I was too but I'm not sure with the latest comment from RCinFLA
Mystery used Sol-Ark 12K Full Failure (Fixed itself)
- Thread starter AleksK
- Start date
SunDave
Solar Enthusiast
If it were me, I would step back and check the basics. A lot of assumptions tossed around already for just starting to troubleshoot.
Please make sure you check some videos to make sure you don't do some damage (I get nervous giving people ideas...), but there are some screws by the MPPT inputs that you can check voltage on with a known good meter. That way you can see if there is actually some solar input getting to the unit, and not some type of other wiring fault. Check all switches and breakers. Possibly a complete power off, and just start with one source.
If you don't take it one step at a time, its just a frantic game of hunting for problems all over the place.
Once you are done with all the connections, carefully check settings one at a time. Things like TOU settings can make a unit not use the battery. In that case you would only see grid pass-through, like you are seeing now.
Slow and steady.
Please make sure you check some videos to make sure you don't do some damage (I get nervous giving people ideas...), but there are some screws by the MPPT inputs that you can check voltage on with a known good meter. That way you can see if there is actually some solar input getting to the unit, and not some type of other wiring fault. Check all switches and breakers. Possibly a complete power off, and just start with one source.
If you don't take it one step at a time, its just a frantic game of hunting for problems all over the place.
Once you are done with all the connections, carefully check settings one at a time. Things like TOU settings can make a unit not use the battery. In that case you would only see grid pass-through, like you are seeing now.
Slow and steady.
Alot of that I did already do, and as far as TOU stuff is why I wanted to do a factory reset of all the settings but it requires a password, I'll check into that manually.
I appreciate the advice on checking MPPT but even with no solar at all it should have turned on with battery alone.
Having turned on the screen with battery alone suggest the battery is connecting to something inside so reverse polarity diode and battery side mosfets seemsm okay
This thread did remind me of some basics to go back and check like the power button wiring and TOU settings that you mentioned, will check into it when I'm messing with it again. Although I don't see why in TOU the unit would be off? But I've never actually had to mess with that as I've done offgrid and grid tie with no backfeed systems with these solarks so far
SunDave
Solar Enthusiast
That is a good point. I don't think it ever says off due to TOU, but it could not charge or discharge due to those settings. If I recall correctly, on mine the power button was lit when it said off on the screen.
One other thing I thought of, is to check basics like grid settings. There are modes for different voltages, and frequencies.
Good luck on it. I still have hope for you that it is a fully functional unit.
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One last edit. At least one version of the sol-ark manual says if the Normal light is not on, to call them. I'm guessing they will call back soon. They have even been working Saturday when I contacted them.
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SunDave
Solar Enthusiast
After a good sleep, grid settings come to mind too. If it was set to the wrong grid setting, you could get the AC too high alarm I would think.
Let us know if you have a breakthrough!
Let us know if you have a breakthrough!
So.... bizarelly after messing with all kinds of settings and trying various things, it decided to turn on at one point and now works as expected, so big yay!!!
Not sure what exactly did it, TOU was off, power button looked okay, I remember I turned off grid selling, turned on BMS Error Stop, activate battery and some other adjustments but no idea what actually made the difference since I made several changes in setting at the same time.
Tried hooking up grid, load, solar and battery and it all seemed to work okay, after some reboots it still worked okay.
??? Go figure...
Not sure what exactly did it, TOU was off, power button looked okay, I remember I turned off grid selling, turned on BMS Error Stop, activate battery and some other adjustments but no idea what actually made the difference since I made several changes in setting at the same time.
Tried hooking up grid, load, solar and battery and it all seemed to work okay, after some reboots it still worked okay.
??? Go figure...
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
Nice. What was your profit on this?
DIYrich
Solar Wizard
Update the firmware now that it is online.
I haven't sold it but I got the outdoor 12k for $2k plus a whole bunch of driving, granted it's missing a battery terminal bolt, the wiring plastic shield, and main mounting bracket as well as all the smaller stuff like included cat6 cables, manual, temp probes and CTs, lastly they drilled a giant hole where the battery cables come in for some reason, though it did have the wifi module fortunately.
I'm still so confused why they drilled the hole or why they ended up not finishing the install and why sell it to me on the cheap no idea...
I'm still so confused why they drilled the hole or why they ended up not finishing the install and why sell it to me on the cheap no idea...
I updated to reflect that it's fixed.
I haven't tried connecting to wifi but I imagine that will work fine now too, will likely upgrade when it's ready to be installed so it matches any potential units in parallel.
I honestly don't know what was really going on, nothing I changed should of really fixed it, but maybe I don't understand the grid selling setting properly or something.
Can you explain what that does exactly? After getting it to work I boxed it up for now as I was testing in place of another in use solark
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
It is meant to bring batteries back slowly after the BMS has shutdown charge/discharge due to low voltage, and should only be turned on for that reason as it limits the charging amps
Great thanks for educating me! I'll need to make sure I didn't enable it on any of my other setups.
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
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SunDave
Solar Enthusiast
Hi House and Lyd,
The 15k manual says differently. Thoughts?
"Activate Battery: This option MUST be selected if the system has batteries, especially with Lithium batteries."
Lt.Dan
Solar Wizard
I have "Activate Battery" on my SolArk 15k as well. I'm fairly certain it means different things between SolArk, and Sunsynk/Deye
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
Understanding the Battery Settings
Below will explain how each setting will change and impact the system Batt Type - this is where the type of battery is selected all sunsynk batteries are lithium, if you are unsure speak to your installer Batt Capacity - this value will r...
sunsynk.freshdesk.com
Activate - This feature will help recover a battery that is over discharged by slowly charging from the solar array or grid."
And this is the same for all other deye based inverters and software.
So either there is an error in the sol-ark manual, or sol-ark opted for their users to always have it enabled, maybe because compatibility with certain approved batteries, accepting others may have to suffers slow charging at lower battery voltages..
Again just an educated guess from my side and by no means an end all statement
Lt.Dan
Solar Wizard
I have always had "Activate Battery" on, since the day of installation. I have never had lower charging/discharging current?
I just went out and unchecked it on my machine. I guess I'll find out what happens ?
I know if the "BMS Lithium Batt" option is unchecked, it will ignore the battery entirely and only send PV to Load or send it back to the Grid.
I just went out and unchecked it on my machine. I guess I'll find out what happens ?
I know if the "BMS Lithium Batt" option is unchecked, it will ignore the battery entirely and only send PV to Load or send it back to the Grid.
Hmm... that last part, I wonder if that was part of what caused some of my issues with that unit.I have always had "Activate Battery" on, since the day of installation. I have never had lower charging/discharging current?
I just went out and unchecked it on my machine. I guess I'll find out what happens ?
I know if the "BMS Lithium Batt" option is unchecked, it will ignore the battery entirely and only send PV to Load or send it back to the Grid.
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