Going away for a month. Best Practices

[Dadoftheturkeykids]

I figure;
◇Drain lifepo4 to 60% capacity
◇Turn off all dc breakers from solar panels
◇Turn off inverter
◇Set transfer switch to grid only
◇Tidy up space, and close up

 

[wpns]

For a month? I’m planning on leaving mine up for 3 months while I’m away, with appropriate monitoring of course.

 

[shvm]

Drain lifepo4 to 60% capacity

Charge it to 100%. Nothing will happen over a month.
Some batteries have BMS draws that can deplete batteries faster.
Or if your BMS has a poweroff switch, use it.

 

[timselectric]

Let it run.
Unless you have been having issues with it.

 

[Dadoftheturkeykids]

I have no issues with it, but I have no way of monitoring it on the other side of the world. I have no "smart" components. I worry about things like a cooling fan shorting out or a fuse/breaker short and weld itself open.

I have all factory made li-time with built-in bms.

 

[wiseacre]

Just for the peace of mind I'd shut it down as you described.
Nothing likely is going to happen if things have been running smoothly but there will be that nagging worry when you're gone.

 

[timselectric]

I have no issues with it, but I have no way of monitoring it on the other side of the world. I have no "smart" components. I worry about things like a cooling fan shorting out or a fuse/breaker short and weld itself open.

I have all factory made li-time with built-in bms.

If you are concerned and don't need it to be running, you can shut it down.
I would charge the batteries fully, before shutting them down.
So that you have plenty of power when you return.
There is no reason to discharge them at all. Unless you are shipping them through a commercial carrier. Shipping regulations require a lower SOC, unusually below 60%.

 

[Dadoftheturkeykids]

Shipping regulations require a lower SOC, unusually below 60%.

So that's the logic behind it. I guess I had presumed that a half-charge would prevent dendritic growth.

 

[timselectric]

So that's the logic behind it.

Yes, that is why you receive them at a lower SOC.

 

[wpns]

So that's the logic behind it. I guess I had presumed that a half-charge would prevent dendritic growth.

I don't think dendrites grow if they are just sitting there, do they? I thought that was a(n over)charging phenomenon...

 

[Bluedog225]

I just left my system running for a month. Got stuck in Hawaii. Poor me.

It was running an air con to keep itself cool. On the way out to the place. Hoping it is ok.

 

[robbob2112]

The recomendation that came with my litime batteries was to store them up to 3 months at a 50% charge. At 3 months bring the SOC to full then discharge back down.

If totally disconnected store up to a year at 50%

 

[Suijkerbuijk]

If i leave the boat on port.
And go away for long time.
I shutdown all.
The battery just leave it. (It have a active bms and bluetooth so it will use power)
And for the rest it go of
From solar panels to the battery switch .
The wallpower is shutdown

Never had a problem with it

 

[Dadoftheturkeykids]

Seems like I'm on the right track for temporarily leaving my system.

The consensus seems to be that the lifepo4 will be fine storing at 100% soc for a months time.

I presume the solar panel array will be fine not feeding anything for this short time frame? (Switching the dc breakers off)

 

[wpns]

I presume the solar panel array will be fine not feeding anything for this short time frame? (Switching the dc breakers off)

Yes, it'll generate Voc but with no current, and if the breakers are off, nothing will happen.

 

[time2roll]

I would worry more about squatters moving in and setting up a meth lab.
Who is checking on the place? Maybe a text every few days that electrical all is OK.

 

[Dadoftheturkeykids]

I would worry more about squatters moving in and setting up a meth lab.
Who is checking on the place? Maybe a text every few days that electrical all is OK.

My brother will be in from time to time to check on my place, thanks for your concern.
I definitely don't need any meth scientists poking around.

 

[J.H.]

I have no issues with it, but I have no way of monitoring it on the other side of the world. I have no "smart" components. I worry about things like a cooling fan shorting out or a fuse/breaker short and weld itself open.

I have all factory made li-time with built-in bms.

I have done this before as my batteries sat in my floor 2 years before i ever hooked them up.. i Would charge them every few months and they did fine..
a month is a short time for a good batt unless you have a load , as then you have calculate stuff out.

If ya want not to worry at all , charge em up , turn everything off ( or disconnect) and just let sit..

They will be smiling at ya when ya get back and probably reading at about 13.33ish each or close to it.. ( if 12v)

I have left mine topped off and sitting alone up to 6 months just sitting alone and it all was fine. Topped em back up and pushed em back in the corner and left em again.

verify there is no external load AT ALL.

I dont trust stuff alot of times , left alone and running for no reason either.

. ur right , stuff happens.

J.

 

[Kuma]

I have no issues with it, but I have no way of monitoring it on the other side of the world. I have no "smart" components. I worry about things like a cooling fan shorting out or a fuse/breaker short and weld itself open.

I have all factory made li-time with built-in bms.

I leave it on, no bats though, when we are gone for three months in SE Asia. I also do not have a access via the internet to the inverter. I monitor it by logging into the PG and E web site and look at usage. Their data is typically a day or two later but it does provide info if the system is down. I have a friend that will go and reset everything if required. If its more serious then leave it off.

 

[Oldphile]

I left my whole house system on for 3 weeks. While I was gone, the inverter decided to disconnect from the grid. My house has been running on solar + battery for 2 weeks. You can read about it here.

 

[Dadoftheturkeykids]

I left my whole house system on for 3 weeks. While I was gone, the inverter decided to disconnect from the grid. My house has been running on solar + battery for 2 weeks. You can read about it here.

Strange indeed. If I were you I'd let it do its thing. My setup is not grid-tied and I have no intention to let the powers that be control my investment.

 

[Oldphile]

Strange indeed. If I were you I'd let it do its thing. My setup is not grid-tied and I have no intention to let the powers that be control my investment.

I found the problem. The new MySolArk app screwed up all the grid parameters, both voltage and frequency.

 

[SolarRich]

Nothing ever happens to our PV system when we are at home. It only breaks when we go away. Once, a few years ago, we went away for a couple weeks only to find one of the inverters burnt so bad that the only remains inside the metal box was basically charcoal. I had remote monitoring setup but for some reason I never looked at it.
So yes, if it were me, I'd shut the system down.

 

[Dadoftheturkeykids]

Once, a few years ago, we went away for a couple weeks only to find one of the inverters burnt so bad that the only remains inside the metal box was basically charcoal.

Oh my, good thing that's the worst that happened. That is precisely what I fear, something going wrong, and nobody home to operate a fire extinguisher.

 

[740GLE]

If you leave it on and functional, I would recommend dropping the SCC to 3.425v per cell.

No need to keep the cells supper charged.

When we leave our cabin my little 3k MPII and some nightlights only needs 440whr per day. If it’s completely overcast for the day the next day or so has more than enough sun to bring the battery back to fully charged.