PIP-5048MK inverter

[XtractorFan]

How can I set the date and time on 5048MK?

You have to use the front panel menu 95-99.
Also you have to be slow and change each setting individually - as in the manual, each time pressing ESC - or it doesn't register.
Also setting the minutes is problematic - it won't accept a reduction or increase in the same minute.
You have to go forward/back out of the current minute - then set the correct minute - difficult to explain, but you'll find out the hard way
There is supposed to be the DAT command - but on my firmware it doesn't work......

[affer]

Today i had several dips on my MK, and a few the last three days, prior to that i have not seen any dips in a lot of weeks, what i did change before the dips, was the charging voltage in float and bulk. now i have changed the settings again the other way, and i will see what will happen.
the setting before the dips was 57.6v in bulk and 54.5v in float, changed to -0.1v on both and saw the dips, and now to +0.2v on both voltage settings, i will follow up in a few days to see what i experience.

[ojeysky]

Mike

See attached the Trend for today:
Trend 2019 05 15.PNG

It is interesting to see that there were more dips in the morning than in the afternoon.
Also interseting to see while the Inverter was in Bypass mode no dips occurred.
It might also be due to the batteries that were more charged in the afternoon.

What is your take on it?

[ Edited Coulomb: no need for [image=pixels] tag for attachments. ]

Sorry what software are you using to get this nice graphs, am sure it's not watchpower?

[affer]

Today i had several dips on my MK, and a few the last three days, prior to that i have not seen any dips in a lot of weeks, what i did change before the dips, was the charging voltage in float and bulk. now i have changed the settings again the other way, and i will see what will happen.
the setting before the dips was 57.6v in bulk and 54.5v in float, changed to -0.1v on both and saw the dips, and now to +0.2v on both voltage settings, i will follow up in a few days to see what i experience.

Nope, it did not do any difference.. lots of dips now. :-/

[affer]

Nope, it did not do any difference.. lots of dips now. :-/

ok, that was my own fault, i had put on more pv panels and now i exceeded the specs on the mk (150VoC) and above 115 MPPT, then i saw a lot of dips, now i am back to 3x40VoC and apprx 92-ish MPPT, now everything is back to normal, Now i have two panels nor beeing used, any one can recommend how i go below 145VoC ? i might consider one more panel and setup my system in a 3s3p setup, totalling 2800wp and see how that is running (4s2p 310w panels was too much for the MK)

[coulomb]

i exceeded the specs on the mk (150VoC) and above 115 MPPT, then i saw a lot of dips, now i am back to 3x40VoC and apprx 92-ish MPPT, now everything is back to normal

Well, I thought excessive PV voltage was one of the first things suggested. Sorry, I should have noticed the PV voltage peaks in the graph above almost touching the 150 V line on the graph. Too many panels in series would explain the dips perfectly: as soon as PV panel power decreases near the middle of the day (because the battery is charged, or nearly so, and the loads happen to be low), then the panel voltage will rise. As soon as it hits 130 V, the MPPT derates itself, reducing the load further, increasing the panel voltage further, and you get a kind of positive feedback situation, ending up with no load on the panels. To get started from that point, you need enough shade to bring the panel voltage below 145 V; the MPPT (which now needs some PV power to recharge the battery) will then start using some panel power, which will reduce the panel voltage, and as it heads to 130 V, it stops derating altogether (the MPPT can use all it wants), and while there is enough load, the system will be normal. But next dip in the load will trigger another dip in the PV power. By late afternoon, there isn't enough insolation from the sun to cause the positive feedback situation, and the dips stop happening. In between middday and late afternoon, the frequency of dips decreases.

Derating is what the solar controller (commonly called the MPPT) does when it gets too hot, or the panel voltage becomes too high. Usually, it just reduces power according to a straight line graph, e.g. max 100% power at 130 V, 67% at 135 V, 33% at 140 V, and 0% (no power) at 145 V or above. Above 145 V there is the possibility of damaging the electronics (e.g. drying out the capacitors, avalanche breakdown of the MOSFETs). Similarly, it might start imposing lower and lower power limits above say 85 °C, reducing to zero power at say 100 °C. By running with reduced power or no power at all (not switching the MOSFETs) reduces the likelihood of damaging the hardware.

So yes, 3S x 2P or 3P (of 60 cell panels) would solve the problem. If they are 72-cell panels, then you'll probably have dips in winter, because cold panels have higher voltage.

Are others running say 3S of 72-cell panels on their PIP-5048MKs / Axpert Kings?

[T1 Terry]

ok, that was my own fault, i had put on more pv panels and now i exceeded the specs on the mk (150VoC) and above 115 MPPT, then i saw a lot of dips, now i am back to 3x40VoC and apprx 92-ish MPPT, now everything is back to normal, Now i have two panels nor beeing used, any one can recommend how i go below 145VoC ? i might consider one more panel and setup my system in a 3s3p setup, totalling 2800wp and see how that is running (4s2p 310w panels was too much for the MK)

We use the 3S2P for a number of 24v installs that use both the inverters inbuilt MPPT controller as well as the individual MPPT controllers from the same mob. The biggest at the moment is 10kW of solar. We use Tindo 275w panels that are 36v open circuit, the 3S keeps the open circuit voltage below the 145v mark, but at 24v we can only run as 2P and stay under the output limit of 60 amps for the individual MPPT controller and well under the 80 amps for the Inverters. Doubling the voltage to 48v would allow up to 3S4P for the inverters and 3S3P if you add the solar controllers as well if you want to increase the array later on.

T1 Terry

[coulomb]

We use Tindo 275w panels that are 36v open circuit, the 3S keeps the open circuit voltage below the 145v mark,

Yes. Tindo 275 W panels are 60 cell, so 3S is fine for a 145 V max solar charge controller. But many panels are 72 cell these days, and 3S causes too-high panel voltages.

I know you understand that very well, Terry, but it seems that some others need it spelled out.

[affer]

i can surely see that i was a little too greedy thinking i could go for a 4s2p setup for this inverter, and that might explain why i was kind of stable in my 3s2p setup with no dips, and now when i put on 2 more panels i got the dips. Actually it is running perfectly fine on a complete sunny day, but with clouds its shut off :-/

For now i am back to 3s2p, but i stil got the two extra panels i would like to use. the panels i have is 310w 60 cells https://www.sueneq.com/contents/nl/AS-6 ... %205BB.pdf
with Voc of 40v and Current of 9.88 what will the best setup be here for me? they are in a east-west setup atm.

the easy way is to do a 2s4p, but will the amp be too high here? i could get a panel more and do 3s3p, that i think would be perfect, but then i need to get a new stand for the panels. and that is not cheap.

in 2s4p i would go a little above 60v, and the MPPT is working from 60V, is this do-able?

thanks and sorry for my mistake on the 4s2p, i was hoping

[coulomb]

the easy way is to do a 2s4p, but will the amp be too high here?

That won't be too much current, under 40 A, but it might be a bit weaker than 3S2P in shady conditions. I'd say it's your best option.

[T1 Terry]

Yes. Tindo 275 W panels are 60 cell, so 3S is fine for a 145 V max solar charge controller. But many panels are 72 cell these days, and 3S causes too-high panel voltages.

I know you understand that very well, Terry, but it seems that some others need it spelled out.

Agreed, in this case the reply was to a member who had already stated the cells open circuit voltage was 40Voc, so 3 x 40v = 120Voc and well within the mppt controllers 145v limit.
It is important to no just stay under the total Voc capabilities of the charge controller, a bit of head room is also required and the Vmp total must be under the controllers upper limit as well. There are times the array will put out more than the STC figures marked on the back of the panel, so it is important to leave some headroom with the Voc, Vmp and Imp when calculating the maximum array combination the controller can actually handle without dropping out for self protection or even worse, letting the smoke out.

T1 Terry

[T1 Terry]

i can surely see that i was a little too greedy thinking i could go for a 4s2p setup for this inverter, and that might explain why i was kind of stable in my 3s2p setup with no dips, and now when i put on 2 more panels i got the dips. Actually it is running perfectly fine on a complete sunny day, but with clouds its shut off :-/

For now i am back to 3s2p, but i stil got the two extra panels i would like to use. the panels i have is 310w 60 cells https://www.sueneq.com/contents/nl/AS-6 ... %205BB.pdf
with Voc of 40v and Current of 9.88 what will the best setup be here for me? they are in a east-west setup atm.

the easy way is to do a 2s4p, but will the amp be too high here? i could get a panel more and do 3s3p, that i think would be perfect, but then i need to get a new stand for the panels. and that is not cheap.

in 2s4p i would go a little above 60v, and the MPPT is working from 60V, is this do-able?

thanks and sorry for my mistake on the 4s2p, i was hoping

How about another 4 panel mounted on the other roof with the same east/west orientation and connect them up 3S2P for the east facing panels and 3S2P for the west facing panels, all wired back to the controller so it receives a total of 3S4P but only a part of the day at full output from all 12 panels. During this part of the day the panels would be hot so the actual output from each panel would be less than the STC rated 310w so the total input would still be within the controllers capacity range.
I would not recommend such a set up if the 12 panels were all on a single plain, but split across two array facing in opposite direction it would work fine. It will also greatly enhance the harvest during winter and on poor solar days.

T1 Terry

[affer]

How about another 4 panel mounted on the other roof with the same east/west orientation and connect them up 3S2P for the east facing panels and 3S2P for the west facing panels, all wired back to the controller so it receives a total of 3S4P but only a part of the day at full output from all 12 panels. During this part of the day the panels would be hot so the actual output from each panel would be less than the STC rated 310w so the total input would still be within the controllers capacity range.
I would not recommend such a set up if the 12 panels were all on a single plain, but split across two array facing in opposite direction it would work fine. It will also greatly enhance the harvest during winter and on poor solar days.

T1 Terry

Terry, thanks i like your idea it might be the solution to the spring after i tested a 2s4p setup the rest of the year and by then i might be able to put on more load to the inverter thanks for the input.

[87 Dream]

Good day Everyone

Does anyone have a version of Firmware 71.50 or anything in the 71 firmware range. I have updated & the inverter still communicates with my laptop but the current firmware is erased. I have reached out to the supplier & it might cost me a new PCB. If anyone has a version please pm.

Thank you for all the great contributions on this forum.

Best regards
Steve

[coulomb]

Does anyone have a version of Firmware 71.50 or anything in the 71 firmware range.

PM sent.

[affer]

How about another 4 panel mounted on the other roof with the same east/west orientation and connect them up 3S2P for the east facing panels and 3S2P for the west facing panels, all wired back to the controller so it receives a total of 3S4P but only a part of the day at full output from all 12 panels. During this part of the day the panels would be hot so the actual output from each panel would be less than the STC rated 310w so the total input would still be within the controllers capacity range.
I would not recommend such a set up if the 12 panels were all on a single plain, but split across two array facing in opposite direction it would work fine. It will also greatly enhance the harvest during winter and on poor solar days.

T1 Terry

Terry, thanks i like your idea it might be the solution to the spring after i tested a 2s4p setup the rest of the year and by then i might be able to put on more load to the inverter thanks for the input.

T1: i had a thought.. what about 9 panels total, 3s3p.. twe sets east/west as now, and the last serial set, one panel facing east, one south and one west.. then i need only one more panel, and will keep my mppt range at about 90-100 volt.
still need to test the 2s4p, the cables have not arrived yet.

[affer]

wondering, can watchpower for windows connect via bluetooth ? or is it onlys for android devices? any have testet ?

[paulvk]

I use the HLK RM04 wifi to rs232 works great.

[ojeysky]

Now it's my turn to ask:
@affer - what software are you using to get those graphs?

i use this image https://diytechandrepairs.nu/raspberry-solar/ with some settings in grafana by my self.

I wish this will work with my raspberry Pi3+ but it doesn't, i am still looking for a free one that does

[dekin]

I use the HLK RM04 wifi to rs232 works great.

Hi paulvk
do you mind sharing how you got this to work with your 5048MK?
Thanks

[paulvk]

Hello dekin

The HLK-RM04 is an rs232 to tcpip converter , wireless access point and router.
If you use one at the inverter and a computer for monitoring you install "NetBurner Virtual Comm Port" on the computer
and it appears as a normal com port on the computer.
If you use two HLK-RM04 one at each end they seamlessly extend the rs232 through the tcpip connection.
I am using them to control units 250km away over a point to point VPN connection.
A friend has one on his PIPs and uses the wireless access point to connect to them.

Note watchpower and the PIPs do not even know the HLK-RM04 is there it appears to them as an ordinary rs232 comm port connection

Regards Paul

[dekin]

Hello dekin

The HLK-RM04 is an rs232 to tcpip converter , wireless access point and router.
If you use one at the inverter and a computer for monitoring you install "NetBurner Virtual Comm Port" on the computer
and it appears as a normal com port on the computer.
If you use two HLK-RM04 one at each end they seamlessly extend the rs232 through the tcpip connection.
I am using them to control units 250km away over a point to point VPN connection.
A friend has one on his PIPs and uses the wireless access point to connect to them.

Note watchpower and the PIPs do not even know the HLK-RM04 is there it appears to them as an ordinary rs232 comm port connection

Regards Paul

Hi Paul
Thanks for this.
will give it a try and le you know how it goes
Thanks

[XtractorFan]

Can anyone with a 'recent' PIP-5048MK confirm that the 'PYL' option is available in menu 05:
Without having a PylonTech BMS connected.
If so, what firmware do you have.
I need to know BEFORE I make another expensive useless purchase

[dekin]

Can anyone with a 'recent' PIP-5048MK confirm that the 'PYL' option is available in menu 05:
Without having a PylonTech BMS connected.
If so, what firmware do you have.
I need to know BEFORE I make another expensive useless purchase

I have the 5048MK and yes the PYL option is available in option 5. I don't have the Pylontech batteries yet
The firmware version is 71.80

[XtractorFan]

Many thanks dekin.
That's what I thought should be available.
I am struggling with MppSolar 'support' - have been for several months, trying to get a firmware upgrade for my 'obsolete pre-2019' MK.
It's a long story - following on from my previous post viewtopic.php?f=64&t=5955&start=25#p73496
When my sanity prevails, I will give more details....