VICTRON MPPT 130|55 controller

[gbergh]

The VictronConnect application is showing the following data:

Solar.    36W.       mostly sunny day

Voltage  19.5.   Current 2.0

Battery

Voltage 13.2.    Current 2.7  Temp 77 deg, F  State  Bulk

Virtual Load output &nbsp

State.  OFF

I am of the understanding that the State should be ON.   I can not find how to change the state to ON.   

Hull 218.  George

[jd1923]

9 hours ago, gbergh said:

The VictronConnect application is showing the following data:
Solar.    36W.       mostly sunny day
Voltage  19.5.   Current 2.0
Battery Voltage 13.2.    Current 2.7  Temp 77 deg, F  State  Bulk
State.  OFF

I am of the understanding that the State should be ON.   I can not find how to change the state to ON. Hull 218.  George

Certainly this is atypical!

We need more info... What solar panels, roof mount or suitcase, what brand, how many watts?

These are likely readings from the VictronConnect for your MPPT SC, do you have SmartShunt or battery readings?

What is the batteries SOC? Near 100% SOC would cause a SC to limit charging?

...

[gbergh]

Thanks for the response.  The Solar Panels are Zamp. Two at 150 watts each.  They are roof mounted.  The data is derived from the VictronConnect application.   The battery voltage is 13.2 v for a SOC of 40%.   The sun was out almost full not covered much at all.  I would have expected about 150 to 175 watts of power from the panels.   I fail to understand how to enable to the ON state.  

[jd1923]

2 hours ago, gbergh said:

I fail to understand how to enable to the ON state.

When I bring up the VictronConnect app, the first menu shows the many Victron devices we have. Then I click on the SmartShunt, MPPT solar charger, Orion XS DC-DC charge, the inverter/charger, etc.

Which Victron device is displaying the data above and showing it's "OFF?"

Do you have one or more Victron devices? What kind(s) total?

[Snackchaser]

Hi George,

The Virtual load is only used if you don't have an actual load on the solar charger.  However you have an actual load, which is the battery.  So the State is correctly set to OFF.

All your other data looks good, you are happily charging away in bulk charge.

Cheers! Geoff

Edited 11 hours ago by Snackchaser
spelling

[gbergh]

7 hours ago, jd1923 said:

When I bring up the VictronConnect app, the first menu shows the many Victron devices we have. Then I click on the SmartShunt, MPPT solar charger, Orion XS DC-DC charge, the inverter/charger, etc.

Which Victron device is displaying the data above and showing it's "OFF?"

Do you have one or more Victron devices? What kind(s) total?

The VictronConnect application shows two (2) items.  Battery and Solar Roof.

Under the Heading of Solar Roof there are three sub headers

Solar:   Voltage and current

Battery: Voltage, Current, Temperature and State

Virtual Load Output:  State.    The state indicates OFF

[gbergh]

7 hours ago, Snackchaser said:

Hi George,

The Virtual load is only used if you don't have an actual load on the solar charger.  However you have an actual load, which is the battery.  So the State is correctly set to OFF.

All your other data looks good, you are happily charging away in bulk charge.

Cheers! Geoff

Thank you for the Virtual Load explanation..   I clearly did not do a good job of reading the manual..  I truly appreciate yours and JD tutelage.  I will in addition have the panels cleaned today.  The fellow who details Oliver for me will clean them with Glass Cleaner.  I will report back if the cleaning improves the output of the Zamp panels.  George

[jd1923]

8 hours ago, Snackchaser said:

All your other data looks good, you are happily charging away in bulk charge.

12 hours ago, gbergh said:

The battery voltage is 13.2 v for a SOC of 40%.   The sun was out almost full not covered much at all.  I would have expected about 150 to 175 watts of power from the panels.

Trying to see how these two statements jive? The data shows only a 2A charge. Why?

On a sunny day I get at least 12A via the Blue Sky SC regularly from our our 320W rooftop solar panels. The 150-175W expectation seems correct to me.

So your roof panels are connected to a Victron MPPT SC? (not hardware OTT installed) and you have Victron batteries or a Victron SmartShunt on the batteries?

[Snackchaser]

 

49 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

Trying to see how these two statements jive? The data shows only a 2A charge. Why?

The statements jive okay.  This question was originally about the virtual load setting, and it's morphed into why not more solar input.  The solar charger data looks good for the 36 watt input.   However, the question of why the input is not higher is a whole different discussion.   There could be a number of reasons why: 

I'd first look at the "History" feature of the App, it will show the solar input over several days.  If it was charging at more watts in periods of more sun, then that will give you a better idea if it's sun related.

Cleaning the panels will always help, but not that significantly... unless they are really really dirty.

Next I'd review the Solar Charger settings, particularly the battery type, as they can also impact the output.

Also, whatever device you are reading the 40% SOC from, I'd review those setting too.  You might actually be at a higher percent charge and the charger is ramping down the output.  There are probably some charging curves out there to see how it ramps down, and that can provide clues.

Let us know what you find and we will see where it leads to from there!  Cheers! Geoff

[gbergh]

I have found the reason the Zamp panels were producing only 2 ah of charge.  The detailer cleaned the panels and the cleaning  improved the output.  He told me that when he cleaned the top of the Oliver he followed up with a liberal coat of WAX.  The wax did a good job of preventing the sun to do its job!  After the first cleaning,  I had him go over the panels with rubbing alcohol.  The third cleaning was with vinegar and water.  The regiment resulted in 225 watts of power and 12.2 current charge..  I have the Battle Borne 200 Ah batteries.  The PV is controlled by the Victron MTTP 150|35.  It is a mostly sunny day.  That was a great call to review the History of charge.  The data clearly indicates that there was little or no charge after I had the Oliver detailed and Solar waxed heavily!

 

Edited 1 hour ago by gbergh

[jd1923]

Wow, wax! until now, I could not imagine the panels being dirty enough to reduce power output 5x~!

I only use water and a professional window cleaning brush on a 5 ft handle to clean ours, rinse-brush-rinse, no cleaning products used ever.

20 minutes ago, Snackchaser said:

the question of why the input is not higher is a whole different discussion.

This was the question on my mind. Good explanation, thanks Geoff.