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Topic starter
January 12, 2025 3:49 am
I am using a 3000EHV-48 inverter along with four LifePower4 48V V1 batteries, all purchased through Signature Solar. I am having multiple issues, including things missing from my order, and I cannot get responses from Signature Solar.
1. As multiple people on the internet have pointed out, the inverter now ships with the automatic Ground-Neutral bond screw missing. In my application (sometimes on shore power, sometimes off grid) I need the programmatic ground bond. I need to know:
a. Is this feature accessible in all firmware revisions of the inverter?
b. Will EG4 provide continued firmware support for this feature moving forward?
c. Am I permitted under warranty to access this bond point inside the inverter?
d. Is a written procedure available for this process?
2. Although I have the daisy-chained RS-485 cables between batteries and the inverter, and the inverter _allegedly_ recognizes the battery communication as there are no faults at the inverter, and I have selected option Li4 under "battery type" in the inverter (for "EG4 battery protocol"), during low temperatures the inverter display still shows "charging". On a cold evening (entire system temperature saturated around 20F), ~90% SOC, nothing on, I switched on my DC breakers on all batteries, switched on my main DC breaker at the inverter, switched on the inverter, then plugged the system in to shore power as I wanted to run in "bypass" mode. The system alarmed, the batteries went to a steady "alarm" LED, and no "run" or SOC LEDs. The inverter LCD read as "bypassed" and "charging". I immediately switched off the inverter and unplugged the shore power. The battery LED status mentioned is not even an option in the manual under page 19, as the SOC LEDs should have been on. Additionally I quickly measured with my Fluke meter and the batteries were still output enabled... The inverter was now on and in standby mode (no output, since I switched it off). IF the inverter was truly attempting to charge the system, then the batteries were being charged well under 32F. My very expensive batteries have potentially been damaged because of a firmware issue.
3. I powered down all four batteries, which were still showing the fault condition. After a few minutes I switched them all back on, one-by-one, verifying voltages along the way. All are within 300mV balanced. 3 display no faults, one is flashing 2x "alarm", 1x "run" and has the SOC LEDs. This indicates a "charging" status according to the battery manual, but it is electrically isolated. Nothing else (inverter or other batteries) is connected or on. I placed a heater in the battery compartment the next day to bring the system up to around 50F, but this status is still the same. It is enabling the DC output while in this state. I cannot read the internal fault for the next reason:
4. I did not receive the USB(USB-A)-RS485(RJ-45) converter cable in my purchase of four batteries, although it was listed on the manifest. I do not have a means of viewing any fault codes or updating firmware. I do have the cable that came with the inverter, which is USB(USB-A)-RS485(USB-B). I need to make a converter from the USB-B to RJ-45. I see some conflicting information regarding which pins are utilized in the RJ-45 connector of the LifePower4 V1. I have good certainty that pins 7 (RS485-A) and 8 (RS485-B) are used, but I also see information that pins 1 and 2 may be available for certain purposes. If 7 and 8 are correct for the BMS Test software, then I will build a conversion adapter for that.
5. EG4 does not have the LifePower4 V1 documentation or downloads available on their main page ( https://eg4electronics.com/resources/downloads/). I am relying on whatever google resolves which happens to be on the Signature Solar webpage. The firmware updates seem to be available in this forum, but both the firmware and the manual should also be on the primary site.
I appreciate any help, I cannot use my system right now for fear of further damage to my battery bank. The system can't even be run in "bypassed" mode because it doesn't recognize batteries (since they're all off). If I had known customer support was absent with Signature Solar I would have spent money elsewhere.
January 12, 2025 4:19 am
Do you still have all of your packaging? My USB cables were taped to the outside of the box from Signature Solar.
Topic starter
January 12, 2025 4:51 am
Yes, I still have the packaging. No programming cable there. The batteries were purchased 10/23, the inverter was within the last month.
Topic starter
January 12, 2025 5:13 pm
Adapter cable made. For future reference, the RS485 USB-A-USB-B cable that ships with the 3000EHV-48 uses a CH340 & MAX485 chipset. It only utilizes D+/D-, no ground. On the female USB-B (socket) I used, this broke out to pins 1,2. For connection to BMS TEST, these wire to pins 1,2 of the RJ45 connector of the LifePower4 V1. Make sure you're connected to the cable in windows (BMS TEST will give you a success message), then go to the Batinfo tab, set an address of 0 and "packs number" of 16 if you don't want to bother with figuring out your addresses. Let it scroll through the packs. If your battery is on and you don't see any successful data, swap the data lines on the converter. I've seen conflicting info in datasheets from EG4, but it appears that:
D+ is USB-B connector pin 2,
D- is USB-B connector pin 1.
D+ is RJ45 pin 2,
D- is RJ45 pin 1.
So in my setup, these were 1-1, 2-2.
For people who are not familiar with this stuff, please understand that the USB-A end of this cable conforms to the USB standard. It plugs into your computer. The USB-B end of this cable however, does not conform to the USB standard. It is only intended for use with the inverter and RS485 devices.
Pins 7,8 appear to be only for standard runtime RS485 comms with the inverter/between packs.
Topic starter
January 12, 2025 5:27 pm
Back to troubleshooting.
Correction on earlier statement: when the initial fault occurred, the system was at approximately 25% SOC, NOT 90%.
Today I set the trouble battery to address 0, switched it and the inverter on, and the inverter would not enable output. No alarms present on the inverter, same LED pattern on the battery that indicates "charging" status with 25% SOC LED on. The inverter LCD was flashing the battery symbol with no bars, indicating empty I guess?
BMS TEST shows that the only displayed "fault" is "SOC LOW ALARM". SOC = 19.9%. Cell 13 is highlighted red, but is the highest voltage cell in the pack. Max deviation between cells of 0.015V.
1. Why would the inverter not allow me to draw the pack down to 10% or less?
2. Why do I have a faulted system at almost 20% capacity?
3. Why would the highest voltage cell be the one highlighted?
January 14, 2025 3:08 pm
Hi @fungus I'm so sorry you're having trouble reaching us! If you'd like to send me an email at [email protected] with your contact information, I will get you connected and ensure you're taken care of!
