EG4 48v Lifepower4 Alarm 94

[marionw]

In 2 days, you're the second person to write this and I'm wondering why since it just doesn't make sense to me. I've been playing with LiFePO4 for a very long time.

If you have good measuring devices and the cell is at least in decent shape, any cell in a series bank that registers a higher voltage is likely to have a higher real SOC. I've always found this to be true, and when/if it doesn't, ends up cell is bad due to unusally high IR.

During charging, V descrepencies will be magnified so it becomes even easier to tell.

First of all, if htere are large deltas between high and low, it is always better to individually charge lower cell.

But if not possible, I would have no problem starting discharge balancer at even lower cell Voltages in the 3.385V area.

Why?
If cells were grossly out of balance, maybe they show the 20mV differential here but usually not.
I'm giving the cells a chance to get balance as quickly as possible by starting as early as possible. I bet if you set it at 3.350V, it likely won't balance because the mV delta would be less than 20mV.

The faster you can get it into balance the better for your pack since (depnding on number of cells that are off) the pack as a whole is operating with some cells 0-40%SOC, 40%-60%SOC, while others are 60-100%SOC for months!

I was told it wastes energy. But this is so relative it makes me sigh. Even if 15 out of 16 cells are being drained at 100mA at 3.55V, that's like 5W.
Compare that to what we are charging at?

Now if that pack was OVP due to a cell hitting >3.65V, how long would it be "off-line".

I was also told it would cause the cell to become more imbalance. If there could ever be such an event, the cell in question would be no good, and the mV differential setting would negate any "way out of balance" situation.

Now, once the cells are in balance, user can take it back to 3.45V balance voltage, but it really isn't even needed becasue now the cells will not see a 20mV differential until into the 3.5V area.

The only negative would be the BMS board heating up and the effects of that heat ( which may be nil if correctly designed).
But again, will only happen if mV settings are also breached.

There is no real harm in setting a lower staring V balancing point.

It's you battery and your party. 888888

 

[42OhmsPA]

I'm not going to attach anything to the battery since it is still under warranty, which is why I really need a response from @EG4TechSolutionsTeam

Well it looks like they are still active on here.

Thread 'EG4 Tech Solution Delays Announcement!'

Nov 12, 2024

Good morning!

We want to inform everyone that we are currently experiencing internet issues, which may cause delays in responding to your emails and phone calls. We are actively working to restore the internet as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!

• EG4TechSolutionsTeam
• Replies: 0
• Forum: DIY Solar General Discussion

• 

Hopefully they come through.

When you are ready to open it up there are plenty of people here to help.

 

[wildbillpdx]

It's you battery and your party. 888888

If the batteries were only a couple hundred dollars, maybe. But at about $1,400 each, I don't really want to void the warranty.

 

[EG4TechSolutionsTeam]

Would you be able to post a screenshot of BMS Test with the battery that is alarming?

 

[wildbillpdx]

Would you be able to post a screenshot of BMS Test with the battery that is alarming?

It isn't alarming at the moment. It is connected to the EG4 communication hub and, with specific instructions, I can probably get the data and
upload it.

Current info from Solar Assistant as the battery is currently charging:

 

[EG4TechSolutionsTeam]

I suggest performing an overvoltage correction by charging the module to 57.6V or having one cell reach 3.6v, which will trigger an overvoltage warning and automatically calibrate the SOC with firmware v3.26. After the bank reaches 57.6V, hold the reset button on the problematic battery for 10 seconds while it’s powered on. While v3.37 is a solid firmware version, I recommend updating to v3.40 if possible.

 

[wildbillpdx]

I suggest performing an overvoltage correction by charging the module to 57.6V or having one cell reach 3.6v, which will trigger an overvoltage warning and automatically calibrate the SOC with firmware v3.26.

How exactly should I do that? Some specific settings on the 6000ex?

 

[EG4TechSolutionsTeam]

You would want to set the battery type to USE with the bulk voltage set to 57.6, float set to 54.0, and low DC cutoff set to 47v.

 

[wildbillpdx]

You would want to set the battery type to USE with the bulk voltage set to 57.6, float set to 54.0, and low DC cutoff set to 47v.


View attachment 255513

This will, of course, affect all SIX batteries...

 

[EG4TechSolutionsTeam]

There will not be an issue with doing the correction with the whole battery bank.

 

[wildbillpdx]

There will not be an issue with doing the correction with the whole battery bank.

The 6000ex isn't accepting the values you gave me. When set to USE I can change 17 to 57.6v but 18 won't change and defaults to 57.6v and 19 still shows as a percent, not volts.

 

[marionw]

It isn't alarming at the moment. It is connected to the EG4 communication hub and, with specific instructions, I can probably get the data and
upload it.

Current info from Solar Assistant as the battery is currently charging:

View attachment 255511

You could post pictures from the EG4 Communications Hub showing SOC, Pack Voltage, Pack Current and all the Cell Voltages

 

[marionw]

The 6000ex isn't accepting the values you gave me. When set to USE I can change 17 to 57.6v but 18 won't change and defaults to 57.6v and 19 still shows as a percent, not volts.

To be sure, disconnect the closed loop cable and in the Inverter turn off closed loop

 

[Brucey]

Solar Sovereign...out of businesss.

They were a "sub distributor" of Signature Solar, @SignatureSolarJess should be able to help.

 

[wildbillpdx]

You could post pictures from the EG4 Communications Hub showing SOC, Pack Voltage, Pack Current and all the Cell Voltages

Here ya go…

 

[wildbillpdx]

To be sure, disconnect the closed loop cable and in the Inverter turn off closed loop

There aren’t any settings for communication. Setting battery type to EG4 turns all that on.

 

[42OhmsPA]

I suggest performing an overvoltage correction by charging the module to 57.6V or having one cell reach 3.6v, which will trigger an overvoltage warning and automatically calibrate the SOC with firmware v3.26. After the bank reaches 57.6V, hold the reset button on the problematic battery for 10 seconds while it’s powered on. While v3.37 is a solid firmware version, I recommend updating to v3.40 if possible.

How is that going to fix the severely out of balance situation that wildbill is trying to correct?

 

[fnnwizard]

I suggest performing an overvoltage correction by charging the module to 57.6V or having one cell reach 3.6v, which will trigger an overvoltage warning and automatically calibrate the SOC with firmware v3.26. After the bank reaches 57.6V, hold the reset button on the problematic battery for 10 seconds while it’s powered on. While v3.37 is a solid firmware version, I recommend updating to v3.40 if possible.

@EG4TechSolutionsTeam
Will you allow OP to open up battery and individually charge the low cell?

There's nothing else he can do at this point to resolve his issue. The low cell in question will never get balanced at the BMS settings he has while also trying to use the battery daily.

His charge rate is 4.8A and hi cell is already at 3.336V (close to 60% soc) while Lo cell (6) is @ 3.013= almost dead, further confirms there's close to 60Ahrs difference between those 2.

 

[marionw]

As I have suggested before. Disconnect the battery from any bus bars or other parallel connections while leaving the other batteries operational.
Connect your Chargeverter (CV) to the battery posts on this single battery and manually control the charge by adjusting CV voltage to prevent any cell from exceeding 3.55vdc. Set the charge current to 10 amps and initially set the charge voltage to 57.2vdc.

You can start with an initial CV voltage of 57.2 (57.20 / 16 cells = 3.575).
3.575 is above the Cell Over Voltage Alarm setpoint of 3.55vdc but below the Cell Over Voltage Protection setpoint of 3.60vdc.

Depending on the actual state of the battery the CV will charge in either constant current or constant voltage mode. I expect the CV will initially start in constant current mode and limit the charge voltage so the charge current does not exceed 10 amps. As the battery voltage increases the CV will shift to constant voltage and the current will taper off.

57.2vdc will give you an initial charge that will get the battery closer to fully charged quickly. If at any time a cell reaches 3.60vdc game over. The BMS will turn off the Charging MOSFETS and no further charging will take place.

Once cells get to 3.45vdc balancing will start. Adjust the CV voltage to prevent any runner cells from reaching or exceeding 3.60vdc
For example set the CV voltage to 56.0vdc (16 cells x 3.50vdc = 56.0vdc). You will also be able to monitor battery current on the Hub but when charge current drops below 0.5 amps the charge current will go to zero as the BMS is unable to report currents below 1/2 amp.

As you monitor the charge you may be able to bump up the CV voltage in 0.1 to 0.2 volt increments while monitoring cell voltages and charge current.

Get as many cells as possible to at least 3.45vdc. Once you get the CV voltage adjusted to keep the charge will no cell get to or exceeds 3.6.0vdc, hold that voltage/charge for as long as you can, overnight or 24hrs. Give the BMS a chance to balance cells.

Do not take this the wrong way. You seem unwilling (or unable) to accept any advice or solutions that have been proposed. The fact is, you have a battery that is not performing and requires an intervention with a manually controlled charge. You have the equipment needed. You are able to monitor the battery with the Hub (although I would prefer the BMS_Test software). You have an EG4 Chargeverter (CV) which can be used to independently charge a battery. All that is needed is for you to have some patience (not to be confused with patient, this is your battery) and manually control the charging of this battery. The fact is, over time you may need to perform this surgical operation from time to time on the other batteries.

The above steps and possibly screenshots of the BMS_Test software are what EG4 is going to want/request so you might as well get started.

I have six EG4 LifePower4 V1 batteries and have been though this on several. Eventually I did have to open one and use a benchtop power supply to charge individual cells. You are not there yet. Patience and lots of it.

 

[DougfromdaUP]

I have been running 5 lifepower4s for two and a half years, old firmware and they are balanced well and perform flawlessly.

I run open loop. They’re charged to 56.1 whenever there’s enough sun and discharged to 50 volts as I need energy. I never charge from the grid.

I ignore soc, as it gets so inaccurate after a couple days without a full charge that it’s worthless.

I think you’ll have problems unless you charge them fully and discharge them regularly.

I have 14 kW of panels, and have produced 99.2% of the energy I’ve used in 2024.

 

[wildbillpdx]

Do not take this the wrong way. You seem unwilling (or unable) to accept any advice or solutions that have been proposed

I responded earlier, right now I don’t have any way to use the ChargeVerter in this scenario. I can’t provide power other than a generator which makes no sense. I want to fix it but I do not want to void the warranty which is why I really want something useful from EG4 as well. I will try your suggestion once I can provide charging power.

 

[wpns]

I responded earlier, right now I don’t have any way to use the ChargeVerter in this scenario. I can’t provide power other than a generator which makes no sense. I want to fix it but I do not want to void the warranty which is why I really want something useful from EG4 as well. I will try your suggestion once I can provide charging power.

Not sure why it’s going to take weeks to get Amazon to deliver your charging adapter cable so you can charge from the grid, but an hour in a hardware store and another hour with some hand tools will get you a homemade one in an afternoon.

 

[wildbillpdx]

Not sure why it’s going to take weeks to get Amazon to deliver your charging adapter cable so you can charge from the grid, but an hour in a hardware store and another hour with some hand tools will get you a homemade one in an afternoon.

It's Amazon...
As for time, I don't have any at the moment. I have other more important family issues at the moment and can't get to a big box right now. Possibly in the next day or two, maybe longer.

 

[SignatureSolarJess]

They were a "sub distributor" of Signature Solar, @SignatureSolarJess should be able to help.

Thank you so much for tagging me!

I've confirmed that thankfully, EG4 is going to be providing tech support for Solar Sovereigns customers! You can reach out to them here: https://eg4electronics.com/contact/

@EG4TechSolutionsTeam

 

[EG4TechSolutionsTeam]

The 6000ex isn't accepting the values you gave me. When set to USE I can change 17 to 57.6v but 18 won't change and defaults to 57.6v and 19 still shows as a percent, not volts.

Is with setting 14 set to USE?