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ve.bus:ve.bus_error_codes

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VE.Bus Error Codes

General

During first installation, and in case of problems, update all devices to the latest firmware. This includes the latest VE.Bus firmware and also the latest firmware in the Color Control GX.

Firmware update instructions:

To restart a system, first switch all units off, one by one. And then switch all units on again. Do this with the On / Off / Charger-only rocker-switch on the front of the device.

Network cable quality

Make sure to use industrially made network cabling. Using self crimped RJ45 cables is a known cause of various of below list of errors.

This applies to network cables for split-, three phase and parallel systems as well as connecting a GX Device or other accessory on the VE.Bus network.

VE.Bus Error Codes

Error 1 - Device is switched off because one of the other phases in the system has switched off

One of the phases in a multi-phase system has failed. Commonly because of a Low battery, Overload or High temperature alarm. When this happens, the other phases will show VE.Bus Error Code 1.

Trouble shooting: Look for the failing phase, which will be the phase that is not showing VE.Bus Error Code 1. And check the LEDs on that phase to find out what the reason was for the shut down.

Diagnosing on VRM First make sure that Automatic alarm monitoring is enabled; that is necessary to create the Overload and Temperature errors in the log. You will see Overload and Temperature alarms occurring at the same time as VE.Bus Error 1.

Note for split- and three-phase systems: VRM, nor the CCGX, will indicate on which phase the overload or the temperature alarm occured. To find out on which unit the error occurs, go to system after it has switched off. And look on the LEDs. The unit with the overload or temperature alarm, will have the corresponding alarm LED lit continuously. The other units will indicate a VE.Bus error, indicating that they miss one unit.

Error 2 - New and old types MK2 are mixed in the system

This should never happen, contact Victron service.

Error 3 - Not all, or more than, the expected devices were found in the system

Possible causes and solutions:

  1. This error often follows VE.Bus Error 1. Solution: solve the cause for VE.Bus Error 1. Note that when using an older CCGX (version before v1.40), it can be that the first error is not reported on the Alarm log on VRM. So even when it only lists VE.Bus Error 3, it can very well be that that error was preceeded by VE.Bus Error 1.
  2. The system is not properly configured: all VE.Bus devices connected to the VE.Bus network must be configured as one parallel, split- and/or three-phase system. Do not connect two separate VE.Bus systems together.
  3. Communication cable error: check the communication cables.
  4. DC fuse blown of one or more units in the system. When mains is available all units seems to work correctly, but as soon as mains fails, or as soon as the system decides to switch to Island mode for any other reason, the non powered units are disconnected from the system.

Error 4 - No other device found

The master device is configured to run in a parallel-, split- and/or three-phase system, but cannot find other devices on the bus.

Multiple possible causes:

1. During a system restart

Error 4 can be seen temporarily while the system restarts after an error. Not a real error in that case, no need to investigate.

2. Because of issues in cabling

Faulty cables. Check the communication cables. Don't use self made cables.

Error 5 - Overvoltage on AC out

This problem can occur when the AC wiring of one of the slave units is not connected properly, or not connected at all.

Check the AC wiring.

Error 6 - Error in DDC Program

This means: error in an Assistant. To solve, follow these steps:

  1. update VE.Bus firmware in all devices to the latest firmware. Instructions here.
  2. download the latest VEConfigure and make sure it has downloaded all the latest Assistants.
  3. re-configure the system

Error 7 - VE.Bus BMS detected, but not configured

A VE.Bus BMS device is connected but there is no Assistant loaded which handles the VE.Bus BMS.

Solution: configure the use of the VE.Bus BMS in one of the Assistants.

Error 10 - System time synchronisation problem

This typically happens during a system restart, and is then not a real error; no need to investigate.

For example this screenshot from the Color Control GX:

The real problem is Error 1. In this example it was caused by switching device L2 off with the front toggle switch. It was then quickly followed by Error 3. And when switching device L2 back on, briefly Error 10 is visible, followed by full recovery.

Note: System restarts can also be triggered when using Remote VEConfigure.

Other possibility: DC fuse blown of one or more units in the system. When mains is available all units seems to work correctly, but as soon as mains fails, the non powered units are disconnected from the system.

Error 11 - Relay Test Fault - Installation error or possibly relay failure

This error only applies to the MultiGrid, MultiPlus-II, EasySolar-II and other inverter/chargers with a dual backfeed relay. As part of grid-code compliance; the device tests verifies that its internal relays function properly.

The relays are tested when a grid code is selected in VEConfigure. When the grid-code is set to None, the tests are not performed.

When VE.Bus error 11 shows, either the back-feed relay test, ground relay test, or measurement redundancy tests has failed. The tests are automatically performed every time before connecting to mains.

The three root causes of the error can be (from most common to least common):

1) In most cases, when you see Error 11, its due to an installation error:

  • Please verify that the neutral is connected to earth on the supply side. In many countries this is done by the utility in the transformer cabinet (a TN network).
  • Line should be connected to the corresponding Line input on the inverter/charger, same for Neutral. A swapped connection results in Error 11.
  • There should be no external connection between N-out and GND

2) For Australia: contact your distributor.

3) Hardware defect; contact your distributor for a replacement.

Detailed diagnosis of Error 11

After updating your VE.Bus inverter/charger to firmware 454 or higher; and running Venus OS v2.23 or later, a detailed VE.Bus Error report can be seen in the Venus-device menu. The information shown is:

It shows:

  • A six digit number; which contains all the details
  • An error ID (#16 for example). Note that this does not count the the number of VE.Bus errors; its just a unique ID that can help recognizing that a new error has occured.
  • Flags
  • The failed step; it counts backwards: step 9 → 8 → 7 and so forth.

Common causes:

  • Failing step #8: check that line and neutral have not been swapped. Unlike non-grid code installations; line and neutral need to be wired correctly.
  • PE2 open error: check that AC-out Neutral is not wired to Ground. Short circuiting them is not allowed. Also, check that there is no leakage between Neutral and ground, for example because broken consumer. Start by disconnecting all loads: open all the circuit breakers.
  • AC0/AC1 mismatch and UMains error: there has been a fix for that in VE.Bus inverter/charger firmware version 455.

In all other cases, contact your Victron representative for support. Please provide a photo of the error; and otherwise at least the 6 digit number at the top.

The report is found by navigating to the Device list (top level menu), then going in to the Multi or Quattro inverter/charger page, then to the bottom, Alarm Status, then to the bottom again, in to the menu VE.Bus Error 11 report.

Now you will see a list of all devices in the system; and their latest VE.Bus Error 11 details. Enter the menu for an explanation of the code.

Error 14 - Device cannot transmit data

Most probably a short circuit in the communication cables.

Another possibility, very rare though, is a broken component on the board. Return the device to the nearest service point for repair.

Error 16 - VE.Bus dongle is missing

Update firmware to latest version: VE.Bus dongles are no longer necessary.

Instructions here.

Error 17 - Original Master Missing

This error can only occur on systems with multiple devices installed per phase. For example a single phase installation with two or more devices in parallel, or a three-phase installation with six or more devices.

Error 17 will only appear on slaves. You'll see it when its phase-master is no longer communicating on the VE.Bus network.

  • In some cases this error can be seen temporarily while using Remote VEConfigure to write a new configuration.
  • The most likely cause is bad cabling/contacts on the VE.Bus: Check cabling and contacts. Make sure to also inspect the female RJ-45 sockets, instead of only the cabling: Sometimes badly mounted RJ45 cable connectors prevent the spring-contacts in the female RJ45 connectors on the Multis to properly make contact.
  • DC fuse blown of the master. When mains is available all units seems to be fine, but as soon as mains fails, the non powered units are disconnected from the system.

Error 18 - AC Over-voltage on the output of a slave while switched off

Solution: check if AC wires are not swapped by accident. There can never be voltage on the AC out when a unit is switched off.

Error 22 - This device cannot function as a slave

This device is an obsolete and unsuitable model. It should be replaced.

Error 24 - Switch-over system protection initiated

This error indicates that one or more units report feeding back a significant current through its back-feed relay, while those relay are supposed to be open, and -obviously- no current can flow through an open circuit.

What is the back-feed relay? It is the relay that closes when connecting to the grid or generator. And which opens when there is no power available, ie when the system is in island- or invert-mode.

Error 24 is raised when a Multi or Quattro detects current flowing through the back-feed relay during a period when the relay should be open. This can mean one of two things:

  1. The relay did not open.
  2. The related current measurement circuit is faulty.

Error 24 is a very rare error. Possible causes in order of probability:

  • There is too much AC load connected at the moment the relay needs to switch off. This large current will prevent the relay contacts from opening.
    Solution: remove excessive load. See transfer switch capacity in the datasheet for the maximum rating.
  • The AC input voltage slowly drops before it is being rejected by the Multis. Typically happens in installations with a generator. Especially when combined with AC loads that increase their current draw when the AC voltage drops: by the time that the inverter/charger initiates the disconnect, the current through the relays has increased well beyond the ratings, and is too high to open them.
    Solution: Make the Multis or Quattros disconnect earlier: increase lower limit of AC input voltage in VEConfigure3. For example to 210 VAC. The factory setting is 180 VAC.
  • The back-feed relay has a hardware failure
    Solution: Replace faulty unit.
  • The related current measurement circuit is faulty.
    Solution: replace faulty unit.

Diagnosing a parallel, multi or split-phase system?

Error 24 will always appear on all units at the same time. There is unfortunately no indication, not on LEDs, nor on a GX device, VRM, or any other manner, to see which of the devices caused the error. Below procedures outlines how to manually determine which unit has a faulty relay.

Do make sure to first, always double check option 1 and 2 in above list. Those are the common causes. In case that doesn't lead to a solution, follow this procedure to find out if its a relay issue, and then which unit.

Execute this procedure right after the error occurred; do not first reset the system.

Step 1

Start with making a video of all units and their LED code. Do not first reset the system; and do not reset it after making the video either.

Step 2

Completely disconnect all AC wiring, both in- and out, on all units. Make pictures of the terminals; to make sure when discussing this with an engineer; there is no misunderstanding on what has been meant by this instruction.

Step 3 Now, with an ohm-meter, measure the resistance between the neutral terminals on AC-input and the AC-output, A working unit will show no connection between these terminals. And also measure the resistance between the Line terminals of AC-input and AC-output.

A faulty unit will measure zero or close to zero resistance.

Good units will measure discontinuity between the Line in and out terminals. And measure a few hundred ohms between the neutral In and Out AC terminals.

Error 25 - Firmware incompatibility

Make sure to use the same firmware in all devices.

Solution: update all devices to the latest available firmware. Instructions here.

Error 26 - Internal error

Should not occur. Switch all equipment off, and then on again; it will then resume operation. Contact Victron Energy if the problem persists.

DISQUS

~~DISQUS~~

ve.bus/ve.bus_error_codes.1558988587.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019-05-27 22:23 (external edit)

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