC50S (DC - DC charger & MPPT controller with dual DC inputs) along with Renogy's BT-2 (BlueTooth adapter fed via RS-485, rather than RS-232 AND no damn shunt needed)? This seems to be the combination that was lacking with the DCC50S (initially shipped without a battery monitor system).

"CBull"
Click to expand...

How does this system monitor state of charge without a Shunt? Is it voltage based?
 
Cbull said:
Directly through the serial port of the DC-DC charger\MPPT controller unit.

Check out the smart app...”Renogy BT”
Click to expand...

This explains how the human monitors what the system monitors, but I'm curious how the system monitors it (how is it sensing state of charge?). A shunt measures current in/out, from which we can derive energy in/out, which can be used to accurately calculate state of charge. Voltage can approximate this, but at least with lifepo4 isn't very accurate (I think maybe with lead acid voltage is a more useful indicator).
 
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Not exactly sure... haven’t received the BT-2 yet...which is exactly why I made this post.
Real curious about the story\stories behind your profile description: “A danger to himself and others”...sounds like something my kindergarten teacher sent home pinned to my chest and back.
...Awkward attempt at humor...
 
Running both units, the DCC50S has been working beautifully for about 4 months now, unfortunately the BT-2 is currently a HUGE fail. Waiting to hear from Renogy on my list of demands.
1) Provide an updated & working Android App (or)
2) Send me a shipping label so that I can have my money back.
 
Got and started using the BT-2 with a Regogy DCC50S yesterday. Played with the battery profiles. Settled on USER profile for my LiFePO4 battery. Was able to change float voltage to 13.6, where I like it to be.
Today I went out with the same iPhone and Renogy BT app. The Bluetooth would not connect. Just showed Connection status: Connecting on the BT-2, showed connected on the iPhone. Removed and reinstalled the app.Rebooted the phone. Isolated the DCC50S and hooked it back up. Cycled the solar panels, discharged and recharged the batteries down to float voltage level. No go, no Bluetooth connected state in BT-2, no solar data, no device data. Used Renogy site and opened a ticket on the problem (what an ordeal).
Anyone else had this experience. Any suggestions? I'm going to use the tablet to try and connect to the BT-2 device next. Same app.
 
After trying everything I could think of, with no Bluetooth connected state on Renogy-BT app, I was about to give up.

Then I tried unplugging the BT-2 cable from the DCC50S RJ45 port, turned off the solar panel input (even though it was dark outside), Opened the 12v dc + switch to the DCC50S service battery + port. Then reversed the process, turned on service battery + circuit switch, turned on the solar panel + circuit switch and plugged in the BT-2 cable to the DCC50S RJ45 port. Started the Renogy BT app on the phone. It connected to the BT-2 Bluetooth device.
I was able to read data from the DCC50S, view the device battery 'USER' type settings with the Read button, update a few settings, use the Save button to save the setting changes. Viewed record and other screens, then came back too settings screen to find that most of the settings I saved were still there (found that the EQ min time had changed from 0 to 10).
I got it to connect to the phone with Bluetooth so there is hope.
I do not know why it would not connect right up earlier.
 
Learned a little more when using the Remogy BT app with the BT-2 device plugged into a DCC50S device:

-If the DCC50S storage battery red light comes on continuous,indicating a storage battery over voltage, because of a setting you changed too low or close to the bulk charge voltage setting of the device or another charging device in parallel, the DCC50S shuts down. Opening the solar input and storage battery output circuits to the DCC50S clears the over voltage shutdown, but causes the BT-2 device to not connect Bluetooth to phone on next attempt.
- When ever the you de-energize storage battery power circuit to DCC50S, you must unplug the BT-2 device from the DCC50S device before re-energizing the DCC50S, then plug the BT-2 device back into the DCC50S device if you want the BT-2 to connect with Bluetooth to your phone using the Renogy BT app.

Your experience may be different. I am using an iPhone with the Renogy BT app.
 
There are several settings you can change in the Renogy BT app.
If you select Battery Type 'USER', the battery type indicator light turns white.
USER settings are
Advanced Settings:
(many of the setting descriptions are truncated)
- 1 High Voltage Disconnect (V)
- 2 Charge Limit Voltage (V)
- 3 Equalizing Charge Volt (V)
- 4 Boost Charge Volt (V)
- 5 Float Charge (v)
- 6 Boost Char Return Volt...
- 7 Over Disc Return Volt (V)
- 8 Low Voltage Alarm (V)
- 9 Over Discharge Volt (V)
- 10 Discharge Limit Volt (V)
- 11 Over Disc Delay time (S)
- 12 Equalize Charge Time (...
- 13 Boost Charge Time (Min)
- 14 Equalize Charge Interval
- 15 Temperature Compens...
These settings are not defined anywhere in the owners manual.
Their min/max values and interaction with other settings are not defined in the owners manual.

No surprise here as the DCC50S manual is also very poorly written and the devices connected to the DCC50S are not consistently named in the manual.

Does anyone want to take a shot at defining any of these settings described above ?
 
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To display the current settings in the DCC50S you need to select BATTERY (not LOAD) and select the READ button.
-The phone app screen is then populated with device current settings.
-Now select Set button.
-Once you have updated the displayed settings, selected the Set button again and provided the right password (It is in the BT2 user manual), you can save the settings. When you are done changing the settings, select the Set button again and they seem to be uploaded to the BT2 thru the Bluetooth connection.
-Most settings are not changed from what I ask for, but some are changed when they were saved. Just check them out again after setting (Set-saving). I think it has to do with min time intervals for some elements of the settings.
Of course your experience may be different. But this might help you stumble thru it.
 
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I am trying out these settings:
System voltage (V) 12 Battery Type USER
  1. - 1 High Voltage Disconnect (V) 14.6
  2. - 2 Charge Limit Voltage (V) 14.4
  3. - 3 Equalizing Charge Volt (V) 14.4
  4. - 4 Boost Charge Volt (V) 14.4
  5. - 5 Float Charge (v) 13.6
  6. - 6 Boost Char Return Volt... 13.4
  7. - 7 Over Disc Return Volt (V) 12.1
  8. - 8 Low Voltage Alarm (V) 12.1
  9. - 9 Over Discharge Volt (V) 12.0
  10. - 10 Discharge Limit Volt (V) 12.0
  11. - 11 Over Disc Delay time (S) 5
  12. - 12 Equalize Charge Time (... 0 (10)
  13. - 13 Boost Charge Time (Min) 0 (10)
  14. - 14 Equalize Charge Interval 0
  15. - 15 Temperature Compens... 0

    I have three 12v 100AH LiFePO2 batteries in parallel, the DCC50S, and a charger/inverter MSH1230 M.Each of the three batteries have their own BMS internal to the battery case.

    You might want to choose other set points. I will change mine as I learn more. This is my starting point. Any suggestions are appreciated. I do have some reasons for some of the settings. I do believe that some of the settings are not required for a battery charger/solar controller with no LOAD hookup.
 
Dzl said:
This explains how the human monitors what the system monitors, but I'm curious how the system monitors it (how is it sensing state of charge?). A shunt measures current in/out, from which we can derive energy in/out, which can be used to accurately calculate state of charge. Voltage can approximate this, but at least with lifepo4 isn't very accurate (I think maybe with lead acid voltage is a more useful indicator).
Click to expand...
The device dose not have a setting "Battery Amp Hours". Therefore the device uses battery voltage to guestimate battery SOC.
 
Hi Randy,
Are you now getting a reliable BT connection setting after all the trouble you have gone to? I am using an Android 10 based Samsung phone, I
've also used a variety of other Android tablets and phones .... no connection being made.
One concerning issue is that my indicator lamps are doing strange things that have never occurred before plugging the module in.

As per my Victron Bluetooth module, the Renogy module should not have been marketed for sale unless it works first time every time, I would expect occasional issues with anything but like many I have wasted a great deal of time trying to get a reliable connection, or any connection at all.

I have contacted Renogy Australia many times with absolutely no response at all, very poor service. I have also now lodged a support ticket with Renogy U.S. and await a reply.
 
I gotta agree that the BT-2 device Bluetooth connection to my iPhone was a challenge. Especially after I tripped the charger high voltage cutout point. Storage battery Red light came on solid. I set the max voltage too low. Had to switch the Charger start battery + wire off, unplug the BT2, switch the charger back on, plug the BT2 back in to clear the light and get the BT2 to connect Bluteooth with my call phone. Now that I have it connecting again, I have moved on to figuring out the battery settings.
 
CampCreekRV said:
Hi Randy,
Are you now getting a reliable BT connection setting after all the trouble you have gone to?.....................
Click to expand...

The goal is to change the 'Device Status' on the renogy BT app info page from Device Disconnected to Device Connecting.
I can say Yes. May I suggest:
  1. Unplug the BT-2 from the DCC50S.
  2. Open the solar panel + circuit to the DCC50S (hopefully you installed a switch/circuit breaker near the DCC50S in that circuit).
  3. Open the storage battery + circuit to the DCC50S (hopefully you have a circuit breaker in that circuit near the battery).
  4. Close the storage battery + circuit.
  5. Close the solar panel + circuit.
  6. Plug the BT-2 back into the DCC50S.
    Congratulations, you have just re-booted the DCC50S (at least its BlueTooth function)
    Now use the Renogy BT app on your cell phone device to pair with the BT2 device.
 
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Another day with sunshine. The BT-2 connected the DCC50S with the iPhone, no problems. There is about a 1 amp parasitic load on the 12v dc system in the camper, heater/ac thermostat, three way fridge eyebrow controller, smoke detector, propane detector. So if I turn the inverter off when not in use at night, the 12v system only loose about 12 amp hours a night parked. The inverter introduces another 2-2.5A parasitic load on the 12v system if left on when not in use.
Today the solar controller with one solar panel attached recharged the battery to 100% SOC (boost voltage 14.4v) , then went to 13.8v float charge, resulting in 0 amps going into battery (its already at 100% SOC) and all other small dc loads were supplied by the solar controller at 13.8v . Ready for another night without the sun.
No problems today at all.
Changed settings - 5 Float Charge (v) from 13.6v to 13.8v ; - 6 Boost Char Return Volt... 13.4v to 13.6v , in an effort to keep the LiFePO4 battery at 100% SOC at rest when the sun is shining (100% SOC for a 12v 100AH BB battery at rest is 13.6v according to BB).
 
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