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Had EVE LifePo4 3.2v 310ah. Flames shot up. We got fire out.

Tomthumb62 said:
Oh you can trace it back. It just may end up requiring you end up dismantling the entire system before you find the problem. Then not only will you know better how the system is put together, but can more quickly troubleshoot in the future.

But hopefully you will not need to take it all apart. Troubleshooting from some very smart people on this sub, like MisterSandals, working your way back one step at a time, might save you from too much headache to figure it out. Good luck, must be hot right now to be without power where you are.


Ok, this might sound like a stupid question, but when you say "unplugged", what do you mean? Do you mean that you're not currently plugged into shore power? If so, then we've all been there...where are my keys oh yeah I'm holding them in my hand, lol.
Click to expand...
I prefer being "unplugged" but right now I am staying put for family matters and last night, after avoiding the trailer all day... it was 101f at my desk... and with no roof vent fans going... it was impossible. So climbing back in last night, I broke a toe stumbling in the dark. Today I have been outside under a shade tree with leg elevated... recovering. Certainly not able to crawl around tracing wiring in this heat, like that.

I would love it if Mister Sandles could come diagnose the problem and maybe get me some shore power for now.
 
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CharlieBB said:
I prefer being "unplugged" but right now I am staying put for family matters and last night, after avoiding the trailer all day... it was 101f at my desk... and with no roof vent fans going... it was impossible. So climbing back in last night, a broke a toe stumbling in the dark. Today I have been outside under a shade tree with leg elevated... recovering. Certainly not able to crawl around tracing wiring in this heat, like that.

I would love it if Mister Sandles could come diagnose the problem and maybe get me some shore power for now.
Click to expand...
Ouch! Hope you recover well and get it all figured out.
 
CharlieBB said:
I would love it if Mister Sandles could come diagnose the problem and maybe get me some shore power for now.
Click to expand...

There has to be a way to just run an extension cord to your wiring. Don't want to suggest a suicide cord, so just disconnect hot(s) from your inverter and connect a plug with L1 (optionally L2), N, G. Then run an extension cord to that.

I'd be melting right now if I wasn't sitting in my air-conditioned house, sipping a blended strawberry, ice, juice drink. I go outside for a few minutes at a time to do things.
 
MisterSandals said:
Lets start with basics then. Assuming there are no indicator lights or any signs of power anywhere.

Make sure disconnected battery wires are not touching.
Unplug shore power, wait 10 seconds and plug in.
If no signs of power at Quattro, start working from shore power towards Quattro. Check fuses are good and voltage at every point.
Finally there power reaching the Quattro from shore power.

I am just up the road near 17 & 85 if you want help testing this.
Click to expand...
Wires not touching. Taped up as they were disconnected.

I am physically not up to this and would certainly be thankful if you could come help!

Please...I don't know if it's allowed to swap contact info here. Please advise.
 
Got private message. Hoping to get away later to help CharlieBB out.

In the mean time, i am not sure where your problem lies.
Suspecting that shore power goes thru the surge protector, to a breaker and only to the Quattro. (please correct if not the case)

Turn off shore power.
Turn off breaker or disconnect to the Quattro. (to see if that is what was triggering ground issue)
Restore shore power.

Report back if there are any changes to error codes or behavior.
 
Info for those playing the home game:

Progressive Industries

Includes the required client libraries.
www.progressiveindustries.net www.progressiveindustries.net

Manual:

  • Open Ground Protection: If AC power has an open ground condition, the EMS will read an error code of E 2, and power will not be allowed to the RV.

So from this it sounds like the shore power may be at fault for not having a ground connection. (and the surge protector doing its job correctly)

CharlieBB, what are you using for shore power? Do you have 3 prong connections everywhere or is there an outlet or extension cord/adaptor that has only 2 prongs.

The solution if this is the case, is to plug into a 3 prong receptacle (assuming wired properly with a ground) and a quality cord with 3 prongs as well.

Can you explain your shore power setup?
 
Okay, this is a 50A service and NOT as i was thinking in terms of 2 and 3 prong household current.

Sounds like CharlieBB has a simple extension cord and a 30A to 50A connector "bone". Says it has been working since April 1st.

Anybody know how this ever worked? Would a 50A surge protector going to let in a single leg of 120AC?
 
If you want an answer for your Quattro question, the victron forum could be helpful

All Posts - VictronEnergy

community.victronenergy.com community.victronenergy.com

Based off what I read so far, regardless of the correct procedure in the manual for shore power only, I would not want to plug in until more troubleshooting is done.

I suspect something is wrong and me sandals can help fix.
 
I have been getting pix in PM. There are a LOT of extension cords and 3 way and 4 way connectors and then a 30A to 50A dog bone.

Perhaps something got hot and charred and is no longer making connection?

Getting CharlieBB to simplify as much as possible. My money is on a shore power extension cord connection problem.

Still open for ideas!
 
MisterSandals said:
My money is on a shore power extension cord connection problem
Click to expand...

I’ve always read that extension cords are dangerous and it never made sense to me. After doing a small solar system for our camp trailer and learning so much from people such as yourself on this site, I get it now. Too much power through too small a wire equals hot wire and charring or worse, fires, if a circuit breaker or fuse fails or doesn’t exist.
 
Possibly the 30 amp to 50 amp dog Ibone / pigtail or the rv’s power in connector.

I have a problem with 30 amp shore power to 50 amp adapters to the RV not fitting tightly on my RVs 50 amp receptacle.

diysolarforum.com

Any recommendations for a decent 30 amp to 50 amp RV adpater?

Anyone have a decent recommendation for a RV shore power 30 amp to 50 amp adapter? SOmething like this: More specifically a Female NEMA SS2-50R receptacle to a Make NEMA TT30P adapter. I have purchased two of the product above and both the internal connections on the 50 amp side, have had...
diysolarforum.com diysolarforum.com

I never did find a good answer to the thread, and I’ve usually assumed the pigtail was bad, but possible that the RV shore power connector is bad.
 
Diagnose by measuring voltage at end of extension cord, then add a heating load and measure again.

MisterSandals said:
Anybody know how this ever worked? Would a 50A surge protector going to let in a single leg of 120AC?
Click to expand...

I haven't used them, but since RVs are often fed 120V on both legs, I'd expect it to be designed that way.
Surge protector function isn't much (a MOV, maybe).
The safety gizmo ought to check that Line is hot relative to ground and to neutral, but neutral is not hot relative to ground.
Bit trickier to do all those with just L1 not L2 hot, but if both fed same phase, why not?
 
Hedges said:
Diagnose by measuring voltage at end of extension cord, then add a heating load and measure again.
Click to expand...
They've come up with a circuit tester that just plugs in and displays faults with various light patterns. They were getting 116V and 60Hz with some meter.

Between the various extension cords, large power strip, multiple splitters over what sounds like a long distance, even thru a building window, i'm pretty hopeful (confident?) the problem is with "shore power".

Screen Shot 2023-07-02 at 7.53.09 PM.png
 
So the tester says everything is OK. They are getting 116V and 60Hz from about 125' of "extension cables and connectors".

I asked about @chrisski suggestion of the dog bone possibly being bad and suspect they don't have a spare and no way to test it. Or is there?

I read in the manual there is a bypass switch for their surge protector. Anybody have any thoughts on using the bypass? Maybe the EMS is wonky?
 
So they used a new extension cord with fewer connections and now have E0 (no errors on surge protector).
The Quattro has not come on but maybe they did not reset the "converter" breaker to it. There is also a delay of a few minutes.

Have not heard back so hopefully up and running.
 
MisterSandals said:
So they used a new extension cord with fewer connections and now have E0 (no errors on surge protector).
The Quattro has not come on but maybe they did not reset the "converter" breaker to it. There is also a delay of a few minutes.

Have not heard back so hopefully up and running.
Click to expand...
We will follow up tomorrow!
 
When I returned to my trailer tonight the items I had plugged into 110 extension cord were off, freezer and cooler! We fiddled with cords and got them back on. We will clean the connections better tomorrow.

Power to trailer is on a separate new 110 extension cord which goes to the EMS surge protector. We have unplugged that for the night. We are getting a quote for new 50amp power post since this will be a long term base camp location.

We will follow-up tomorrow on testing power to Quattro.

We appreciate the help all of you are providing since funds are not unlimited.
 
MisterSandals said:
Got private message. Hoping to get away later to help CharlieBB out.

In the mean time, i am not sure where your problem lies.
Suspecting that shore power goes thru the surge protector, to a breaker and only to the Quattro. (please correct if not the case)

Turn off shore power.
Turn off breaker or disconnect to the Quattro. (to see if that is what was triggering ground issue)
Restore shore power.

Report back if there are any changes to error codes or behavior.
Click to expand...
"Suspecting that shore power goes thru the surge protector, to a breaker and only to the Quattro. (please correct if not the case)"

I reviewed EMS schematic... and the device... yes, that sounds correct. We will follow EMS to Quattro wires in the morning... goes thru a wall!
 
We have traced most of the wiring to Quattro and are making a schematic.

We can probe power. Also we now know power is connected to ac2 not ac1 input to quatro. Panel is open, so we can verify power getting there.
We found no breakers or cutoff from shore in to ems to quatro?

If there is a knowledgeable Quattro person on board, we could certainly use help!

Thank you.
 
CharlieBB said:
System was installed by a "professional" and has worked five years.
Click to expand...

Considering that the cells you had were made in March of 2020, I don't think this system was working in this configuration for five years. I know this doesn't help you right now, but it can be useful info later for you and others trying to figure out what went wrong.
 
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