My system stopped charging from the AC connect

[Neil]

my system does charge my four 100 AH batteries from my panels.
But recently it stopped charging my batteries from the AC connect . Normally when I would connect the system to AC it will go through it's connect routine . Very soon the inverter's cooling fan will turn on and then the AC will connect and start charging the batteries.

But now it doesn't get past that stage. The fan doesn't come on . I recently had replaced a the inverter's control board and the system WAS charging with
AC. My guess ? Maybe I have to replace the cooling fan ? The inverter DOES make 110 power so the inverter is working

Any thoughts ?

[Mike Curran]

When you say "AC" I assume you mean grid. If so, my garage system may be similar to yours. For mine, my inverter will not use the grid to charge unless the battery reaches the refloat or rebulk voltage setpoint(s). It's normal for mine to use my PV to charge the battery every day (I'm grid tied so barring a power outage, my loads are supported by the grid, not the battery), so I'm wondering how you have your system set up so that you're expecting the inverter to do the charging?

Maybe you could explain a bit more about how your system is set up, that would help us help you.

[Neil]

When you say "AC" I assume you mean grid. If so, my garage system may be similar to yours. For mine, my inverter will not use the grid to charge unless the battery reaches the refloat or rebulk voltage setpoint(s). It's normal for mine to use my PV to charge the battery every day (I'm grid tied so barring a power outage, my loads are supported by the grid, not the battery), so I'm wondering how you have your system set up so that you're expecting the inverter to do the charging?

Maybe you could explain a bit more about how your system is set up, that would help us help you.

This system is installed in my box truck. The truck has panels on its' roof. When I say AC I mean connected to grid via a simple long extension cord to my house or any other AC source. I do need to get familiar with any related settings for AC connection as I haven't had time to dive into that yet.. Anyway, AC grid connection is a sometimes thing since my truck sometimes needs grid power to charge the batteries for lack of sun.

As I mentioned before, the batteries do charge from the panels. And the inverter is capable of producing AC output. But when the AC connect switch is open the fan does not come on . The system aborts the connection and then repeatedly tries again to connect but fails at the moment the fan should come on

[Mike Curran]

As I mentioned before, the batteries do charge from the panels. And the inverter is capable of producing AC output. But when the AC connect switch is open the fan does not come on . The system aborts the connection and then repeatedly tries again to connect but fails at the moment the fan should come on

Okay, makes a bit more sense now.

However, "when the AC connect switch is open" sounds (to me, anyway) like that's when you're on battery power. An open switch means no connection. Is that what you mean?

Also, "the system aborts the connection" - what exactly is happening? What indication do you have?

Finally, "repeatedly tries again to connect but fails at the moment the fan should come on" - again, what exactly are you seeing?

[Neil]

As I mentioned before, the batteries do charge from the panels. And the inverter is capable of producing AC output. But when the AC connect switch is open the fan does not come on . The system aborts the connection and then repeatedly tries again to connect but fails at the moment the fan should come on

Okay, makes a bit more sense now.

However, "when the AC connect switch is open" sounds (to me, anyway) like that's when you're on battery power. An open switch means no connection. Is that what you mean?

Also, "the system aborts the connection" - what exactly is happening? What indication do you have?

Finally, "repeatedly tries again to connect but fails at the moment the fan should come on" - again, what exactly are you seeing?

Thanks for trying even though I haven't described things very well ..

Sorry I meant the AC connect switch is turned ON or it is connecting AC to my Outback

By abort I mean the system looks like it is trying to connect AC but then starts the process over .. A red light briefly goes on then off at the bottom of the vertical row of LED indicators that visually let us know what the status iof things is straight above the inverter .

[raysun]

Are there any event messages on the Mate?

[EA6LE-ONE]

When I say AC I mean connected to grid via a simple long extension cord to my house or any other AC source.

Maybe the cord is damaged, not the correct gauge for the length and you have a big dip in voltage or reversed polarity.

[Neil]

When I say AC I mean connected to grid via a simple long extension cord to my house or any other AC source.

Maybe the cord is damaged, not the correct gauge for the length and you have a big dip in voltage or reversed polarity.

My chord is plenty heavy duty and I've had it in use for years

[Neil]

Are there any event messages on the Mate?

I don't think there are but I'll try connecting again and see if any are generated

[Neil]

It stopped connecting to my AC because my physical connection to AC was faulty . I solved that and the vfx3648 is connecting to AC again . yay