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Question Wattage drops for no apparent reason

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Posts: 4
Topic starter
(@prschmidt)
Active Member
Joined: 1 month ago

I've been using my 6000XP for about a week now.  I have 3200W of panels connected to a single string, and I have Tigo TS4-A-Os connected to deal with some hard shadows.

Whether I'm using the optimizers or not, I've found the voltage will just sporadically plummet from hundreds or even thousands of watts to just 56-66W.  Last week, it did the same except it would drop to around 140-160W.  Sometimes this would be due to an obvious shadow, though I find it confusing why the bypass diode wouldn't kick in (hence me buying the Tigos, in the event local PPT can improve the results).  Sometimes there is no change in shadow or brightness.

Whenever this happens, the voltage is typically between 280-300v, which for my configuration implies it's open-circuit.  Even in situations where half of my 8 panels are completely shaded, they should produce over 120v.

 

Whether I put the string on MPPT 1 or 2, the behavior is identical.  With a multimeter, I tested every panel's bypass diode and only one panel has a slight discrepancy, but it's still within normal range.  When I'm generating some meaningful power (even if just 300W) I also checked the amperage for both sets of wires connected to the Tigos, and it's pretty consistent across the board.

 

All this leads me to believe there's something glitching out about the inverter's firmware or MPPT algorithm.


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Posts: 4
Topic starter
(@prschmidt)
Active Member
Joined: 1 month ago

I actually just realized where my symptoms are coming from:

The 140-160W I was getting last week was from having the EPS enabled.  I've disabled it for the past few days to prevent the battery from draining overnight, since it still has some ways to go to fully charge.  When disabling it, that's when it goes to 56-66W.

So, what I've determined is this is how much power the system draws to remain active.  The problem is, my battery isn't fully charged.  I set it to charge to 59v but it's never gone above 56.1.  Really, I'd like to set it to 60v but that's not an option.

How can I get it to charge all the way?


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EG4 Eric
Posts: 874
Admin
(@eg4eric)
EG4 Online Support
Joined: 1 year ago

What batteries are you using for your system?


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Posts: 4
Topic starter
(@prschmidt)
Active Member
Joined: 1 month ago

The cells are LTO, configured as lead acid since they don't have a BMS.

However, I've reconfigured the arrangement of them where now I can charge them to 54v.  I wouldn't consider the situation fixed since I think this is a software bug, but at least I'm able to fully charge now.


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Posts: 98
(@dtbaker61)
Estimable Member
Joined: 1 year ago

watts coming in will drop to near zero when batts are full and there is no load during the afternoons when PV power is available.

 

LFP cells are 100% full when cells hit 3.65 vpc and current has dropped to .01C in a good CC-CV charge. Charging can "stop" or with solar, it is preferable to reduce voltage and float at 3.3 vpc or slightly less for best life and least surface charge heat dumped into battery

 

a 5kWhr 48v nominal LFP pack (16s) is therefore at maximum end-of-charge the fastest when and if it hits 58.4 v. with solar charging however, it is generally accepted that if the CC voltage setpoint is 3.5vpc (56v), and then holds at 56 until current drops to .01C (200ah x .01 = 2amps), it gives the BMS time to top balance cells at low current.... and then it is best to drop to 53.0v to "float" for the afternoon. As soon as the sun goes down, Batt voltage will settle at 52.8 or so when under no/low loads.

 

Regardless.... with EG4 3000, 6000xp, and 12000xp it is not possible to obtain a "correct" LFP friendly charge curve when attempting to program a user-defined CC-CV charge curve "open-loop" by setting charge voltage setpoints in the inverter. I've been saying this for a year, and gotten the occasional response that "Engineers are working on it".... but I have not seen an actual firmware upgrade to address the problem to my satifaction.


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