We had a Givenergy Battery recently installed - it has never really given energy once solar generation ceases for the day (red status) and now it has completely died. Any hints and tips? I had thought it would automatically work in tandem with the Inverter and reduce our reliance on the grid (still awaiting word from DNO on export)
Presumably from your description, you have solar PV, a hybrid inverter plus a battery.
What gives you the impression that the battery is not working?
Are you looking at the LEDs on the front of the inverter, the web portal or the app?
Through the web portal, the My Inverter/Settings needs to be configured with 'Eco' Enabled and Submitted.
I believe the App has an option to Pause the battery, which you do not want to be active. Presumably Play clears this.
What does your supplier/installation engineer advise? Have they properly installed it?
Also the My Inverter/Settings/Battery Options charge and discharge power need to be set above 0 W, typically at the maximum on the sliders, then Submit.
Have you looked in teh Notification section on the Inverter Tile? Any errors? You say the indicator is red. Is that on the battery, or inverter?
Is the battery MCB in the UP position? Are the batteries turned on, ie status green and 4 level LEDs lit 1,2,3 or 4
The LEDs are blank - no lights and nothing appears to be happening on the app or on the inverter....will have a look on what was suggested. No word from the installer yet...
TheDragon (GivEnergy) notification has said battery voltage high pretty much since installation - (presumably in part because it hasn't been 'used' in the way that the installation anticipated)
is -19 suppose to be the temperature of the battery or the environment around the battery - app suggesting it is pretty cold somewhere!
That isnt right. If you press the black button on the right side, does the battery fire up?
TheDragon (GivEnergy) thanks - that brought it back to life - all lights to right are green, status light now red - so back to where i was last week - which presumably means the battery will be doing very little again...why is it not allowing us to use the energy once solar panels stop generating?
Your installer needs to check whether the power and data links from the inverter to battery are correct, then confirm if there is a fault with the battery unit.
Does the web portal monitoring of the inverter indicate that the battery voltage is too high (around 55 Volts dc), or is it unable to report any data regarding the battery status?
Has the battery always done this? Or is it after an BMS firmware upgrade?
What error is logged in the Inverter card on teh portal?
What version of BMS is loaded? If not 3007, try sending an email to support@givenergy.co.uk and request a manual upgrade file. Then do it manually.
That may kick the BMS back to life and out of its error state.
the web portal indicates that the battery is about 55v - will check with installer on power/data links
The battery has been for about 2 weeks - what is BMS? How do i know what version i have? not clear to me so far...
BMS is "Battery Management System" basically the digital device that maintains your battery in shape, stops you from damaging it, etc.
Your battery's firmware will be listed in the "My inverter" section of the portal, and then tab "software". Should be either 3005 or 3007.
If the web portal has a reading of 55v and it is getting this regularly, the data link is fine.
In notifications, you should see any issues reported, why the battery is Red. at 55v, i suspect its battery voltage high error.
You need to have GE engineers take a look at your system remotely, by sending them an email
rio911 thanks for this - so if it said under 'battery firmware version' - 0 - is that correct?
No. There is a problem here. Try a power cycle of the inverter, power it off at the isolator. See if that kicks it to read the BMS properly.
If not, there is a fault and your installer needs to come take a look. Maybe needing GE assistance.
TheDragon (GivEnergy) thanks for this! - what does what you propose involve? (so that i don't inadvertently do anything wrong)
Bridie The power cycling procedure is in the Givenergy Commissioning paperwork, but a Google search fails to find it. I do think the company could get some easy wins with some end user documentation easily findable. Anyway:
a) Disconnect the AC circuit breaker (usually Red)
b) turn off the battery by pressing the button at the top of the right hand side of the battery case for about ten seconds until it switches off.
c) Disconnect the Battery breaker (givenergy's are usually green)
d) Turn off the DC PV isolator (usually black)
e) Turn off the PV switch on the inverter (on the bottom underside of the inverter)
Check the inverter operating status - Wait until LED display have gone out, the inverter is shut down.
Start-Up the inverter
a) Connect the AC circuit breaker
b) Turn on the battery breaker
c) Turn on the battery by pressing the button at the top of the right hand side of the case
d) Turn on the DC switch on the inverter
e) Turn on the DC PV isolator
That should isolate the inverter from all sources of energy and then start it up from scratch.