ACr error on Renogy MPPT 40 Controller

[Wendy]

6/14/23

Hi,

I am getting a "ACr error" on my Renogy MPPT 40 Controller.
I am having a problem solving this... any help would be greatly appreciated.

I recently finalized set up, and it was working great... Then I tried using my giandal 3000 inverter to heat my Bosch 4 gal water tank. After 10 minutes the inverter got a "fault" error. I shut it off. After that I am now getting the "ACr error" on my MPPT controller.

I also have a Victron Battery Monitor connected to the battery bus bar. It reads 100% charged.

According to Renogy the ACr error indicates that the PV is maybe not connected correctly... but it was working properly before, so I dont think that is it. Here are the trouble shooting notes from Renogy:

Cause 1: Break in the Circuit
I used a multi meter and my batteries have 14.5v. and my MPPT battery connection reads 14.5v.

My MPPT PV connection is not getting a reading... its "L" low. Its cloudy today, so is that why no charge is coming in from the solar panels? ie., this is a normal read?
Cause 2: 12V Lithium Incorrectly set to 24V on Controller
My controller settings are correct... 12v and Lithium batteries
Cause 3: Your Demand is higher than your Lithium Battery Capacity
Demand is really not anything at the moment, though I was running a 12v Whynter frig for a few days just fine before this event, when things were all working fine.

Cause 4: Lithium Reverse Polarity w/ Solar Connected
I rechecked the lines... I believe the solar is connected correctly...

This is what my set up includes:
- Renogy Li 40 Amp Rover MPPT Solar Charge Controller
- 2 x Renogy 200-Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panels
- 3 x Renogy 12V 100AH Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries
- Giandal 3000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter
- Victron Lynx Bus Bar
-Victron Battery Monitor

I will attach some general wiring photos in case something stands out as a problem.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Also, does anyone know of a solar specialist in the Portland /Vancouver Metro area they can recommend?

Thanks!

 

[Wendy]

deleted...

 

[MaineJim1821]

Is the yellow wire going from inverter ground post to the -line?
If so ,why? im curious because i have the same inverter, battery monitor and i havent had any trouble.

 

[Wendy]

Is the yellow wire going from inverter ground post to the -line?
If so ,why? im curious because i have the same inverter and battery monitor without having any problems.

Yes. The yellow is the Giandal Inverter ground. I thought that the negative bar would ground it since it goes to the ground for the system....

So you have the same set up? My Renogy MPPT controller does NOT like my victron 700 battery monitor and also not my Bosch water heater. Or maybe it just doesn't like the inverter.

I still have a lot to learn about the parameters of the MPPT and the battery monitor. For all I know I have inot programmed the correctly.
the manuals are awful. I do know the MPPT is set up to 12v and Lithium batteries. That I got correct. I did not program it beyond that. I dont know how...?

 

[MaineJim1821]

Isn't that something,i too have a Bosch water heater as well 7 gallon.
Hmm,that ground wire is supposed to go to earth ground as in ground rod or house electrical ground not the minus side of the batteries.
Knock on wood i haven't had any trouble at all interfacing the Victron shunt or Bosch heater with the Renogy 70 i have.
Well the Renogy is not connected to the Bosch,obviously but the batteries.

 

[Wendy]

Isn't that something,i too have a Bosch water heater as well 7 gallon.
Hmm,that ground wire is supposed to go to earth ground as in ground rod or house electrical ground not the minus side of the batteries.
Knock on wood i haven't had any trouble at all interfacing the Victron shunt or Bosch heater with the Renogy 70 i have.
Well the Renogy is not connected to the Bosch,obviously but the batteries.

So should I remove the ground do you think?
What is your set up? Battery AH, Solar panels, and inverter?

 

[Wendy]

What is your set up? Battery AH, Solar panels, and inverter?

 

[MaineJim1821]

So should I remove the ground do you think?

I would,it doesnt really serve any purpose there.I dont have mine grounded because its not convenient to do so.

 

[MaineJim1821]

What is your set up? Battery AH, Solar panels, and inverter?

1 KW PV ,800 Ah LiFEPO4,Giandel inverter.I recently got a Victron 150-70 SCC when i added more panels and also a Sigineer Power inverter/charger,so now i have a spare SCC and inverter with charge capability.In the fall im planning on doubling battery storage and hopefully more panels in the spring to put the Renogy SCC back to work.

 

[MaineJim1821]

Is the Victron shunt between the battery negative and the load/charging?

 

[Wendy]

Is the Victron shunt between the battery negative and the load/charging?

How do I test that? Multi-meter to the load ports on MPPT? I dont have anything using those ports...

 

[MaineJim1821]

How do I test that? Multi-meter to the load ports on MPPT? I dont have anything using ble.those ports...

No,no trying to figure out how everything is put together and why you are having trouble. The Victron shunt is supposed to be between the battery on the negative cable and after it comes the charging and drawing from the battery. Is that how yours is connected?
Where is the black cable coming out of the wall above SCC going?

 

[Wendy]

Here is a better image of the battery connections. The shunt is on the far left under the red switch...

 

[MaineJim1821]

Here is a better image of the battery connections. The shunt is on the far left under the red switch...

Ok ,got it.
Looks like its properly connected,no problem there.Sorry but i have to get going,i'll check tomorrow hopefully you will get some help.

 

[Wendy]

Ok ,got it.
Looks like its properly connected,no problem there.Sorry but i have to get going,i'll check tomorrow hopefully you will get some help.

Thanks for all your comments. I appreciate it.

 

[Wendy]

Thanks for all your comments. I appreciate it.

I would,it doesnt really serve any purpose there.I dont have mine grounded because its not convenient to do so.

So I was looking at the information about grounding your inverter, and this forum has some info... looks like you should have a ground. Here is the link if you are interested.

How does your inverter deal with ground.

Folks, When setting up an inverter, one of the more important safety things to get correct is the grounding and the neutral-Ground bond. All of the inverters have a grounding lug All of the inverters have a ground connection on the AC out. Some inverters have an AC in and when they do they...

diysolarforum.com

 

[Wendy]

Solution?
I spent time on the phone with the support people at Renogy... and I may have it figured out... I have the wrong size fuse for the inverter... I had 400 but should have 300. So that is probably why it was giving me the ACr error, and the inverter kept faulting. So I have a new one coming, then I will check it again. I will let you know.

Update 6/18/23

No. That was NOT it. See edited comment at top dated 6/18 pm

 

[Tomthumb62]

Solution?
I spent time on the phone with the support people at Renogy... and I may have it figured out... I have the wrong size fuse for the inverter... I had 400 but should have 300. So that is probably why it was giving me the ACr error, and the inverter kept faulting. So I have a new one coming, then I will check it again. I will let you know.

??? How the heck does the inverter know the difference between a 300 and 400A fuse?

 

[Renogy Solar]

1、Do you connect or start the load in this state?
2、Please test the voltage of the BAT port on the controller and tell the result

 

[mikefitz]

There should not be an issue with the shunt in circuit, or the use of a incorrect fuse for the inverter, you have other problems.

Without knowing the status of the batteries its difficult to advise, ACr error suggests the Rover is upset with battery volts.

I recomend you reinstall the Victron shunt and use the voltage and current display to help fault find the problem. Note the SOC reading is perhaps incorrect if the unit hasn't been set up correctly.

You need to confirm the state ofcharge of the batteries, battery volts will give a rough estimate.

Note its important with the Rover to 'see' battery volts before panels are connected, with the battery isolator switch its easy to invoke this requirement. The Renogy Rover has been known to have issues and is not a 'first choice ' for a reliable system. With a Victron shunt and Lynx distributer, a Victron Smart Solar controller would have produced a more Integrated system.

Mike