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Off-Grid Victron System

Drunkin Solar

Drunkin Solar

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Joined
Feb 19, 2024
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Location
N E Tennessee
Have some questions on re-configuring my setup. Paging @sunshine_eggo if available.

I Just recently did all the firmware updates to my system. The system consists of a MultiPlus 24v 3000w, Smart Solar 250/100 and a Cerbo S.
After the updates finished the system SOC disappeared. Prior to the updates SOC worked flawlessly. I remember when doing the initial config last year I was able to set the MultiPlus as the device to calculate SOC. As of now that setting eludes me using Remote Console. I have noticed some changes in the configs from what they were last year.

Am I missing something or do I need to run Remote VEConfigure to find the correct setting?

One other issue I was never able to set for VRM is temp being reported in C instead F. Still no joy there.

All help is appreciated. Thanks All
 
I know with the Smart Shunt, it used to lose its SOC when it lost power. That has been fixed in an update last year, but maybe it's still the same issue with the MP monitoring.

I don't believe that setting is available in the Remote Console. You'll have to take a look at in in VE Config or VictronConnect (when wired to the VE Bus).
Screenshot 2024-05-02 at 10.15.52.png

As far as the temp settings go in the VRM, you have to click the "back" button on the left side of the page till you see the "preferences" option. Click that and then go into "Display Preferences". There you should be able to set the VRM temp settings.
Screenshot 2024-05-02 at 10.13.21.pngScreenshot 2024-05-02 at 10.11.48.pngScreenshot 2024-05-02 at 10.12.27.png
 
Thanks Adam De Lay
Kind of figured I need to run VEConfigure but I'll need to install that on my new computer.

I did find the temp setting you show in remote console and changed it from C to F.
VRM is still reporting in C.

:fp2

Edit:
I stand corrected. I was in another part of Remote Console.
Found that page you showed me and WALA it changed from C to F.
Thank You issue is fixed!
 
Last edited:
Drunkin Solar said:
Thanks Adam De Lay
Kind of figured I need to run VEConfigure but I'll need to install that on my new computer.

I did find the temp setting you show in remote console and changed it from C to F.
VRM is still reporting in C.

:fp2
Click to expand...
Display settings for the Remote Console will only affect the physical display or Remote Console.

You need to actually make the changes I suggested in the VRM.
 
That fixed it
Thanks!

May I ask one more question if you don't mind?
Yesterday I upgraded my controller and had some imbalance going on with my batteries (12v series connected for 24v). I charged each battery separately to full and reconnected everything.
Once I get into VEConfigure is there anything need be done to reset SOC?
 
You can always ask another question! Just can't guarantee I'll have the right answer for you... 😁

I have a shunt which tracks my SOC so I really haven't use the MP for monitoring. I wonder though if the "battery monitor" checkbox got unchecked OR you need to let the inverters perform a full charge on the batteries in order for things to reset properly. Just a guess though.
 
Ran VEConfigure and apparently when the firmware updated it wiped out the settings and in the inverter section I had to check off to use the Multi for SOC and reenter the battery AH rating. The SOC calculation has been restored to the VRM portal. And is accurately sitting at 100 percent. The batteries stopped charging off of PV a half hour ago. So all good there.

Next I need to figure out why the details are now missing in the SOC box, the PV box and the inverter box. It used to show the details automatically prior, now you need to hover the curser over the box to get the info such as voltages and currents in the system.

Boy these firmware updates can be rough on the setup....
 
When you update the firmware on a Victron inverter, it resets all the settings back to their default values. I'm guessing that Victron thinks that's the easiest way to ensure there's no data conflicts when updating firmware. Best practice is to save a backup of your configuration before you update and then restore that after the update is complete.

You can also use the VRM to update your devices, and it will save a copy for you and then prompt you to re-upload.

Victron does recommend to not update the firmware on your inverters unless the release notes show a bug fix that you're looking for or a specific feature addition. You don't have to update just to keep it on the latest firmware version.
 
Adam De Lay said:
When you update the firmware on a Victron inverter, it resets all the settings back to their default values. I'm guessing that Victron thinks that's the easiest way to ensure there's no data conflicts when updating firmware. Best practice is to save a backup of your configuration before you update and then restore that after the update is complete.

You can also use the VRM to update your devices, and it will save a copy for you and then prompt you to re-upload.

Victron does recommend to not update the firmware on your inverters unless the release notes show a bug fix that you're looking for or a specific feature addition. You don't have to update just to keep it on the latest firmware version.
Click to expand...
Yeah, these are real-life quality hardware, not EG4, Chinesium Beta Boxes :)
 
Drunkin Solar said:
Ran VEConfigure and apparently when the firmware updated it wiped out the settings and in the inverter section I had to check off to use the Multi for SOC and reenter the battery AH rating. The SOC calculation has been restored to the VRM portal. And is accurately sitting at 100 percent. The batteries stopped charging off of PV a half hour ago. So all good there.

Next I need to figure out why the details are now missing in the SOC box, the PV box and the inverter box. It used to show the details automatically prior, now you need to hover the curser over the box to get the info such as voltages and currents in the system.
Click to expand...

Maybe this?

1714678397961.png

So is the ONLY battery monitor in the system the inverter battery monitor?

I'm perplexed how this can possibly be accurate as the internal battery monitor sees nothing from the MPPT.

EDIT: Nevermind... forgot about this...

1714678828741.png
 
Last edited:
sunshine_eggo said:
Maybe this?

View attachment 212913

So is the ONLY battery monitor in the system the inverter battery monitor?
Click to expand...
Yes that was it! I'm feeling back to normal now. Details are back.

The SOC as calculated over the past year seems to be very accurate.

Like a dumb azz I just didn't think of downloading the config before update and I'm on a new computer the old one has the original config file on it. This turned out to be a good exercise on setting all up again refreshing the old mans memory.


Thanks Again everyone!
Time for a beer....or two
 
Drunkin Solar said:
Yes that was it! I'm feeling back to normal now. Details are back.

The SOC as calculated over the past year seems to be very accurate.
Click to expand...

Yep. I had forgotten that the Cerbo will use incoming MPPT reported current to influence the inverter SoC keeping it relatively accurate.

If you had a non-Victron charging source (not connected to Cerbo), the inverter would never see the incoming charge, and your SoC would only go down.

Drunkin Solar said:
Like a dumb azz I just didn't think of downloading the config before update and I'm on a new computer the old one has the original config file on it. This turned out to be a good exercise on setting all up again refreshing the old mans memory.
Click to expand...

I like to use the VRM online updater for this reason... of course, I'm too chickenshit to do it remotely (3.5 hr from system). But I use it "remotely" while local. THe online process does as @Adam De Lay describes - saves your old config, updates, loads your old config and gives you the opportunity to adjust any newly added settings.

Drunkin Solar said:
Thanks Again everyone!
Time for a beer....or two
Click to expand...

Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shalt be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out.
 
sunshine_eggo said:
Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shalt be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out.
Click to expand...
Ahhh. The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. Like everything in Monty Python, there is always a way to relate it back to having a pint or two. (y)
 
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