(posted 06/01/24)
Up at 6, morning routines, today is figure out charging network issues and adjust voltages.
Lithium batteries are best left at mid range on charge. I checked with Battleborn to get specific values.
The charging system is networked to maximize performance and indication. The charger/inverter is connected to the two solar controllers and the shunt/battery monitor. The network display shows status of everything, and also connects to the internet. Which means that I can check everything from any where.
The network all connects at the same the device called a CERBO GX. The charger/inverter uses a standard network cable, the two solar controllers and the display use a “CAN BUS” network (might be proprietary). There’s also a device to connect via Bluetooth that uses a standard network cable. The problem I had was one of the two solar controllers worked as far as charging, and as far as Bluetooth, but wasn’t visible on the network. I called support and was told most likely problem was a plugged connection on one end of the other for the device that was not working.
Well, I tried the plug at the controller and no change. I started at the cerbo and was able to get the starboard controller viable, or the port, but not both. This CAN bus has three ports 1,2,3; my experience with networks says they are all the same. The three devices are port and starboard solar controllers and the display for the system. It took a few hours to figure out that the display would work when plugged into any of them, but the solar controllers would only work in 1 or 2. Part of the problem that made it take so long was I had to see the update on the internet to know if something I did had the desired outcome.
At the end of the day, everything is working, it’s all visible via the internet, and everything is set at the lower voltage.
We went to the pool and happy hour. Then dinner, showers, a game and bed.
No pictures today.