Lithium battery discharged for no reason

[Nabsim]

Don't forget though there are shunts and there are shunts. The cheaper ones are not smart enough to keep accurate SoC with low power draw, won't register it at all. Have a look at Will Prowse videos, he recently did one on Shunts and the only one that was accurate that he tested was the Victron. Of course you have to decide if you need that accuracy for the cost. Vids worth watching no matter what as you will know what to do if you go for the cheaper ones

 

[Steve and Julie]

I was having a quick look at the wires coming out of the victron controller were they disappeared into this Hidden compartment in the locker and found that the fuse has melted so that's why the controller isn't working i wonder what caused that?.

 

[jeffmossy]

I was having a quick look at the wires coming out of the victron controller were they disappeared into this Hidden compartment in the locker and found that the fuse has melted so that's why the controller isn't working i wonder what caused that?.

Probably the wrong size diameter wiring that has been fitted, that is why I it needs ripping out and starting from scratch with the correct wires and fuses

 

[Steve and Julie]

Don't forget though there are shunts and there are shunts. The cheaper ones are not smart enough to keep accurate SoC with low power draw, won't register it at all. Have a look at Will Prowse videos, he recently did one on Shunts and the only one that was accurate that he tested was the Victron. Of course you have to decide if you need that accuracy for the cost. Vids worth watching no matter what as you will know what to do if you go for the cheaper ones

I will get a victron smart shunt as I've already got the app for the solar and b2b I know they are a bit more expensive but they are a trusted brand with a decent warranty plus we get discount from alpha who I bought all the other victron stuff from

 

[Steve and Julie]

Probably the wrong size diameter wiring that has been fitted, that is why I it needs ripping out and starting from scratch with the correct wires and fuses

Yes definitely will sort it Jeff it was probably ok for the old pwm controller but not for the victon replacement . I checked the paperwork and it was professionally fitted in 2009 so a few years ago

 

[MERL]

Don't forget though there are shunts and there are shunts. The cheaper ones are not smart enough to keep accurate SoC with low power draw, won't register it at all. Have a look at Will Prowse videos, he recently did one on Shunts and the only one that was accurate that he tested was the Victron. Of course you have to decide if you need that accuracy for the cost. Vids worth watching no matter what as you will know what to do if you go for the cheaper ones

I personally have a cheap Ai-Li Shunt Neil and I've never wanted anything 'better' TBH. Yep it's not perfect during layup and dosent 'See' the tiny loads but when we're using the van in every day life it's fine because it syncs to 100% every time the battery gets charged and so those tiny loads aren't significant any more. It's very accurate and of course it has a proper screen which i prefer over a phone app...the screen is a little small though and needs to be mounted at eye level really but for £25 it's great I find.

 

[MERL]

I was having a quick look at the wires coming out of the victron controller were they disappeared into this Hidden compartment in the locker and found that the fuse has melted so that's why the controller isn't working i wonder what caused that?.

What size fuse was it?
Is the fuse in the battery side or solar side of the SCC?
What's the size of your solar panels?
I hate to ask but what's the size of the wiring wiring between battery and SCC? (not a lot I'm guessing from what Jeffs been saying )

 

[molly 2]

,, I personally have a cheap Ai-Li Shunt Neil and I've never wanted anything 'better' TBH. Yep it's not perfect during layup and dosent 'See' the tiny loads but when we're using the van in every day life it's fine because it syncs to 100% every time the battery gets charged and so those tiny loads aren't significant any more. It's very accurate and of course it has a proper screen which i prefer over a phone app...the screen is a little small though and needs to be mounted at eye level really but for £25 it's great I find.

Probably the wrong size diameter wiring that has been fitted, that is why I it needs ripping out and starting from scratch with the correct wires and fuses

It could be a poor quality fuse holder that has over heated and melted

 

[jeffmossy]

It could be a poor quality fuse holder that has over heated and melted

I have seen the set up in Steve's van and it is really poor quality on all the original installation

 

[MERL]

It could be a poor quality fuse holder that has over heated and melted

Yep, or a dodgy fuse. I've seen lab tests on the fuses in those cheap multi fuse packs and some are terrible and down right dangerous and should never be trusted IMHO. Bin them and buy officially certified fuses from a reputable source such as Halfords. Trying to save literally pence isn't worth the risk.

 

[Steve and Julie]

I've checked the invoice for when the solar system was installed in 2009 it was 2 x 85watt panels the complete job cost the original owner £1300 . So I'm shocked that the wiring isn't up to scratch. Just shows you can't trust professionals to do a decent job.

What size fuse was it?
Is the fuse in the battery side or solar side of the SCC?
What's the size of your solar panels?
I hate to ask but what's the size of the wiring wiring between battery and SCC? (not a lot I'm guessing from what Jeffs been saying )

The fuse was on the battery side and think it was a 25 but it's that melted hard to tell

 

[MERL]

I've checked the invoice for when the solar system was installed in 2009 it was 2 x 85watt panels the complete job cost the original owner £1300 . So I'm shocked that the wiring isn't up to scratch. Just shows you can't trust professionals to do a decent job.

The fuse was on the battery side and think it was a 25 but it's that melted hard to tell

Well......the power from your solar panels wouldn't be sufficient to melt a 25A blade fuse and thin wiring would hinder the process not help. If you've truly melted a 25A blade fuse you have bigger, potentially dangerous issues to deal with.
Can you confirm that it was a standard blade fuse with a gap between the pins of about 9mm and what was the colour?

 

[Steve and Julie]

It's a standard size

 

[molly 2]

I have seen the set up in Steve's van and it is really poor quality on all the original installation

Yes I get that jeff ,that's the reasoni i whent lead carbon instead of lithium.

 

[trevskoda]

Yep, or a dodgy fuse. I've seen lab tests on the fuses in those cheap multi fuse packs and some are terrible and down right dangerous and should never be trusted IMHO. Bin them and buy officially certified fuses from a reputable source such as Halfords. Trying to save literally pence isn't worth the risk.

Halfords buy fuses and they as most are made in china, you just pay more.

 

[MERL]

Halfords buy fuses and they as most are made in china, you just pay more.

Not all fuses are equal Trev, just do a bit of research instead of detracting in your usual style mate. There's tests on the internet showing that the fuses in those packs of 100 for £5 or whatever are particularly nasty, the 5,10 and 15A tested exactly all the same and other times a 5A fuse has carried 20A for minutes, not a fraction of a second life it should.
I guess 99% of all the fuses (like most things these days) are made in China but China will be making good ones AND bad ones.
A good quality fuse often has the fuse rating clearly on the side usually in white lettering, like these from Halfords.

Halfords have a responsibility under law for the stuff they sell and I don't think they'll be leaving themselves open to litigation from selling shite dangerous fuses after someone's car catches fire.
I previously purchased a cheap multi pack from eBay and threw them away after testing a few myself. They were rubbish and the value was simply embossed into the end and hard to read like this cheap eBay set of 50 for £4.99.

When you say "you pay more" how much more exactly? I don't like over paying myself but It's pennies Trev and simply Not worth the risk.