Help with MS2812 setting for Lithium batteries

[kutsyy]

Hope someone can help.

I have '09 Mountain Aire with Magnum MS2812 inverter/charger, and since Magnum has been discontinued, I cannot get any help from the company.

I decided to upgrade to Lithium batteries and got an upgraded controller V 6.0, which has both Lithium and Custom battery settings, then I got 4 Eco-Worthy batteries, which I put in parallel. For monitoring, I have a Victron Energy SmartShunt 500A [has history] and Eco-worthy app [current status only, per battery].

So, my issue: When batteries go completely empty, the charger kicks in and charges them, but then the charger lets batteries discharge, and eventually batteries are kept at about 50%-60% charge, and I have no way to make them charge.

Does anyone know if there are any settings I need to change? [Yes, I know, upgrading to Victron Inverter would help.]

Thank you.

Setup:

Batteries and manufacturing recommendations:

ECO-WORTHY 12V 300AH, 4 in pararel, [https://www.eco-worthy.com/collectio...mp-protection]

Absorption voltage: 14.6V
Floating voltage: 14.6V
Balance voltage: No Re-Bulk

Inverter/charger settings:

Inverter: MS2812, Version 3.7 [https://www.magnum-dimensions.com/fi...oken=-miZteUR]
Controller: ME-ARC50, Version 6.0 [https://www.magnum-dimensions.com/fi...oken=0IPdSOeO]

03 Charger Setup:
03A AC Input Amps = 50 Amp
03B VAC Dropout = UPS Mode
03C Battery Type = Custom
Absorb Volts = 14.6 V
Float Volts = 14.6 V
EQ Volts = 14.6 V
EQ Done Time = 12 Hrs
03D Absorb Done Amps = 20 ADC
03E Max Charge Rate = 100%
03F Max Charge Time = 12hr
03G Final Charge Stage = Float

[jaydee325]

https://www.magnum-dimensions.com/mo...erter-chargers

This company took over the Magnum line of charger/inverters. Maybe contacting them would give you the info you need.

[kutsyy]

They used to provide support up to a few months ago when they completely discontinued Magnum line and stop providing any support at all. It is in the message if you try to call them.

[jaydee325]

Originally Posted by kutsyy

They used to provide support up to a few months ago when they completely discontinued Magnum line and stop providing any support at all. It is in the message if you try to call them.

This new release was in April. Are we talking about the same company?

https://www.magnum-dimensions.com/dm...-product-lines

[Tony Ramirez]

From everything I've researched, you don't want to keep the batts @ 14.6v. 14.6v for Absorbsion is good, it lets the cell balance. Set Absobsion time for 30-60min.Set the float to13.5-13.6v, it's easier on the cells. Then set ReBulk to 13.0-13.1v. Lithiums stay @13.2v for most of the voltage curve. If you put a big load on it, it will drop below 13.1v & trigger rebulk(charging).

That how I have my Magnum set.

[kutsyy]

Originally Posted by jaydee325

This new release was in April. Are we talking about the same company?

https://www.magnum-dimensions.com/dm...-product-lines

I tried to contact them beginning and end of May, but maybe it's still pointing to Sensata. Just emailed them again.

[kutsyy]

Originally Posted by Tony Ramirez

From everything I've researched, you don't want to keep the batts @ 14.6v. 14.6v for Absorbsion is good, it lets the cell balance. Set Absobsion time for 30-60min.Set the float to13.5-13.6v, it's easier on the cells. Then set ReBulk to 13.0-13.1v. Lithiums stay @13.2v for most of the voltage curve. If you put a big load on it, it will drop below 13.1v & trigger rebulk(charging).

That how I have my Magnum set.

A float at 14.6v is recommended by the battery manufacturer. How do you change ReBulk voltage? Are you saying to change "Absorb Done" from amps to time and set it to 30 min?

[Tony Ramirez]

Did a quick lookup on EcoWorthy, couldn't get the spec sheet on the 300AH, but saw the 280AH. It shows 13.46v is 100%, which is like everthing I seen about LiFePO4s. So you set the charger to go all the way up to 14.2-14.6v for a time to balance the cells, the let them float @ 13.5-13.6v. If you hold them @ 14.6, it is hard on the batt. Just what I've found & use.( My Epochs I set @ 14.2 Absorb, 13.5 Float)

On the Magnum, under Setup: scroll to Absorb time & push. then set your time. Then scroll to Final Charge & set to Silent. Then set Rebulk under that to what voltage you want the charger to kick in again. The LiFePO voltage curve stays @ 13.2 for most of the State of charge, so I set mine @ 13.0v.

I talked to Magnum when I set this up, they still had customer service in May '24 then. They walked me thru the whole setup.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Persistent]

The manual for the Eco-Worthy battery is a little confusing. Voltage recommendations are not consistent through out. However, I could not find where it said to maintain charging voltage at 14.4 or 14.6 volts after charging and balancing is complete.

14.6 is the maximum charging voltage. Higher voltage may trigger the BMS to disconnect the cells inside. 14.4 volts insures the BMS does not disconnect and finishes balancing. 14.4 will still fully charge and balance. Note: It is not necessary to fully charge on every charging cycle. Balancing is only needed occasionally.

https://cdn.shopifycdn.net/s/files/1...f?v=1673075852

The battery is like most other LiFePO4 batteries it is fully charged when battery terminal voltage is 13.6 volts after resting for a while. (no charging or discharging) See state of charge table in the manual.

A good charging profile:
14.4 volts until fully charged and balanced. Drop to 13.6 or 13.8 volts for long term charge maintenance (Float). Use the shunt state of charge for best results. Just continue charging at 14.4 volts for an hour after reaching 100%.

Generator charging:
Charge at 14.4v until full and balanced. (Charging current drops very low at the end of the charging cycle.)
Shut down the generator.
Restart generator before 12.0 volts.
If you are using high power (perhaps an inverter) battery terminal voltage will drop further until the high power draw stops. Use the shunt state of charge to determine when to recharge (10%).

Make sure the shunt is properly calibrated for the battery bank. Follow shunt instructions for setup and calibration.

[kutsyy]

Originally Posted by Tony Ramirez

Did a quick lookup on EcoWorthy, couldn't get the spec sheet on the 300AH, but saw the 280AH. It shows 13.46v is 100%, which is like everthing I seen about LiFePO4s. So you set the charger to go all the way up to 14.2-14.6v for a time to balance the cells, the let them float @ 13.5-13.6v. If you hold them @ 14.6, it is hard on the batt. Just what I've found & use.( My Epochs I set @ 14.2 Absorb, 13.5 Float)

On the Magnum, under Setup: scroll to Absorb time & push. then set your time. Then scroll to Final Charge & set to Silent. Then set Rebulk under that to what voltage you want the charger to kick in again. The LiFePO voltage curve stays @ 13.2 for most of the State of charge, so I set mine @ 13.0v.

I talked to Magnum when I set this up, they still had customer service in May '24 then. They walked me thru the whole setup.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks. I changed the final charge to silent and lowered the voltage, will monitor. I did leave Absorb Done to Amps.

[kutsyy]

Originally Posted by Persistent

Make sure the shunt is properly calibrated for the battery bank. Follow shunt instructions for setup and calibration.

First at all, thank for explanation, makes sense. But what do you mean by shunt calibration? It just measures voltage, and shows history.

Thanks

[kutsyy]

Originally Posted by Persistent

A good charging profile:
14.4 volts until fully charged and balanced. Drop to 13.6 or 13.8 volts for long term charge maintenance (Float). Use the shunt state of charge for best results. Just continue charging at 14.4 volts for an hour after reaching 100%.

Just to make sure I understand correctly. If the charger is set to float 13.7V, after the charge is complete, I would see a 13.7V charge in the Shunt, not a discharge [-3Amp], correct?

[Tony Ramirez]

Originally Posted by kutsyy

Just to make sure I understand correctly. If the charger is set to float 13.7V, after the charge is complete, I would see a 13.7V charge in the Shunt, not a discharge [-3Amp], correct?

If you set the float to 13.7v, that's the voltage your shunt will show, but not instantly between Absorb & Float. The -3Amp the shunt is showing means something is drawing 3Amps right now. Could be your inverter in standby, or any other draws. The shunt is best for monitering what's going IN & what's going OUT, based on Amps. With LiFePO4s, a 50%State of Charge is still 13.2Volts.

[kutsyy]

Originally Posted by Tony Ramirez

If you set the float to 13.7v, that's the voltage your shunt will show, but not instantly between Absorb & Float. The -3Amp the shunt is showing means something is drawing 3Amps right now. Could be your inverter in standby, or any other draws. The shunt is best for monitering what's going IN & what's going OUT, based on Amps. With LiFePO4s, a 50%State of Charge is still 13.2Volts.

I think I found underlying issue. I reduced all the voltage, trying to drain batteries and then monitor.

Thank you!!