It all comes back to voltage.....Learned that with the TriMetric a long time ago. I have a dozen eVaults out there, mostly singles but one set up with 3, all working just fine using voltage control.
John Blittersdorf On Thu, Feb 9, 2023 at 8:57 PM Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > For systems where the batteries are getting a relatively full charge every > week or and cycling down below 30% at least every now and then, closed loop > is certainly the safest way to go since the battery BMS is determining the > SOC, not the inverter's algorithm. > > I've been told by a tech at Fortress that has done installation and > service that unless the batteries cycle at least occasionally, the > battery's BMS can really lose accuracy. So even in closed loop, you can > have significant discrepancies. > > I ran into this a couple of weeks ago on a system that had been cycling > between 20 and 45% for several weeks. Even though the BMS was reporting > around 40%, the batteries shut down on low voltage. In cases where the > batteries aren't getting a relatively full cycle at least every week (or > 2),I was told to switch over to switch the Sol Ark over to operate on > voltage instead. And to set up the charge algorithm to bring the batteries > up higher every now and then. > > So far, things have worked better. > > Howie Michaelson > Sun Catcher > > > On Thu, Feb 9, 2023, 8:10 PM Chris Sparadeo via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > >> Ray, >> >> Establishing CAN is straightforward. Most important steps: >> >> -Pins 1,2,3 on eVault go to pins 4,5,6 in that order >> - Update the eVault with CAN firmware >> -Use protocol 6 on the battery and protocol 00 on the Sol Ark >> >> Closed loop is an important feature that I personally wouldn’t want to >> pass up. I have found CAN to be much more solid than RS485 with regards to >> the eVault Max. I’ve conducted plenty of firmware upgrades and have yet to >> run into trouble. Key is to turn off breaker so battery is not charging or >> discharging. >> >> I’d reconsider blowing off this feature. >> >> Kindly, >> >> Chris >> >> >> On Thu, Feb 9, 2023 at 5:35 PM Ray Walters via RE-wrenches < >> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >> >>> Hi Chris; >>> >>> That's not for the eVault. Other Wrenches have mentioned using a pet >>> heating pad with a 120 vac plug in thermostat. I'm going to try that, I'll >>> report back to the list what I find. >>> >>> Secondly, I am having issues figuring out how to do the closed loop >>> coms. The Fortress instructions contradict themselves on how to even make >>> up the proper CANbus cable, as apparently MODbus is not stable anymore, >>> after the latest Solark firmware upgrades. I'm about to just apply the >>> KISSbus, which is to blow off the closed loop com all together, and *Keep >>> It Simple S#@$%*!, otherwise known as No Coms at all. >>> >>> I've screwed with Com stuff since the 90s, but usually been >>> disappointed, to downright horrified with the final results. Somebody >>> explain to me like a 2 year old again, why closed loop is so much better? >>> Think off grid, where reliability is 10 times more important than squeezing >>> an extra 5% capacity out of the battery.... Notes in the online >>> instructions such as "*Failure to properly upgrade the firmware may >>> cause the battery to stop working!", * are not making we want to push >>> ahead with closed loop either. >>> >>> Ray >>> On 2/9/2023 11:01 AM, Chris Schaefer via RE-wrenches wrote: >>> >>> Ray, >>> >>> I'd suggest reaching out to the Fortress techie's as they just >>> introduced a heater product for their enclosure products. While I don't >>> believe they have a unit specif to the eVault but you should be able to >>> make it work. >>> >>> Christopher >>> >>> On Wed, Feb 8, 2023 at 6:43 PM Jerry Shafer via RE-wrenches < >>> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >>> >>>> Pet heater have worked for me, I air gap a sealed heater box under the >>>> battery, thermostat inside the top of the battery. It's slow and low power >>>> but does the trick >>>> Fun times >>>> >>>> On Wed, Feb 8, 2023, 3:05 PM Ray Walters via RE-wrenches < >>>> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi All; >>>>> >>>>> I have a fresh Fortress Evault installation with a Solark inverter. >>>>> The >>>>> batteries are indoors in the center of the house, but the customer is >>>>> not there full time, so the battery is unfortunately going below >>>>> freezing. What are the best options for setting up a heating system >>>>> for >>>>> the E Vault? >>>>> >>>>> Here are ideas that I have not tried, but am considering: >>>>> 1) add a 240 v, 1000 w baseboard heater in the room near the battery >>>>> that is wired to only run off the generator. Run the generator until >>>>> the heat comes up, and then hopefully after 30 minutes, the battery >>>>> would begin accepting a charge. >>>>> >>>>> 2) Add an 120 vac heating blanket under the evault that would be wired >>>>> to a thermostat, but also have a relay control from the PV system, so >>>>> that the heater would only operate when the sun was out, and the >>>>> battery >>>>> was below 50F. I don't quite know how to set this up with the >>>>> Solark's >>>>> load controls. >>>>> >>>>> I've considered some DC options, but they don't make much sense, since >>>>> the inverter has to be on to charge from PV anyway. >>>>> >>>>> The long term plan is for the client to finish the insulation, and >>>>> sheet >>>>> rock, and add a gas wall heater in there as needed. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> >>>>> Ray Walters >>>>> Remote Solar >>>>> in the Colorado mountain cold..... >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>>> >>>>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>>>> >>>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>>> >>>>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>>> >>>>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try >>>>> the other: >>>>> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>>> >>>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>>> >>>>> Check out or update participant bios: >>>>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>> >>>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try >>>> the other: >>>> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>> >>>> Check out or update participant bios: >>>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Chris Schaefer’s >>> <http:www.solarandwindfx.com> >>> >>> *Tel/Fax 585-229-2083 or Cell 585-748-1870 * >>> *5115 South Hill Road ~ Canandaigua New York 14424 >>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/5115%0D%0A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++South+Hill+Road+~+Canandaigua+New+York+14424?entry=gmail&source=g> >>> **www.solarandwindfx.com <http://www.solarandwindfx.com> ~ E-mail: >>> ch...@solarandwindfx.com <ch...@solarandwindfx.com>* >>> >>> >>> Thomas Jefferson, the author of our great Constitution, once said, >>> "democracy" will cease to exist when you take away from those who are >>> willing to work and give to those who would not." >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change listserver email address & >>> settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >>> other:https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette:http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios:http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> There are two list archives for searching. 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