System Only Works When the Positive Isn't Connected??

[carmens]

Hi all,
I am so deeply confused by my current system.

I have a very basic understanding of solar and have set up a couple harbor freight starter kits before. I'm trying to connect a 1200 W ecoworthy solar panel kit. I have attached the company provided diagram.

However, although everything is exactly as in the diagram (as far as I can tell), every time I connect the positive cord from the controller to the battery, it says error and stops charging. The manual is no help as it doesn't explain how to fix errors. I am so lost.

But it gets worse. When I disconnected the positive cord, the controller showed as charging and everything was working perfectly. So, please, any help is appreciated. Is it safe to leave it like this? Why is this the only way it'll work? How is it even charging without the positive connection???

In the picture, the cord that isn't connected is the positive cord in question that SHOULD be connected to the positive terminal of the battery.

 

[Mattb4]

The normal order is to first connect your battery to the SCC before connecting the solar. This allows the SCC to properly detect battery voltage. If your SCC does not turn on after connecting the battery so that you can adjust settings it is likely damaged. You are correct that no charging can occur if the positive lead to the battery is not connected.

 

[wpns]

If I had to guess, I would say you have your battery wires reversed at the solar charge controller.

 

[GXMnow]

Matt got his post up before me...

Most solar charge controllers are pretty clear that the battery should be connected BEFORE any solar panel is connected. It is possible it has been damaged. But you should try connecting just the battery first anf try to enter the setup menu. You then need to make sure it is set for the correct type and voltage of battery.

Then when you connect the solar panels, it should begin charging.

 

[GXMnow]

I also just thought about this... 1,200 watts on a 24 volt system would also mean a peak of 50 amps of charge current. The MPPT is rated at 60 amps so it can handle that. But those wires look REALLY thin for that amount of power.

Is this the kit you have?

1170W 24V (6x195W) Complete MPPT Off Grid Solar Kit with 3kW/60A Hybrid Inverter + 2.4kWh Lithium | ECO-WORTHY

If efficiency, reliability and affordable are high on your wish list, ECO-WORTHY 1170W 24V expandable MPPT Solar Kit is an ideal choice. ECO-WORTHY 195 Watt 12V Mono solar panel is backed by 25-year linear power guarantee. ECO-WORTHY LiFePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery has twice the power...

www.eco-worthy.com

You should be using something like a #6 awg wire from the charge controller to the batteries.

 

[Supervstech]

Never ever ever ever use both wires as black connecting to a battery...

Too easy to mix em up.

I agree, disconnect the solar from the scc and connect JUST the battery and see what it does.

 

[Supervstech]

I also agree, you need FAR larger cables feeding the batteries.

 

[wpns]

Or tag them properly on both ends (all I had in the right size was black):

I honestly can’t tell where your black wires are going with the white tape and the yellow and blue tags.

 

[carmens]

I also just thought about this... 1,200 watts on a 24 volt system would also mean a peak of 50 amps of charge current. The MPPT is rated at 60 amps so it can handle that. But those wires look REALLY thin for that amount of power.

Is this the kit you have?

1170W 24V (6x195W) Complete MPPT Off Grid Solar Kit with 3kW/60A Hybrid Inverter + 2.4kWh Lithium | ECO-WORTHY

If efficiency, reliability and affordable are high on your wish list, ECO-WORTHY 1170W 24V expandable MPPT Solar Kit is an ideal choice. ECO-WORTHY 195 Watt 12V Mono solar panel is backed by 25-year linear power guarantee. ECO-WORTHY LiFePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery has twice the power...

www.eco-worthy.com

You should be using something like a #6 awg wire from the charge controller to the batteries.

I'm using this kit which has 2 batteries

 

[carmens]

I'm using this kit which has 2 batteries

Oops, forgot the link https://www.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-5...&sr=8-3#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

 

[carmens]

Never ever ever ever use both eires as black connecting to a battery...

Too easy to mix em up.

I agree, disconnect the solar from the scc and connect JUST the battery and see what it does.

I connected just the controller to the battery and it lights up and works, but I'm not sure what settings to change

 

[carmens]

Or tag them properly on both ends (all I had in the right size was black):
View attachment 263602
I honestly can’t tell where your black wires are going with the white tape and the yellow and blue tags.

I took the tape apart to double check and the wires are connected to the right places but I see what you mean, I need better wire management

 

[wpns]

Oops, forgot the link https://www.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-5-52KWH-Lithium-Battery-System/dp/B0D4YW5XDY (fixed it for you)

You are also going to want an inter-battery balancer/equalizer.

 

[carmens]

Thank you guys everything has been really helpful so far. I cleaned it up a bit so visibility is better. This is with the positive connected. So far what I've got is I need a bigger wire going from the controller to batteries, need an inter battery balancer, and need to adjust settings on my controller.

 

[LydMekk]

Never install a solar system without owning a digital multimeter....and know how to use it.

 

[Mattb4]

Thank you guys everything has been really helpful so far. I cleaned it up a bit so visibility is better. This is with the positive connected. So far what I've got is I need a bigger wire going from the controller to batteries, need an inter battery balancer, and need to adjust settings on my controller

First things first. Do you understand how to adjust the SCC? It may need to be set to another voltage if it is stuck on the wrong one (error indication).

 

[GXMnow]

Here is the Eco-Worthy web page on that charge controller.

60A 12/24/36/48V MPPT OLED Display Solar Charge Controller Regulator | ECO-WORTHY

ECO-WORTHY 60A MPPT Charge Controller is the most efficient type of charge controller. With up to 99% tracking efficiency, ensures maximum power point solar charging that gets more energy to your battery bank. It's able to charge and discharge different kinds of 12/24/36/48V battery banks...

www.eco-worthy.com

.And here is the PDF manual.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0253/9752/6580/files/60A_MPPT_OLED_Display_Solar_Charge_Controller_Manual-min.pdf?v=1727331803

Be sure to set it for 24 volt LiFePO4 type. That set's the proper voltage limits for the different charging stages. You may have to go to custom and lower the voltages a bit. If the cells are at all out of balance, it will not be able to charge to 28.8 volts, that is very optimistic. 27.6 volts for absorption is a bit safer and should not hit cell over voltage as long as the batteries are reasonably balanced.

 

[solar7]

If you have connected the system to the load , keep in mind that it is an off grid system . If you wrongly have connected it to a load that is being supplied by another source , that may be the problem . The inverter may have been suppling energy backwards.