TriStar PWM won't go into float

[SamDeleted]

Hi all looking for some help please

My TriStar PWM won't switch into float mode out absorption


System 2.5kwh of PV, 48v system , 330amps of AGM batteries (15kw~), victron shunt

Everything has been working fine , but I recently changed inverter to a new cheap 5.5kw Hybrid and have been using mains electricity to recharge the batteries...


when both tristar and hybrid were being used together I noticed that batteries were holding 14.4v~ even though batteries were 100%soc and had been for hours

on further investigation the tristar was the culprit, I figured it just wasn't playing well with another charge source .

But now I've switched the hybrid off it's been a few hours and the Tristar still won't switch to float , still holding 57.4v (14.35v) and 0.2amp current

Led indicators on tristar say it's in absorption mode , dip switches seem to be correctly set to 14.15v
any ideas on what's going ? All help appreciated thank you

 

[yodamota]

So it used to go into float? and now it doesn't?

 

[SamDeleted]

So it used to go into float? and now it doesn't?

Yep , or at least it hasn't yet .. it's now been on absorbion, holding 57.4v for 3 hours straight .

Batteries are at a true full 100%soc after being on mains charger for a good few days . TriStar should be on float

 

[yodamota]

these things appear to be different than our tristar 60 MPPT. What dip switches do you have? And what batteries are you using?

 

[SamDeleted]

Looking at old data , TriStar usually switches to float mode around or at 100%soc

 

[SamDeleted]

these things appear to be different than our tristar 60 MPPT. What dip switches do you have? And what batteries are you using?

Thank you for your help , I will post photos in a few minutes

 

[yodamota]

your welcome. Another option you can try is contacting morningstar directly. They have always responded to me right away. super helpful support.

 

[SamDeleted]

your welcome. Another option you can try is contacting morningstar directly. They have always responded to me right away. super helpful support.

 

[SamDeleted]

your welcome. Another option you can try is contacting morningstar directly. They have always responded to me right away. super helpful support.

Ok good idea, what I'm going to do is leave it for a bit , see if it does eventually switch to float

Then discharge over night, let the tristar top the batteries back up tomorrow , see what happens




If that doesn't work I'll get onto morning star

 

[MisterSandals]

If that doesn't work I'll get onto morning star

They are very responsive and helpful.

Have you used the MSView application (Windoze only)?
Its pretty informative and allows one to see/change parameters like "time before float".

MSView - Morningstar Corporation

Download your MSView software version below, and view requirements, release notes, and instructional videos on this page: MSView-1.6.44.0 (for all Morningstar products except the [TSMPPT-600V with Pre v.19 Firmware]) MSView-1.5.22.0 […]

www.morningstarcorp.com

 

[SamDeleted]

They are very responsive and helpful.

Have you used the MSView application (Windoze only)?
Its pretty informative and allows one to see/change parameters like "time before float".

MSView - Morningstar Corporation

Download your MSView software version below, and view requirements, release notes, and instructional videos on this page: MSView-1.6.44.0 (for all Morningstar products except the [TSMPPT-600V with Pre v.19 Firmware]) MSView-1.5.22.0 […]

www.morningstarcorp.com

Ill get the communication cable ordered ... I thought I had the right one but turns out not , tristar needs a male in , not female

 

[yodamota]

not just windoze. I got a windows emulator to use the msview on my macbook air. Real pain in the butt. it works tho

 

[yodamota]

the manual doesn't really suggest how long the charger needs to absorb charge before entering float. it shows it for a "load" operating charge controller. I don't see how long the absorb is for when its just charging batteries.

 

[yodamota]

what kind of busbars are those sam?

 

[SamDeleted]

what kind of busbars are those sam?

They are what we call "Henley blocks" in the UK, rated for 100amp & 200amp AC , used for distributing 240vac. Big blocks of tinned copper with screw terminals

I think the 100a's are slightly undersized for the big new hybrid inverter (old one was smaller) but I never actually load the inverter that hard anyways, and certainly not for any sustained length of time

 

[SamDeleted]

what kind of busbars are those sam?

Oh , or do you mean the bars joining the batteries ?

 

[yodamota]

Oh , or do you mean the bars joining the batteries ?

yes the bars joining the batteries.

 

[sunsurfer]

Have you tried turning it off and on again? Unhook it and drain the caps, then hook it up again.

 

[SamDeleted]

Have you tried turning it off and on again? Unhook it and drain the caps, then hook it up again.

Drain the caps by shorting the pos to neg?

 

[SamDeleted]

yes the bars joining the batteries.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004351153713.html?isdl=y&aff_fsk=_oBXVPn9&src=Connexity2023GBchannel&aff_platform=aff_feeds&aff_short_key=_oBXVPn9&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21GBP%214.27%214.27%21%21%21%21%21%40%2112000028861777081%21afff&dp=16959708541070001512716671124008005&cn=3%E2%80%8B26576%E2%80%8B&cv=90dc9d53ad3a459934a2d8241df6ed58

They are these I think, not sure on the exact brand because I got them free with the batteries ..

then the middle two of each series are joined with a mega fuse because I ran out of bus bars ?