Blown Inverter

[Brettxxx4]

My setup was working for months but my inverter stopped working AND when I hooked up a new one it also blew (popped and smoked) right away. Not sure what's wrong. I have 8 100W 12V panels wired into 3 circuits of a controller box . then to a 50A MPPT Sunthysis charge controller hooked up to 4 LiPO 50AH batteries wired in parallel . the batteries are run to the 2500 Inverter TVNIKD 2500

The wires go where they are supposed to . I'm not sure what failed. But the sun was very bright yesterday. I Need Help.
I can send a pic although I'm embarrassed of the messy (not neat looking ) wiring (but connections are solid) .



THis is a new inverter But I have not thrown the solar power on yet.

The only thing I changed was to alternate the leads . so the inverter and controller are on seperate batteries Although Im not sure why that would make a difference?

IS the inverter OK to turn on during the Day (while charging) ???



Brett
better pic

 

[Mattb4]

2 possibilities come to mind. Wired with the wrong polarity and (perhaps) needed to pre-charge the inverter when first connecting to prevent high inrush from your liFePO4 batteries.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Wiring diagrams and/or or photos would be really helpful.
Specs for panels, charge controller, etc.

First guess is cold temps are causing VOC to rise and smoking the MPPT.

Edit - re-reading the post. I'm with Matt.

 

[LydMekk]

Prob. too much panels in the string. Voltage rose too high and BOOMed the charge controller.

 

[50ShadesOfDirt]

The amazon product page doesn't provide the manual, so I wasn't able to dig deeper, but the page does list a few caveats to operation ... namely:
- do not charge batteries while using inverter

In other words, if batteries charging, inverter must be off. if inverter is running, mppt must be off (as I interpret this instruction).

I would open up one of the inverters, and see if there is a fuse or such that you can replace yourself; if you feel comfortable with doing this. You want to identify what is blowing inside of it ... look for scorch marks or such.

Otherwise, take it to a repair shop to see if they can find out what blew. This will tell you whether or not you can buy more of these. Also contact the support folks, and see if you can get replacement parts ... maybe they will do that, maybe they'll send you a new one, or maybe they won't play ball at all. You can factor all of this into your decision to buy more of them. If you do buy another (a 3rd one), the first two are "spare parts".

Hope this helps ...

 

[MrSparkle]

I can send a pic although im embarrased of the messy (not neat looking ) wiring

The first question you need to ask your self:
"What is more important? Withholding embarrassing setup and save your face or fully revealing everything so that community will help you to identify important aspects for a reliable operating and safe system?"

My impression is that as long you come here to learn (including realizing already made mistakes) members will not make any fun of you. On contrary. Gladly share their knowledge for you to have reliable and safe system.

Further more.
There might be other unknown issues with your setup that have not failed as of now, but might be at risk failing soon. Would you prefer if such would be discovered so that they can be addressed and altered?

As others said.
Would be very good if you provided all and every technical details of all your components. Photos showing cabling, connections, etc. Also a complete scheme of entire setup.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Brettxxx4]

My setup was working for months but my inverter stopped working AND when I hooked up a new one it also blew (popped and smoked) right away. Not sure whats wrong. I have 8 100W 12V panels wired into 3 circuits of a controller box . then to a 50A MPPT Sunthysis charge controller hooked up to 4 LiPO 50AH batteries wired in parallel . the batteries are run to the 2500 Inverter TVNIKD 2500

The wires go where they are supposed to . I'm not sure what failed. But the sun was very bright yesterday. I Need Help.
I can send a pic although im embarrased of the messy (not neat looking ) wiring (but connections are solid) .

Brett

Ok Uploaded some pictures. I appreciate the help so far. The baby hulk is me trying to figure out what is wrong. yes that is a ford lightning in the pic. I'm not trying to charge that LOL

 

[Brettxxx4]

The first question you need to ask your self:
"What is more important? Withholding embarrassing setup and save your face or fully revealing everything so that community will help you to identify important aspects for a reliable operating and safe system?"

My impression is that as long you come here to learn (including realizing already made mistakes) members will not make any fun of you. On contrary. Gladly share their knowledge for you to have reliable and safe system.

Further more.
There might be other unknown issues with your setup that have not failed as of now, but might be at risk failing soon. Would you prefer if such would be discovered so that they can be addressed and altered?

As others said.
Would be very good if you provided all and every technical details of all your components. Photos showing cabling, connections, etc. Also a complete scheme of entire setup.

Welcome to the forum!

Updated with pics ! Thank you

 

[42OhmsPA]

How are the panels wired? You have 8 panels with 3 strings, correct?

 

[42OhmsPA]

It looks like the last battery in the parallel string is feeding the inverter.
The main + should go to the 1st battery and main - to the last (or vice versa) so current flows equally through the packs, ideally the batteries would go to buss bars that the SCC and inverter would also connect to.

Photo is pretty blurry.

 

[CaliSunHarvester]

In other words, if batteries charging, inverter must be off. if inverter is running, mppt must be off (as I interpret this instruction).

How can one reasonably use this inverter?
Consume power only at night?

 

[timselectric]

I see a connection between the inverter case and negative battery.
This has destroyed many portable inverters.

 

[timselectric]

Also from the surge protection device to battery negative.
Not good.

 

[summit]

It looks like you have a solar MPTT charging a set of parallel lead batteries and an DC-AC running off the batteries. So, what smoked ? the charger or the inverter ?

 

[timselectric]

So, what smoked ?

My setup was working for months but my inverter stopped working AND when I hooked up a new one it also blew (popped and smoked) right away

 

[Brettxxx4]

Inverter

 

[Brettxxx4]

It looks like you have a solar MPTT charging a set of parallel lead batteries and an DC-AC running off the batteries. So, what smoked ? the charger or the inverter ?

Inverter

 

[Brettxxx4]

How can one reasonably use this inverter?
Consume power only at night?

I use it to power my garage fridge

 

[Brettxxx4]

I see a connection between the inverter case and negative battery.
This has destroyed many portable inverters.

that is the ground I think you are referring to

 

[Brettxxx4]

Also from the surge protection device to battery negative.
Not good.

Bad pic

 

[timselectric]

that is the ground I think you are referring to

Correct, it shouldn't be connected to the battery negative.

 

[Brettxxx4]

2 possibilities come to mind. Wired with the wrong polarity and (perhaps) needed to pre-charge the inverter when first connecting to prevent high inrush from your liFePO4 batteries.

see updated post

 

[timselectric]

Bad pic

Is it?
It looks like the surge protector ground terminal is wired to the inverter case ground terminal. Which is wired to the negative battery terminal.

 

[Brettxxx4]

Correct, it shouldn't be connected to the battery negative.

see updated post and new pics

 

[Brettxxx4]

Is it?
It looks like the surge protector ground terminal is wired to the inverter case ground terminal. Which is wired to the negative battery terminal.

See updated post with new pics