Re: [RE-wrenches] Dark Starting Simpliphi PHI3.5 batteries
Howie 48 volt lithium battery charger. Signature solar sells one. Peter Giroux American Solar From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 9:59 PM To: RE-wrenches Cc: Howie Michaelson Subject: [RE-wrenches] Dark Starting Simpliphi PHI3.5 batteries Hi All, I was called into a job of a previously off-grid system that new owners had an electrician bring the grid to, but the batteries ( a pair of Simpliphi 3.5, which I have no experience with) have been dead for an unknown period of time previously. I am trying to figure out the easiest way to restart the system which has a VFX 3648 and FM60. I'm thinking the easiest way is to bring in a 48volt charger to get the battery voltage up high enough to start the FM60 and/or VFX, but that means purchasing a 48 volt charger, since I don't have any Iotas sitting around any more. If anyone has an easier way to restart the batteries I'd love to hear it. Thanks, Howie Howie Michaelson Sun Catcher NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ Solar Electric Systems Sales & Service 802-272-0004 ___ 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] Dark Starting Simpliphi PHI3.5 batteries
Hi Howie You may just need to cycle the breaker on the top of each battery to wake up after bms shuts down for low voltage. If truly a dark start is required your welcome to borrow my 48v Iota if it’s worth your drive time back and forth to Sutton. Rich (cell 802-535-6191) Sent from my iPad > On Jul 27, 2022, at 9:59 PM, Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches > wrote: > > > Hi All, > I was called into a job of a previously off-grid system that new owners had > an electrician bring the grid to, but the batteries ( a pair of Simpliphi > 3.5, which I have no experience with) have been dead for an unknown period of > time previously. I am trying to figure out the easiest way to restart the > system which has a VFX 3648 and FM60. I'm thinking the easiest way is to > bring in a 48volt charger to get the battery voltage up high enough to start > the FM60 and/or VFX, but that means purchasing a 48 volt charger, since I > don't have any Iotas sitting around any more. If anyone has an easier way to > restart the batteries I'd love to hear it. > Thanks, > Howie > Howie Michaelson > Sun Catcher > NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ > > Solar Electric Systems Sales & Service > 802-272-0004 > ___ > 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] Dark Starting Simpliphi PHI3.5 batteries
Thanks Wallace. I will return to the site and check the voltage again, but I believe when I read it it was in the teens. However, I did run into the in rush and shut down issue you mentioned the first time I tried restarting, but when I tried it again, the batteries didn't put anything out. I will talk with simpliphi and see if we can get things going. Howie On Wed, Jul 27, 2022, 10:38 PM Wallace Stahle via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > Hold off on that 48 volt charger Howie, > > I was called a while back with the same issue on a set of five of the same > model battery. All shut off internally. Had the same inverter and CC too. > I called Simpliphi which I recommend you do also and was told to turn off > all inputs and outputs to battery, close the breaker on each unit > individually and read the open circuit voltage. If 24 v or above simply > close the 3 breakers before engaging the inverter breaker as the capacitor > inrush can fool the BMS of the battery and shut it off which I found out > when I first shop charged the new batteries individually. If battery shuts > down upon inverter connection then toggling the battery breaker again the > inverter will connect and you charge with generator as the inverter can now > function with the small amount of reserve power present. And/or the solar > as conditions dictate. > > In my case one of the batteries was 23.7 V but still accepted a charge and > have apparently functioned well for the customer. Job was installed by > others. > > I hope that helps. > Wallace Stahle > Future Electric Energy Co > PO Box 236 > Willits, CA 95490 > 707-459-0474 > Lic.#C10-762093 > fut...@pacific.net > > On Jul 27, 2022, at 6:58 PM, Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > > Hi All, > I was called into a job of a previously off-grid system that new owners > had an electrician bring the grid to, but the batteries ( a pair of > Simpliphi 3.5, which I have no experience with) have been dead for an > unknown period of time previously. I am trying to figure out the easiest > way to restart the system which has a VFX 3648 and FM60. I'm thinking the > easiest way is to bring in a 48volt charger to get the battery voltage up > high enough to start the FM60 and/or VFX, but that means purchasing a 48 > volt charger, since I don't have any Iotas sitting around any more. If > anyone has an easier way to restart the batteries I'd love to hear it. > Thanks, > Howie > > *Howie Michaelson**Sun Catcher* > > *NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™* > > *Solar Electric Systems Sales & Service802-272-0004* > ___ > 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 > > ___ 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] Dark Starting Simpliphi PHI3.5 batteries
Hold off on that 48 volt charger Howie, I was called a while back with the same issue on a set of five of the same model battery. All shut off internally. Had the same inverter and CC too. I called Simpliphi which I recommend you do also and was told to turn off all inputs and outputs to battery, close the breaker on each unit individually and read the open circuit voltage. If 24 v or above simply close the 3 breakers before engaging the inverter breaker as the capacitor inrush can fool the BMS of the battery and shut it off which I found out when I first shop charged the new batteries individually. If battery shuts down upon inverter connection then toggling the battery breaker again the inverter will connect and you charge with generator as the inverter can now function with the small amount of reserve power present. And/or the solar as conditions dictate. In my case one of the batteries was 23.7 V but still accepted a charge and have apparently functioned well for the customer. Job was installed by others. I hope that helps. Wallace Stahle Future Electric Energy Co PO Box 236 Willits, CA 95490 707-459-0474 Lic.#C10-762093 fut...@pacific.net > On Jul 27, 2022, at 6:58 PM, Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches > wrote: > > Hi All, > I was called into a job of a previously off-grid system that new owners had > an electrician bring the grid to, but the batteries ( a pair of Simpliphi > 3.5, which I have no experience with) have been dead for an unknown period of > time previously. I am trying to figure out the easiest way to restart the > system which has a VFX 3648 and FM60. I'm thinking the easiest way is to > bring in a 48volt charger to get the battery voltage up high enough to start > the FM60 and/or VFX, but that means purchasing a 48 volt charger, since I > don't have any Iotas sitting around any more. If anyone has an easier way to > restart the batteries I'd love to hear it. > Thanks, > Howie > Howie Michaelson > Sun Catcher > NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ > > Solar Electric Systems Sales & Service > 802-272-0004 > ___ > 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
