Alarm sounding on MPP Solar help (1 Viewer)

[GAVLAD]

Bonjourno!

We are currently in Italy on site and the sites electric went down last night. This morning after the electrician came they got it working again.
About half an hour afterwards, I could hear a continuous beep and on further investigation, found that it was coming from my solar panel regulator.

It’s an MPP Solar PCM-3012 25A.
On checking it, everything looked normal, blue led on for solar energy status and green led on for charging status - as per normal.

I have a blade fuse before and after the panel so decided to pull both and obviously cut the power supply which deactivated the sound.
Waited 5mins and then put the fuses back and all seemed ok until about 10mins later and the continuous sound is back.

I’ve checked the habitation panel and the habitation batteries are showing as 15.4volts and the vehicle battery showing at 14.9volts.

I’m wondering if the continuous sound is an alarm to indicate over charging?

On checking the lcd panel it shows F1 status.

I thought I’d brought me instruction manual but currently struggling to find it.

Has anyone any ideas? / experience of this? Techno ?

I just need to know that it’s a normal occurrence and it deals with itself or whether I need to take any action such as switching it off for a while?
We’re going out for the day so the sound won’t affect us but don’t want to come back to a pile of ash.

Thanks a lot
GAVLAD

Ps I don’t think I’ve ever had pleasure of seeing my batteries so topped up!

 

[GAVLAD]

To compare, this was a few days back note status says 02

 

[Richard n Ann]

15.4v is too high. What sort of batteries do you have?

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[aria]

"Overcharge and the charger will automatically cut off output".

Pg 8 here - http://www.mppsolar.com/manual/PCM-2012,3012/PCM-3012_24 user manual-20121126.pdf

 

[andy63]

Your picture is showing a fault code F1 been displayed.
That's an overcharge warning and the instructions indicate to check the battery connections ...
A battery defect..
Or a charge controller defect..
I'd be inclined to disconnect for a while and see how your batteries preform and what sort of capacity they actually have..
You will know how old they are and the use they have had..
Andy

 

[andy63]

Sorry just seen your second picture from a few days ago..
The 02 been displayed is the battery type you have set for the controller...
O2= sealed lead acid..
That should equate to a bulk charge voltage of14.3v and it should float at around 13.4v..
And to get a clearer picture of what is going on id remove the hook up..
You are possibly seeing the mains charger voltage if you are on hook up..
Andy

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[BwB]

When you pulled the fuses, you did put the battery 12v supply back on before connecting the solar panels? Just a thought.

 

[GAVLAD]

15.4v is too high. What sort of batteries do you have?

Varta LFD90 leisure batteries deep cycle

 

[GAVLAD]

"Overcharge and the charger will automatically cut off output".

Pg 8 here - http://www.mppsolar.com/manual/PCM-2012,3012/PCM-3012_24 user manual-20121126.pdf

Thanks for this - it’s what I’ve been looking for in the van,
I’ve pressed & held the button and it’s muted the alarm

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[GAVLAD]

Your picture is showing a fault code F1 been displayed.
That's an overcharge warning and the instructions indicate to check the battery connections ...
A battery defect..
Or a charge controller defect..
I'd be inclined to disconnect for a while and see how your batteries preform and what sort of capacity they actually have..
You will know how old they are and the use they have had..
Andy

Thanks. Looking at the batteries they all still look in excellent nick - bought them new 4 year ago.
All of the connections are secure on terminals.
It’s a coincidence it’s happened since the power cut/on on the camp site.
I’ll disconnect from the ehu and will monitor them. I’ve brought a volt meter with me.
Cheers

 

[GAVLAD]

Sorry just seen your second picture from a few days ago..
The 02 been displayed is the battery type you have set for the controller...
O2= sealed lead acid..
That should equate to a bulk charge voltage of14.3v and it should float at around 13.4v..
And to get a clearer picture of what is going on id remove the hook up..
You are possibly seeing the mains charger voltage if you are on hook up..
Andy

The batteries are sealed lead acid so that should be correct.
I’ve just checked the habitation panel (still on ehu) and it reads 13.5v Han batteries and 13.3v vehicle battery.

I’m on 6amp ehu and I’ve currently got the dometic air con on (operates on ehu only) plus endless breeze (1.6amps) and the vans ISO Air fan on (2amps) just to use up some juice.
If I turn the above off the panel shows the Hab batteries at 13.9v.
The MPP solar also shows 13.9v

I also have a ctek mx25 battery charger which works on ehu and that’s showing ok and currently on recond setting which charges and reconditions at same time without allowing an over charge.

 

[GAVLAD]

When you pulled the fuses, you did put the battery 12v supply back on before connecting the solar panels? Just a thought.

No I just pulled both fuses and reinserted them and it fired back up

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[DBK]

I've lost the thread a bit but if on solar the batteries are showing over 15 volts then disconnect the solar as it will fry the batteries. I had a similar experience a year or so ago and it was a failed solar controller.

 

[GAVLAD]

Just unplugged ehu
Panel shows hab batt at 13.4v - same on MPP solar lcd panel
Vehicle batt 13.5v

That’s with all fans etc turned off.
If I put the 2 x fans on operated off the hab batt. It comes down to 13.2v
Obviously the solar is still working and it’s about 30degrees plus outside.
Note the status has now changed from F1 fault code back to 02 for battery type and it’s stopped alarming

 

[GAVLAD]

I've lost the thread a bit but if on solar the batteries are showing over 15 volts then disconnect the solar as it will fry the batteries. I had a similar experience a year or so ago and it was a failed solar controller.

Sorry if I’ve confused anyone.

The regulator seems to have settled down since unplugging from the ehu.
I will bear it in mind though DBK when I come to hook back up later on

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[DBK]

Looks OK now. Just an Italian tantrum. We've had issues on EHU in Italy. I think the supply is a bit Mediterranean in temperament.

 

[GAVLAD]

It’s all happened since the site electric went down so maybe you’re right.
I’ll give it a few hours off ehu and will plug it back in afterwards and monitor it. At least it’ll have cooled down and sun not as strong then too.

Thank you everyone who has responded - much appreciated!
I’ll update you tomorrow

 

[mitzimad]

just a thought its not your charger overcharging when on ehu?the excess voltage could still trip the controller alarm

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[HandyAndy]

If you are unplugging EHU and your problems go away then it is very likely the mains charger at fault, not the solar charge controller.
either way 15.4 v is too high, thats above the gassing voltage so will eventually boil the battery dry if left.. (i.e don't leave whatever is causing it connected)

 

[HandyAndy]

I suspect the reason the charge controller is going ballistic is the fact it is simply sensing battery voltage of 15.4v and throwing the warning. I don't think it's the solar charge controller at issue, more an after effect rather than the actual cause.
More likely to be the EHU having had some sort of spike before it went down earlier causing your mains charger to internally emit some magic smoke.

 

[GAVLAD]

I’ve replugged into the ehu and for the last hour, all has been ok.
Hab batteries at 13.4v and vehicle 13.2v - both of which are the norms for when on ehu.
I suppose the test will be tomorrow morning when the sun is out again.
Although I am thinking that it must have been a spike when the ehu went down/back on

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[Techno]

Only just got an email but looks like you're ok

 

[TheCaller]

When you pulled the fuses, you did put the battery 12v supply back on before connecting the solar panels? Just a thought.

No I just pulled both fuses and reinserted them and it fired back up

I'm not sure the point that BwB was making has been fully appreciated.

When disconnecting a solar panel controller, pull the fuse on the panel side of the controller first. When reconnecting, insert the fuse on the battery side first.

Some controllers rely on the initial connection to the battery to know whether they are on a 12 or 24V system. If the first thing the controller sees is 20+volts from the panels, it might assume it's on a 24V system & then it will certainly fry your batteries.

It sounds like your system has settled down, but keep an eye on those voltages. I had a Victron MPPT controller fail on me in that way - it was charging at 17V. The batteries survived, although I dare say it shortened their lives, but the inverter didn't. It was the inverter failing that alerted me to the problem. Got the controller replaced under warranty & fitted the Bluetooth monitoring dongle to keep a better eye on things for the future.

 

[GAVLAD]

Hello all and thank you to everyone for your advice & suggestions.
Everything seems to have settled down now (fingers ?) although I’ll keep an eye on things.
My hab batt are 14.3v & 14v vehicle which is the norm when on ehu.

I think the site electric was the issue.

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[GAVLAD]

Only just got an email but looks like you're ok

Thanks Andy - it’s the first time I’d heard the MPP solar alarm and of course, couldn’t find the instructions.
There must have been a spike when the electric came back on and for some reason the bolts were going through the roof.
The controller did its job as it started to alarm but not sure if it cut off supplying from the solar as the volts didn’t come down until I had pulled the fuses and unhooked from ehu. Btw I pulled the solar side first and put that back first.
I just didn’t want to go out for the day and come back to smoke.
Anyway, it seems to have settled down now. Thanks anyway and hope you’re well. Ps I still have your Stanley knife and bin drawer!

 

[ramsthom]

Thanks Andy - it’s the first time I’d heard the MPP solar alarm and of course, couldn’t find the instructions.
There must have been a spike when the electric came back on and for some reason the bolts were going through the roof.
The controller did its job as it started to alarm but not sure if it cut off supplying from the solar as the volts didn’t come down until I had pulled the fuses and unhooked from ehu. Btw I pulled the solar side first and put that back first.
I just didn’t want to go out for the day and come back to smoke.
Anyway, it seems to have settled down now. Thanks anyway and hope you’re well. Ps I still have your Stanley knife and bin drawer!

 

[ramsthom]

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[ramsthom]

Reference reconnecting the solar panel you say you replaced the solar panel fuse first. Its been said in previous posts it important to replace the battery fuse first for the controller to recognise the correct battery voltage.

 

[pete4x4]

Bit late to the conversation but the alarm will go off if the battery voltage exceeds 15v which for me with a temperature compensating ehu charger causes the solar to alarm at temperatures below 0C, at -10C charging voltage is around 15.9V, a real pain when it occurs in the middle of the night.
I have sinced changed to a temperature compensated solar charger to match the ehu charger.