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--- ess:design-installation-manual [2019-12-17 14:31] – guy_stewart
+++ ess:design-installation-manual [2020-08-09 21:53] – [6. Controlling depth of discharge] jono
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 When an ESS system is able to produce more power than it can use and store, it can sell the surplus to the grid; and when it has insufficient energy or power, it automatically buys it from from the grid.
-In the ESS system, there must at least be one inverter/charger and also a [[venus-os:start|GX device]]:
+In the ESS system, there must at least be one inverter/charger and also a [[venus-os:start|GX device]] such as:
-  * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/color-control|Color Control GX]]
+  * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/cerbo-gx|Cerbo GX]]
   * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/venus-gx|Venus GX]]
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 Where there is no grid-meter; all loads are connected to AC-out. And where there is a PV Inverter present, that is also connected to AC out.
+{{:ess:ess_no_meter.jpg?direct&400|}}
 === Optional feed-in of MPPT Solar charger power ===
@@ Line 345: / Line 347: @@
   * Victron 12.8V Lithium batteries, and other lithium batteries that have passive cell balancing
-Because it makes no sense to leave a battery discharged, without reserve power in case of mains failure, we recommend leaving BatteryLife enabled on the following battery technologies, too:
+Because it makes no sense to leave a battery discharged, without reserve power in case of mains failure, we recommend leaving BatteryLife enabled for systems using Lithium with active cell balancing, however it //can// be disabled in this case.
-  * Lithium with active cell balancing
+Redflow specifies that BatteryLife should be disabled in [[battery_compatibility:redflow_zcell|Redflow ZCell]] installations, because the ZCell battery can rest at zero SoC without damage for an unlimited period, and also because the BatteryLife function conflicts with the ZCell battery maintenance cycle.
-  * [[battery_compatibility:redflow_zcell|Redflow ZCell]]
-However, BatteryLife //can// be disabled in these cases.
 === 4.3.2 Grid meter installed ===
@@ Line 395: / Line 394: @@
 === 4.3.9 Limit charge power ===
-This setting limits the amount of AC power used by the Multi for battery charging. The limit also applies to AC power received by the Multi from a grid-tie PV Inverter.
+This setting limits the amount of AC power used by the Multi for battery charging. The limit also applies to AC power received by the Multi from any grid-tie PV Inverters connected to AC-in.
-In other words, this setting limits the flow of power from AC to DC.
+In other words, this setting limits the flow of power from AC to DC on utilities connected to AC-in.
   * This setting does not reduce the charge power coming from //MPPT Solar Chargers//.
@@ Line 538: / Line 537: @@
 Start the generator and check that the system begins to charge the batteries.
 ===== 6. Controlling depth of discharge =====
-//(Note: All absolute voltages mentioned in the example below refer to a 12V system. Voltages should be multiplied by x2 or x4 for a 24V or 48V system, respectively.)//
+//(Note: All absolute voltages mentioned in the example below refer to a 12V system. Voltages should be multiplied by x2 for a 24V system or x4 for a 48V system.)//
 ==== 6.1 Overview ===
@@ Line 691: / Line 690: @@
 (Make sure you install the ESS on L1. If it's installed on another phase the visualisation will be wrong.)
-==== 7.2 Three-phase ESS ====
+==== 7.3 Three-phase ESS ====
 A three-phase ESS system has at least one Multi installed on each phase. We recommend leaving the phase-compensation setting to its default: enabled.
@@ Line 849: / Line 848: @@
 With ESS in Optimize mode the system will always remain connected - even when the batteries are full. And although connected, the power draw is not substantial - this configuration offers the stability of the grid without additional grid consumption.
-=== Q4: Why is the VE.Bus state in //pass-through//? ===
+=== Q4: Why is the VE.Bus state in pass-through? ===
 In ESS, the conditions for the VE.Bus system to be in //pass-through// (ve.bus state: passthru) are:
-  * When the CCGX is no longer receiving data from the grid meter. Note that this is only for systems that are configured with an external grid meter. For systems without grid meter, see the Settings -> ESS -> Control without grid-meter setting.
+  - When the GX device is no longer receiving data from the grid meter. Note that this is only for systems that are configured to have an external grid meter. See the Settings -> ESS -> Control without grid-meter setting.
-  * Systems with a canbus-connected lithium system only: when the CCGX is no longer receiving information from the battery, via the canbus.
+  - Systems with a canbus-connected lithium system: when the GX device is no longer receiving information from the battery, via the CAN-bus.
-  * When charging the battery is not allowed (BMS max charge current = 0A, or max charge power = 0W) and there is excess PV power.
+  - When charging the battery is not allowed (BMS max charge current = 0A, or max charge power = 0W) and there is excess PV power.
-  * When discharge is not allowed (BMS max discharge current = 0A, or low SOC, etc...) and loads on AC-Out force the Multi/Quattro to exceed the AC input current limit.
+  - When discharge is not allowed -and- loads on AC-Out force the Multi/Quattro to exceed the AC input current limit.  Reasons for not allowing discharge: BMS blocks discharge (DCL=0), or battery SOC level is below the 'minimum SOC' setting in ESS, when SOC is at least 3% above the set level, discharge is allowed again.
+  - A grid code is in use that requires the enabling of battery discharging by aux-inputs. Check the used grid-code in VEConfigure and compare with the electrical signals provided to the Inverter/charger in its AUX inputs.
+  - The Loss of Mains detection (LOM) causes issues, often in combination with a high impedance connectivity to the utility. For details see [[ve.bus:grid-codes-and-loss-of-mains-detection|]].
 === Q5: How can I suppress low battery warnings? ===
@@ Line 890: / Line 891: @@
 Switching off in overload, while connected to the grid, is caused by the active Loss of Mains (LOM) detection, linked to the country code as configured in VEConfigure3.
-This behaviour occurs when the AC supplied on the AC-in of the Multi or Quattro is 'weak'. By 'weak' we mean that the AC connection to the utility has a higher impedance than usual. For example a generator, or an old or remote house connected with a too-long and/or too/thin cable to the utility.
+This behaviour occurs when the AC supplied on the AC-in of the Multi or Quattro is 'weak'. By 'weak' we mean that the AC connection to the utility has a higher impedance than usual. For example a generator, or a house connected with a too-long and/or too-thin cable from the Inverter/Charger to the utility.
 For the solution and configuration options, see [[ve.bus:grid-codes-and-loss-of-mains-detection|]].
@@ Line 910: / Line 911: @@
 __Lastly__, check that the rocker switch on the unit is set to On, rather than to Charger-Only. When set to charger-only, the unit refuses to discharge the battery. Note that to check this, you really need to physically check the rocker switch: you can't see its state by looking on VRM or on the GX Device. On a MultiPlus-II, this rocker switch is at the bottom of the unit and needs to be in the I position, not on II.
-=== Q10: My battery is first discharging, and then charged every night? ===
+__Finally__, if all above didn't help - temporarily disable LOM to make sure that is not causing an issue. Detailes in this document: [[ve.bus:grid-codes-and-loss-of-mains-detection|]].
+=== Q10: Why does the system refuse to discharge my battery? ===
+See Q9.
+=== Q11: My battery is first discharging, and then charged every night? ===
 The recharge you are seeing might be part of the Sustain protection. Consider increasing the minimum SOC level. For example increase it with 5%; and then check what happens.
@@ Line 918: / Line 925: @@
 Search this manual for Sustain to learn more.
-=== Q11: What is auto-recharge? ===
+=== Q12: What is auto-recharge? ===
 The system will automatically recharge the battery (from the grid) when the SOC drops 5% or more below the value of ‘Minimum SOC’ in the ESS menu. Recharge stops when it the battery is recharged up to the Minimum SOC level.
-=== Q12: Can I use ESS in a vehicle or a boat? ===
+=== Q13: Can I use ESS in a vehicle or a boat? ===
 No, you cannot. After unplugging the shore cord it can take up a moment for the system to detect the loss of mains and open the back-feed relay. During those seconds, the shore power plug will be live: there is 110/230 Volts AC on the terminals. The exact number of seconds differs per country and depends on the local requirements.
 The same applies to other solutions where the wiring is not protected against accidental removing, for example a simple cable with end-user removable plug, such as a portable power supply.
+===== 10. Troubleshooting =====
+Trouble shooting steps:
-===== Troubleshooting =====
+  - Start with checking firmware versions (needs to be latest). And when asking questions; report the exact firmware versions that are used.
+  - Check battery type/brand. If lead then it might be unsuitable and probably broken because of the heavy cycling.
-- Start with checking firmware versions (needs to be latest). And when asking questions; report the exact firmware versions that are used.
+  - If some unknown or unsupported CANbus battery; change the battery to a supported type.
+  - Check the state of the inverter/charger, if its Passthru, then there is an issue. Details are available in Q4 in the previous chapter.
-- Check battery type/brand. If lead then it might be unsuitable and probably broken because of the heavy cycling.
-- If some unknown or unsupported CANbus battery; change the battery to a supported type.
 Then; if PV is not used enough to power loads;
-- Check for the # reason codes; see CODE KEY in this manual.
+  - Check for the # reason codes; see CODE KEY in this manual.
+  - Check wiring: lots of voltage drop between MPPT and multi will prevent the system from effectively powering AC loads from solar power.
-- Check wiring: lots of voltage drop between MPPT and multi will prevent the system from effectively powering AC loads from solar power.
+  - Test with and without SVS enabled: leave it disabled.
+  - Next, check MPPT charge current limit during the time that it is not used enough. MPPT CCL is supposed to be high always; even when battery full. Unless there is a temperature issue.
-- Test with and without SVS enabled.
+  - Now check MPPT Charge Voltage Setpoint. It is supposed to be above actual battery voltage.
-- Next, check MPPT charge current limit during the time that it is not used enough. MPPT CCL is supposed to be high always; even when battery full. Unless there is a temperature issue.
-- Now check MPPT Charge Voltage Setpoint. It is supposed to be above actual battery voltage.
-Note that those last two setpoints are determined by software; and calculated based on the setpoints sent by the (CANbus connected) lithium battery: you can't change change them manually. Looking at them however does help understanding why certains things are happening;
+Note that those last two set points are determined by software; and calculated based on the setpoints sent by the (CANbus connected) lithium battery: you can't change them manually. Looking at them however does help understanding why certain things are happening;
 ===== DISQUS =====
 ~~DISQUS~~