I finally got access to the Victron SmartShunt 500 via a new Cerbo GX and wifi AP. Connecting to the shunt via Bluetooth standing next to the electrical cabin in the snow wasn't cutting it. Nuff Said!
With the Victron Cerbo GX connected to the Smart Shunt all connected to an AP, connected to the VRM, I have been able to monitor battery levels. Last night was a real eye opener. An alarm went off notifying of low batteries.
Battery level was about 26.20 volts at 10:30p, and nothing was connected to be using power. Victron VRM data shows the batteries were at 97% and the current was "Idle." The only drain would have been the inverter which draws about 24w. The battery bank is made up of 8 100Ah Sealed Deep Cycle RV batteries. They are wired 2s4p to provide for a 24v system. There are 3 charge controllers feeding the batteries, each fed by their own 600w solar panel rack. They are 40a MPPT charge controllers.
This morning I checked the status on the VRM and noted that the battery voltage was in alarm and had reached the alarm min voltage of 20.00v. The data showed that the batteries were at 26v till approximately 1am. At that time the voltage dropped, within a couple of hours, to 20v. The current data during that time showed only about 500ma. Certainly not enough current to tank the batteries. The charge controllers have "load" outputs but nothing is connected to them. They are use for things like lights in an RV. It was DARK and Rainy, (Oregon's Best), all night so the panels never caught a single usable photon! The system should have just rested all night.
I have a 24v battery charger connected to the battery bank right now to bring it back up to full. I just don't get it. Oh, BTW, there still aren't any photons making it through the dense Oregon clouds and rain.
Any thoughts, ideas, or experience with a mess like this? Only current drains batteries.
With the Victron Cerbo GX connected to the Smart Shunt all connected to an AP, connected to the VRM, I have been able to monitor battery levels. Last night was a real eye opener. An alarm went off notifying of low batteries.
Battery level was about 26.20 volts at 10:30p, and nothing was connected to be using power. Victron VRM data shows the batteries were at 97% and the current was "Idle." The only drain would have been the inverter which draws about 24w. The battery bank is made up of 8 100Ah Sealed Deep Cycle RV batteries. They are wired 2s4p to provide for a 24v system. There are 3 charge controllers feeding the batteries, each fed by their own 600w solar panel rack. They are 40a MPPT charge controllers.
This morning I checked the status on the VRM and noted that the battery voltage was in alarm and had reached the alarm min voltage of 20.00v. The data showed that the batteries were at 26v till approximately 1am. At that time the voltage dropped, within a couple of hours, to 20v. The current data during that time showed only about 500ma. Certainly not enough current to tank the batteries. The charge controllers have "load" outputs but nothing is connected to them. They are use for things like lights in an RV. It was DARK and Rainy, (Oregon's Best), all night so the panels never caught a single usable photon! The system should have just rested all night.
I have a 24v battery charger connected to the battery bank right now to bring it back up to full. I just don't get it. Oh, BTW, there still aren't any photons making it through the dense Oregon clouds and rain.
Any thoughts, ideas, or experience with a mess like this? Only current drains batteries.