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Glad you got it going !! The big problem with PVkeeper is that it crashes quite often. I don't believe Growatt has ever resolved that.

You do need to install the driver for the CP210 communications chip in the inverter. Here is a link to drivers for the chip https://www.silabs.com/developers/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers?tab=downloadsn Look in your windows device manager after installing the driver, you can...

Joe has it right. I have been using Solar Assistant for almost a year now and it works great. They keep improving it too, one of the latest updates allows it to connect to some brands of BMS to directly monitor battery conditions. Being able to access it by either computer (locally or...

Unless your loads are quite small it would go to the grid every time a cloud passes by. Its not uncommon for my system to swing from 4000 watts down to 300-400W and back to 4000 as clouds pass by, the battery supplements those swings in sunlight keeping the utility bill small. Running...

I agree you can use the AC grid to supplement the load by setting the inverter to one of those modes BUT it sort of defeats the concept of a off-grid inverter ! The savings on your electric bill will be FAR less than a setup with decent battery storage.

No battery showing in your video. Although the inverter will work without a battery, its performance will be horrible as you are experiencing. The output is dropping off because there in no battery to supply power during temporary drops in solar (sun) power due to clouds passing etc. I...

Should have been a CD in with the manual, no dongle unless you buy the wifi adapter separately. You can download PVkeeper online.

PVkeeper is provided in the box with the Growatt inverter on CD. It is a windows program and connects to the inverter with the supplied USB cable. It is for local monitoring only and works reasonably well but not great. I used it for a couple months at first. Newer versions of it...

Kind of defeats the purpose of a smart BMS with integral SOC readout doesn't it? This is a 200A BMS and they also have a 300A version, use of a large battery shouldn't be unexpected. The whole point is why the 650AH limit? Its just a software change, comes down to poor engineering...

If a BMS disconnects for any reason and later reconnects that battery will not be at the same voltage SOC as the others and a large current can flow. As long as none never disconnect, no problem. Naturally, there is no communications between multiple BMS so one knows what the other is doing...

Yes, it is a limit in the firmware. I realize I can use the BMS, in fact I am using it. The problem is that you don't get a accurate SOC reading as I stated. The SOC readout is one of the best features of the JBD bms, plus something you need to know for obvious reasons. The numbers are...

4P16S with 180AH prismatics.

I recently got the JBD 7-20S 200A BMS and use it with the UART interface and PC application. I found it won't take battery capacities over 650AH and confirmed that with their customer support. I have a 720AH 4p16S pack and cannot get a accurate SOC reading as a result. I am using...

After buying 4 pcs of the JBD 7-20S 200A BMS I found when setting them up that they will not accept battery capacities over 650AH. I confirmed this with their customer support. I did not see it documented anywhere and post this to inform others. I have a 720AH 4P16S battery and cannot...

Yes, it is a beta release. I am not on the beta program and my solar assistant does not show a update available. (yet) Thanks for the good news! No doubt the non-beta update will be coming quite soon.

Since starting this thread, I exchanged a few emails with a China manufacturer of plastic case cells. Eventually he sent me a couple videos showing how they compress in the factory. One was a common plastic banding machine, air operated, same as used for banding skids and packages. The...

Lot of great info on that site, thanks ! He shows and mentions compression for the plastic case cells but no details at all.

I am about to make a 4P16S LifePo4 pack using used tested cells. The cells were in a OEM enclosure in 10S configuration with stainless steel strapping (4 bands) around each group of 5 cells with aluminum plates at each end. I have seen a few other pictures on the net of other plastic...

I have been running the growatt 5000 ES inverter for a few months now. My panels are in 9S2P config and that has worked very well.

I have this BMS coming for a 4P16S Lifepo4 battery build using 170ah cells. Its not the very common JCB model most use but appears to be nearly identical except for the relay to make/break the output. The software and features seem otherwise the same as the common model. My...

Steve_S, thanks ! great info.

Yes, dissassembly would be needed for repairs of course. I am thinking a "module" with 8 cells in it 4P2S config would be a reasonable compromise between weight and complexity of the overall setup. Also... the OEM batteries are in 10S1P config in nice stainless steel enclosures. I am...

Location is stable enough but moving them to that location, stacking and future maintenance if needed is the consideration. Total weight looks to be well over 1000 lbs. IF a module failed or needed work at some point it would be nice to be able to pull it, replace with a spare without...

Yes, meaning weight is a factor to be considered. Considering various configs for that reason. This link posted before https://diysolarforum.com/resources/cell-configurations-for-12v-24v-and-48v-lifepo4-batteries.42/ In the text of that link its stated "To get the doc, click on the...

Yea, its somewhat hidden. That link takes you to a page here on the forum. In the text it references a download icon on the top right of the screen to download the document. Great info !

YES ! Weight is a consideration for sure !! The original surplus batteries I am using are in 10S config in a real nice stainless steel enclosures. I am considering using those enclosures to house a 4P2S (6V)in each one, bringing out the sense leads. 8 "modules" in that config...

The document I linked in my prior post details the problems with parallel BMS units in such a config. That document, and the warning against parallel operation in the JBD MNS doc is why I am now leaning towards a 4P16S config.

Here is a cut/paste from the JBD instruction doc for the BMS I purchased. ● Supports the use of battery packs in series, but the total number of strings after series connection is less than or equal to 32 strings. ● Parallel use of battery packs is not supported (battery packs are directly...

That was the original plan, to go 16s 1P and build 4 batteries each with their own BMS, then parallel the 4 batteries. The JCB 200A 16S BMS warns that paralleling packs /BMS modules is not allowed with that model. Thats why I switched to the 4P16S config with a single BMS.

I hear that laying them on their side is not a good idea, but that could be totally wrong. What did occur to me is not using the screw in studs and substituting proper length stainless bolts, that would get rid of the stud length sticking up.

In another thread I posted on a bunch (180 on hand now) 170ah surplus lifePo4 prismatic cells I got. I have been testing them in 1P4S 12V configuration and they are testing excellent. So now its time to move on to the 48V pack(s) that I need for my solar. I found this thread of a build...

Maybe... I have 170ah LifepO4 cells, used tested. Will have to measure height, might be taller than you can use. I am in Anderson SC 10-3/8 tall, 6-3/4 wide not including studs which I would guess are about 3/4 tall

International Battery Inc. Allentown PA Out of business now though

Yes but not a concern in this case. These are US made and I have the manufacturers spec sheet.

There are actually 300 of these cells ! I got 180 in hand and another 120 coming in a week or so !! Testing them efficiently will be a priority due to the number. Most if not all are already spoken for, not all sorted out yet. Personally I am preliminary planning on making 4...