Rich Solar Alpha 5 Rack Battery - DOA

[Goin'Solar]

I ordered this battery on Monday and received it on Thursday. Super-fast shipping from Rich Solar... BUT - I open the box and turned on the battery via the breaker and... nothing. Tried connecting it to my MPP Solar 3048LV-MK and still nothing. Tested the output voltage and I'm only getting 6.7 volts at the terminals. Called Rich Solar Thursday afternoon and spoke with their customer service rep. She referred me to their tech who wasn't available so I left a message. Never got a return call. On Friday I called again and she gave me the "direct line" to the service rep. I called and left a message and, again never got a call back.

Via some R*ddit posts and Y*uT*be videos, I was able to get the thing to turn on by sticking a pin in the "Reset" hole, however it's still not working right. So now that I can see the BMS screen, I can see that the readings are wonky. Additionally, the red "ALM" light is on.

Pressing the "Menu" key brings me to

Analog info >>
PackV: 35.76 V
Im: 0.00 A

Cell Voltage>>
Cell01: 1995 mV
Cell02: 0 mV
Cell03: 0 mV
Cell04: 2139 mV
Cell05: 3296 mV
Cell06: 3294 mV
Cell07: 3294 mV
Cell08: 3294 mV
Cell09: 3294 mV
Cell10: 3295 mV
Cell11: 3295 mV
Cell12: 3294 mV
Cell13: 2610 mV
Cell14: 0 mV
Cell15: 2654 mV
Cell16: -- mV

CellCapacity>>
SOC: 49.29%
FCC: 100.00 OAH
Rm: 49.2AH
CC: 1

BMS Status>>
--Status: Failure
>>Record>>
SCP: 1
O/UTP: 0
OCP: 0
UVP: 4
OVP: 3
>>BMS Status>>
UV: Y
UVP: Y
OC: N
OCP: N
SCP: N
--Failure: Y

I'm not sure what all these readings mean since there is no manual that came with the battery (nor is there one available online) but to me, this doesn't look good at all. BMS Failure, mismatched cell voltages and several cells reporting zero. I've read that Rich Solar is a reputable company, but I would think they could at least get back to a new customer within a couple of days on a DOA new product. Does anyone have any experience with this company and/or know what I might try to get this $1500 paperweight running running?

**UPDATE**
I heard back from Rich Solar this morning (8/28/23). I had emailed them a link to this post. Apparently, they read it and will be sending me a return label and granting a full refund.

I would like to thank Al from Rich Solar for being very nice and easy to deal with.

 

[BentleyJ]

Its possible the 3 cells showing 0 volts are disconnected due to shipping vibration or the SCP message means something is loose inside. With 0V the BMS is going to disconnect that is why you are only getting 6.7V at the terminals. Its time to take the cover off and inspect. Not sure how that works with the warranty, would wait until tech service gives you the go ahead to open it up.

CellCapacity>>
SOC: 49.29% = State of Charge, means nothing until the first couple of FULL cycles and all the cells are registering.
FCC: 100.00 OAH
Rm: 49.2AH = Remaining Amp Hours
CC: 1

BMS Status>>
--Status: Failure
>>Record>>
SCP: 1 = Short Circuit Protection, 1 occurrence. Maybe
O/UTP: 0 = Over/Under Temp Protection, 0 occurrences
OCP: 0 = Over Current Protection, 0 occurrences
UVP: 4 = Under Voltage Protection, 4
OVP: 3 = Over Voltage Protection, 3
>>BMS Status>>
UV: Y = Present state is Under Voltage
UVP: Y = Protection ON
OC: N = Over Current not true
OCP: N = OC Protection not on
SCP: N = Current Protection not on
--Failure: Y = Speaks for itself

 

[rhino]

It's already misleading that they call that a 48V battery when there are only 15 LiFePO4 cells in it. You'd not be able to fully use any other 48V battery since when they say 48V it would be 16 cells.

 

[BentleyJ]

It's already misleading that they call that a 48V battery when there are only 15 LiFePO4 cells in it. You'd not be able to fully use any other 48V battery since when they say 48V it would be 16 cells.

Ya, the dashes on cell 16 are interesting but its difficult to determine for sure if the BMS has failed or if there are only 15 cells.

 

[rhino]

Ya, the dashes on cell 16 are interesting but its difficult to determine for sure if the BMS has failed or if there are only 15 cells.

There is video showing someone taking the cover off. There are only 15 cells. So the dash is correct.

You'll have to take the cover off and check the cables going to the cells to see if you can fix the issue with those cells with bad voltage.

 

[Goin'Solar]

Thanks all. I guess I will wait to hear back from the tech. I don't want to void the warranty before I even get it turned on.

 

[rhino]

Thanks all. I guess I will wait to hear back from the tech. I don't want to void the warranty before I even get it turned on.

You can't void warranty by taking cover off in the USA. https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/ftc-warranty-stickers-illegal/

 

[rhino]

What it looks like inside:

 

[Goin'Solar]

You can't void warranty by taking cover off in the USA. https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/ftc-warranty-stickers-illegal/

Good to know!

But I think I found the problem... Looks like they scraped the insulation off this whole length of wire during install. I think I'll be leaving this outside tonight and requesting a refund.

 

[Goin'Solar]

Secondary arc location

 

[Goin'Solar]

Wow!!!! Check out that busbar! And another arc on the second one.

 

[rhino]

Wow!

 

[Nobodybusiness]

Wow!!!! Check out that busbar! And another arc on the second one.
View attachment 164718

Welds came loose and that stripped cable doesn’t help any.

Must have been some rough handling.

Definitely DOA.

 

[Goin'Solar]

Now I just hope they don't make returning this garbage a hassle. I guess that's the nice thing about purchasing this on Amex - I can always just dispute the charge as a defective product and get a refund that way.

If you were in my situation, would you give them a chance to replace it or just get a refund and move on to another company? My though is that with multiple failures on this ONE unit, it's likely that their other batteries won't hold up well either. Thoughts?

 

[Checkthisout]

Now I just hope they don't make returning this garbage a hassle. I guess that's the nice thing about purchasing this on Amex - I can always just dispute the charge as a defective product and get a refund that way.

If you were in my situation, would you give them a chance to replace it or just get a refund and move on to another company? My though is that with multiple failures on this ONE unit, it's likely that their other batteries won't hold up well either. Thoughts?

Refund and move on.

 

[rhino]

If you were in my situation, would you give them a chance to replace it or just get a refund and move on to another company? My though is that with multiple failures on this ONE unit, it's likely that their other batteries won't hold up well either. Thoughts?

Refund. You aren't getting a deal since they deceptively give you only 15 cells. That's only 4.8kWh (3.2V * 15 * 100Ah, which they do specify on the site) for $1600. For that price I'd much rather get a https://www.currentconnected.com/product/sk48v100-48v-server-rack-battery/ for $1650 which is 5.12kWh and has replaceable cells (busbars are bolted and not welded).

 

[Goin'Solar]

Agreed. That makes sense.

 

[Tomthumb62]

Welds came loose and that stripped cable doesn’t help any.

Must have been some rough handling.

Definitely DOA.

I bought an open box Victron 12/1200 inverter (1000W). It arrived totally not in open box condition. It wasn’t even used, but damaged. It had clearly been dropped from a good height, as one of the metal feet was bent up quite a bit. The internal components rattled inside when I tilted the unit to mimic mounting on its side. But the unit powered up just fine and performed flawlessly until the replacement unit arrived.

Will Prowse once said that Rich Solar is the same as Renogy, but cheaper. Having had several Renogy items, I won’t waste my time and money on that stuff anymore. Except their solar panels are decent.

 

[Will Prowse]

Holy cow look at that! Complete and utter garbage. That should never ever happen. I wonder who made this battery.

 

[Brett V]

That stripped black wire in the first photo is actually melted. Broken welds on busbars but no apparent damage to the case would indicate it was shipped that way.