EG4 Lifepower4 VERSION 2, integration into existing system with VERSION 1 batteries.

[JimGSolar]

Thank you Jim for your hard work on this issue and sharing. How are your charge / discharge rates on new vs old batteries? I currently have 4: v2s and 2: v1s and I see 10-30% higher rates at all times on the old batteries, hopefully it wont cause damage to BMS due to some miscommunication via BATT COM hack.

Well, I can't see any difference in the voltages between any batts, v1 or v2. And of course the SOC as reported to the app isn't fixed yet, so I can't judge by that. And the led lights (pretty crude gauge) always match between v1 and v2. If there's something else you're seeing, please explain.

I do have everything on buss bars, with correct 2/0 cabling from buss bars to inverters, and I leave them connected to the buss bars (so paralleled together) and turned on continuously, even when the inverters are off. So the voltages MUST equalize.

Thanks for your note.

 

[Chrisger]

over 2 weeks and no update on the mobile app or device monitor page.... still showing %51 on both v1 batteries. The remaining capacity never goes to 300 ah its always less, 200 is the maximum it ever shows if I remember correctly. which would kind of make sense (100ah batteries @ %100 +%51 +%51)and it does not show any cycle counts for the v1 batteries. I think everything is ok by looking at the voltages but I really wish they would fix this so that I wouldn't have to worry and I could stop checking for updates everyday. I have the V2 set as the master with dipswitch 1 down and then dipswitch 5 and six down for eg4/lux communication.

 

[EG4TechSolutionsTeam]

The update for this went live yesterday, I do apologize about missing this thread.

Thread 'New Firmware Update: Accurate SOC Reporting for LifePower4 V1 & V2 on EG4 Monitor Portal'

Nov 5, 2024

A new firmware update that resolves the communication issue on the EG4 Monitor Portal between the LifePower4 V2 and the LifePower4 V1 is now available. This update corrects the inaccurate 51% SOC reading previously shown on the portal, ensuring accurate SOC reporting for both battery versions.

To download the latest firmware, visit the product page: https://eg4electronics.com/categories/batteries/lifepower4-48v-v2/

• EG4TechSolutionsTeam
• Replies: 22
• Forum: Beginners Corner and Safety Check

• 

 

[JimGSolar]

Thanks EG4TechSolutions Team, the solution works!

I applied it just now to six V2 batteries, and now my old V1 batts are reporting SOC correctly. I'm not sure if applying the firmware to every V2 battery is necessary, or if only the Master battery is needed to be updated, but I did it to all because the repetition helped me fine tune the process and it's just a good practice to keep all devices at the same latest level, IMO. I will add a couple notes here as I discovered a few areas of the instructions which I felt needed clarification for me personally, and it may help someone else.

Reading the "Lifepower4 V2 Monitor Portal Update Guide" document which is included with the download you get from the product page...

1. First, this is standalone update software, and does NOT use BMS TOOLS, thankfully (I haven't had reliable experience with TOOLS).

2. I discovered it was not necessary to change the Protocol nor Address settings on my V2 batteries to use this Updater software, so I left them set as they are normally for the overall solar system.

3. At step 7, where you are going to Open the serial port, be sure you are opening the port which is actually connected to your USB port and cable. Use Device Manager on your PC, then PORTS, to see the USB port address, and in the Updater tool select that port before clicking OPEN PORT.

4. After you Open Port, the instructions tell you to reset the BMS. Turn off the BMS power switch, then wait a few seconds and power it back on. The battery will then power up with no SOC or activity light, which is normal at this time.

5. The instructions refer to file Z02T04.bin as the file to open and send to the battery BMS. What I downloaded included a later file, Z02T05.bin

6. When the update SEND is complete and you close the program, you'll notice the SOC and activity lights are on again. I'd reset the BMS by power cycling it again at that time.

7. I did all the V2 batteries as a good practice.

Good luck, this worked for me, all my V1 batts are now reporting SOC properly to the Device Monitor App on the computer.

 

[EG4TechSolutionsTeam]

Thanks EG4TechSolutions Team, the solution works!

I applied it just now to six V2 batteries, and now my old V1 batts are reporting SOC correctly. I'm not sure if applying the firmware to every V2 battery is necessary, or if only the Master battery is needed to be updated, but I did it to all because the repetition helped me fine tune the process and it's just a good practice to keep all devices at the same latest level, IMO. I will add a couple notes here as I discovered a few areas of the instructions which I felt needed clarification for me personally, and it may help someone else.

Reading the "Lifepower4 V2 Monitor Portal Update Guide" document which is included with the download you get from the product page...

1. First, this is standalone update software, and does NOT use BMS TOOLS, thankfully (I haven't had reliable experience with TOOLS).

2. I discovered it was not necessary to change the Protocol nor Address settings on my V2 batteries to use this Updater software, so I left them set as they are normally for the overall solar system.

3. At step 7, where you are going to Open the serial port, be sure you are opening the port which is actually connected to your USB port and cable. Use Device Manager on your PC, then PORTS, to see the USB port address, and in the Updater tool select that port before clicking OPEN PORT.

4. After you Open Port, the instructions tell you to reset the BMS. Turn off the BMS power switch, then wait a few seconds and power it back on. The battery will then power up with no SOC or activity light, which is normal at this time.

5. The instructions refer to file Z02T04.bin as the file to open and send to the battery BMS. What I downloaded included a later file, Z02T05.bin

6. When the update SEND is complete and you close the program, you'll notice the SOC and activity lights are on again. I'd reset the BMS by power cycling it again at that time.

7. I did all the V2 batteries as a good practice.

Good luck, this worked for me, all my V1 batts are now reporting SOC properly to the Device Monitor App on the computer.

I will forward the recommended changes to the guide to our technical writing team.

 

[Chrisger]

Thank You! I was able to update my v2 battery and SOC and capacity is showing correct and charging correctly now. I am not sure if it is related to this issue prior to updating but my 2nd battery (V1) was way out of sync showing like %38 while battery 1 (V2) and battery 3 (V1) were both showing %80+ so I top balanced all 3 batteries and now everything looks good.

just curious, how does it work that all 3 batteries now show v2.05? Does the master battery update the firmware on the V1 batteries or is it just reading from the master battery (V2)?

 

[Cardude]

I’m considering adding a V2 battery to my two existing V1 batteries, but all these communication and dip switch issues are giving me pause.

If I’m just using a Victron Shunt and monitoring the batteries with Solar Assistant (not using any BMS software), will it be easier for me? I’m not very good at all the communication protocols. Very confusing to me.

 

[LochNess]

I applied it just now to six V2 batteries, and now my old V1 batts are reporting SOC correctly. I'm not sure if applying the firmware to every V2 battery is necessary, or if only the Master battery is needed to be updated, but I did it to all because the repetition helped me fine tune the process and it's just a good practice to keep all devices at the same latest level, IMO. I will add a couple notes here as I discovered a few areas of the instructions which I felt needed clarification for me personally, and it may help someone else.

I apologize if this is backtracking a bit, but is there a *current* step-by-step guide to adding a V2 battery to an existing V1 stack?
Somewhere I got lost on the firmware updates/procedure.

 

[LochNess]

1. First, this is standalone update software, and does NOT use BMS TOOLS, thankfully (I haven't had reliable experience with TOOLS).

I emailed EG4 asking for an up-to-date guide for adding a V2 to a V1 stack, and the first response was an offer to ship me a modified
cable. When I asked again, I was sent a link to BMS Tools v1: https://eg4electronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bms-Tools-V1.0.zip

Frustrated yet?