Victron MPPT controller, potting hack and hidden fuse

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  • Опубликовано: 3 дек 2024

Комментарии • 116

  • @kevinmills5293
    @kevinmills5293 10 дней назад

    Thanks for the demo of removing the cover. I got mine apart and found 2 shorted MOSFETs and the blown fuse. €30 in parts and it’s up and running again.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  10 дней назад

      Brilliant, well done, I've fixed one, just a dead short on one FET. Not like the bigger units that are impossible, cheers

  • @switzerland3696
    @switzerland3696 Год назад +7

    You need to pot the caps and inductors in particular in marine applications due to the fact that they need to be supported at both the top and the bottom to stop them vibrating relative to the PCB, as the electrical leads fatigue rather quickly if there is movement of the caps and inductors relative to the PCB, so they would fall off the PCB pretty quickly. Ie you need atleast 3 points of contact for it to be a stable system, ie a stool needs to have atleast 3 legs, a 2 legged stool is unstable. caps and inductors are natively only 2 legged.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад +1

      I agree in transport applications it's important and the heating hack makes all the difference, cheers

    • @chrisr819
      @chrisr819 3 месяца назад +1

      That’s all correct but it could be done by Victron so you can repair it with eg blobs of heat releasing glue but that’s obviously what the controllers of private equity Victron does not want, makes more turnover if you have to replace and you don‘t have to employ technicians to repair stuff.

  • @mostafaelgamel6415
    @mostafaelgamel6415 Год назад +1

    Daaamn, just destroyed mine trying to pry it 2 days ago, wish i saw this video earlier. Even though i searched throughly on youtube it just showed up on my feed today!

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад +1

      Yes, RUclips search leaves plenty to be desired, maybe next time. I experiment so that you don't need to. Please subscribe, cheers

    • @mostafaelgamel6415
      @mostafaelgamel6415 Год назад +1

      @@TheInfoworks Just subscribed

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад +1

      @@mostafaelgamel6415 Splendid

  • @JasonEmanuel
    @JasonEmanuel Год назад

    Man i was rooting for you. Just a simple blown fuse? But then she let the smoke out. Best of luck repairing this one.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад +1

      Thanks for your thoughts Jason, hope you;re a subscriber, cheers

  • @BradCagle
    @BradCagle Год назад +1

    Great, thanks for coming up with a solution to get these open! BTW when you have a blown fuse, you should check for shorts to ground. It's likely a MOSFET, or DIODE shorted to ground. Curious to see what you find.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      Yes, we will get round removing the board, busy time of year on a small holding, cheers

  • @michaelakmotrikova6356
    @michaelakmotrikova6356 Год назад +4

    I was surprised only by the cheap capacitors that Victron used there.

    • @UKsystems
      @UKsystems Месяц назад

      they must have done internal testing to prove that they are fine

  • @PavolFilek
    @PavolFilek 8 месяцев назад +3

    For these types of reapir you need at least limited power source and thermocam to check at low level of voltage and curent, what is warm and what gets hot.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  8 месяцев назад

      Hi, I knew the unit was duff, especially as the 80A fuse was blown. Yes a limited current supply would have prevented the blue smoke dragon. The main part was removing the top with a hot air gun. cheers

    • @tofo2
      @tofo2 5 месяцев назад

      @@TheInfoworks Look for "RIDEN Power supply"
      They are cheap and fantastic things with lots of decimals, current limit etc.
      Easy to power directly from 12V or 24V battery. Makes it isolated and portable.
      I have the RD6018 RD606 and tiny RK6006.
      The RD6006 is the best for electronics with 4 decimals current reading.

  • @mikemcguire5859
    @mikemcguire5859 8 месяцев назад

    Hi. I'm running 5 Victron controllers. from 2 to 5 years old each. All working 100% every day no problems.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  8 месяцев назад

      Hi, that's grand news and if you apply the second rule of solar then they will last for years, cheers

  • @koffibanan3099
    @koffibanan3099 Год назад +2

    I think the potting mostly has to do with vibration. It's over the sensitive copper coils and the large capacitors.
    I totally agree with you on the throwaway society and manufacturers going out of their way to make stuff unserviceable, but at the same time, not everything is always bad :)
    I'd guess indeed a FET or diode has shorted and is giving you a nice smokeshow. Hopefully you can easily reach the underside of the board.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад +1

      Interesting the smoke came from one side, we will be looking in good time. We run a 48v system so there is no rush, cheers

  • @johnmajewski1065
    @johnmajewski1065 10 месяцев назад +1

    I know now not to open mine. Agreed potting is to stable vibration as mine is on an ocean-going sailboat. Thanks for the demo I know what is inside and also how it's built. Many Thanks,

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  10 месяцев назад

      Thanks for the comment, yes the video is to share the info and help promote self reliance, cheers

  • @1231trainfan
    @1231trainfan Год назад +2

    Isopropyl alcohol strategically placed works wonders with potting. You could use a syringe to distribute the IPA

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      having seen inside this could be possible but what would it do to the varnish on the coils?

    • @pollywollydo
      @pollywollydo Год назад

      @@TheInfoworks the prop’ alc’ and your question just gave me a nudge to times past re: sterilising electronic gear, ( don’t ask🫢). As I remember aftEr much experiment we used formalin and pure alcohol ( customs licensed - >70%) and sprayed very fine mist/ fog. The normal formaldehyde which is quite vicious in its own right was not the problem on circuit boards but the minute drops of liquid ( with the higher water content ) keeping the minute junctions wet long enough to corrode , just thinking out loud 🌝

    • @1231trainfan
      @1231trainfan Год назад

      @@TheInfoworks stratgic displacement of the ipa is the key. Pouring ipa into the enclosure is obviously not recommended. A syringe much like what medical people use

  • @adrianleitch6996
    @adrianleitch6996 Год назад +1

    That will likely be a low side Mosfet smoking, failed & shorting on drain and source across the battery via the fuse. In normal operation this low side Mosfet would be off/open circuit initially.
    May have been the gate driver IC that failed first but either way usually both the gate driver IC and Mosfet will likely have failed in this scenario

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      Thanks for your thoughts, yes it's not normally just one component and so greater knowledge is required, cheers

  • @JouniKyy-xn4kd
    @JouniKyy-xn4kd 4 месяца назад +2

    Consumering is new religion

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  4 месяца назад +1

      Exactly, driven by corporate strategies to drive profit, cheers

  • @davidniquot6423
    @davidniquot6423 Год назад +3

    I can see 2 reasons for this foam : thermal transfer to the outside, reduce vibration

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      Hi, thanks for the comment, I'm thinking vibration proofing when in boats or vehicles, cheers

    • @jirkas229
      @jirkas229 Год назад

      yy its gross weight this coils, or transformers, it helps for more mechanical robust and cooling too, disasembly is hard, i see open it for use heat for lid and then little bit strenght and it happens

  • @bugsvan
    @bugsvan Год назад +1

    Thanks for sharing this. I have just had to replace my entire system because I wired reverse polarity.. yeah.. I know stupid me. But thinking that I can replace the fuse and some capacitors..
    Will give this idea a go.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      That's tough, I teach, check the polarity, mark it with tape, then check it again. Never imagine it's right, cheers

    • @deanmcclaughlin914
      @deanmcclaughlin914 6 месяцев назад

      Did the same to one of mine. You'd think it would have polarity protection like cheaper ones

    • @UKsystems
      @UKsystems Месяц назад

      @@deanmcclaughlin914 the training gives steps to prevent the issue but the polarity protection brings about losses

  • @universeisundernoobligatio3283
    @universeisundernoobligatio3283 Год назад +1

    The potting is there to keep the cap and inductor wires from fatiguing from road vibration.
    What is the history of the MPPT? Was it over voltage/current that blew a FET, cloud's as the pass the sun there edges at as lens monetary boosting amps and volts beyond the panel name plate. If the MPPT rating is close the the panel name values it could fail.
    Adding a external transient suppresser, say 80V 5 to 10W, grounding the panel frames to a ground spike may help.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      Hi, this came to me in an interesting pile of "bits". I understand the anti vibration but actually using it to glue the top on is difficult to justify, cheers

    • @universeisundernoobligatio3283
      @universeisundernoobligatio3283 Год назад

      @@TheInfoworks
      Gluing to the top makes perfect sense, since the components are heavy, they need some thing to react against to keep them from vibrating.
      Very few people are capable of repairing DC/DC converters, maybe replacing FETs but when they go usually they are not all that fails. But without schematics its even harder.
      But a better mechanical design could have been done, but that would add cost and complexity, every consumer wants the lowest price and to by it on sale.
      On the other hand if they did not want you to take it apart why did they put screws in it?
      As I said not knowing the history of the MMPT who knows how it was abused, over voltage, over current, over temp, not grounded properly or factory defect, who knows.

    • @tofo2
      @tofo2 5 месяцев назад

      @@TheInfoworks Agree. Making it unserviceable with "glue" is a crime. I think it is to save the coil from heating, but I would rather have a fan than a device filled with glue.

    • @tofo2
      @tofo2 5 месяцев назад

      @@universeisundernoobligatio3283 They could be glued to the board. I think it is to get rid of heat from the coils and the capacitors as they offer quite high current for extreme users. But it makes the device impossible to service.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  5 месяцев назад

      @@tofo2 The potting does not need to be so robust, the 100 - 50 came apart with no damage. The should be a better way to prevent coil vibration. I'm working on removing the cover on a 250 - 70, video soon, cheers

  • @deanmcclaughlin914
    @deanmcclaughlin914 6 месяцев назад +2

    I've had three of those fail and a 75/15 fail. Gave up and bought an epever China one, been fine for years

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  6 месяцев назад

      Thanks for sharing your experience, many people have recommended Epever. My Old Victron multiplus just keeps chugging away, but we never stress it. Applying rule 2 of solar, cheers

    • @UKsystems
      @UKsystems Месяц назад

      victron's ceo would have assisted you then

  • @moth3rfck3r-s4n
    @moth3rfck3r-s4n Год назад

    I think you'll find the cover is powder coated aluminium. At least, it is on two of mine that I got apart by destroying the cover. I had tried the heat gun approach as well but I must never have gotten it hot enough to release.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад +1

      Interesting, yours are obviously early models, this is definitely plastic and this is probably why the heat method worked, cheers

  • @coeniejvr
    @coeniejvr Год назад

    very interesting video.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      Sometimes you just have to experiment to move forward, cheers

  • @UKsystems
    @UKsystems Месяц назад

    Victron units are high quality and have repair information and resources available for trained installers Victron will also help and the ceo is very helpfull and personally assists in some cases. do you want the repair guide. THis is not a corperate stratergy VE bus and VE direct ports are different for good reason ve direct allows simple serial communication between devices and some adapters saving cost and it is a standard connector. VE bus is very expensive hence the difference they often also give replacments when the units fail

  • @alanblyde8502
    @alanblyde8502 Год назад

    It be interesting to see the other side of it 🤙🇦🇺

  • @dariustraianmirza987
    @dariustraianmirza987 Год назад +2

    The official explanation for potting is "Due to automotive/ camper environment we need vibration protection for large internal components", I had to do the same steps like you, just that I put my Mppt in the oven, set to 100 celsius for 10 minutes in order to open it and fix a broken connector from over tightening

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      I notice that all the screws have a dab of glue, but the potting is rather excessive. I sort of understand the reasoning, but there must be a better way, cheers

    • @snowboarder50000
      @snowboarder50000 Год назад

      Please tell me more if you would, im about to go in on mine. I've got the BlueSolar 100-50 that has an aluminum cover instead of a plastic one.

  • @nicholaskeur
    @nicholaskeur Год назад +1

    That "Corporate strategy" plug is a very common JST connector...

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      Brilliant, thanks

    • @Ether_Void
      @Ether_Void Год назад +2

      It's also noteworthy that while other Victron equipment uses a 8p8c connector it't not Ethernet (the protocol used for computer networks). They have VE.Bus (which I think is RS-485) and VE.Can.
      The VE.Direct port is a standard UART connection.
      This is known because if you look up "Victron Energy open source" they have actually release quite a lot of information about all of their protocols to the public.

  • @WiSeNhEiMeR-1369
    @WiSeNhEiMeR-1369 5 месяцев назад

    thanks
    COOP
    ...

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  5 месяцев назад

      hi, I fixed this controller in a later video, cheers

  • @Laurel-Crowned
    @Laurel-Crowned 11 месяцев назад

    Very nice! Have you by chance seen if you can get into the larger 48/100 version? I've found a non working unit and am wondering if it would be worth getting.
    New subscriber 👍🏽

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  11 месяцев назад

      Hi, welcome, I wouldn't pay money for it as there is commonly a cascade effect to component failure, meaning that it's not a single component. If you are an electronics wizard then maybe entertain it, but otherwise be careful and have no expectations of fixing it, cheers

    • @Laurel-Crowned
      @Laurel-Crowned 11 месяцев назад

      @@TheInfoworks great advice! I'm sure they overpowered the solar input but who knows these days

    • @Laurel-Crowned
      @Laurel-Crowned 11 месяцев назад

      @@TheInfoworks also wanted to say cheers on the pottery! Do you show vids of that as well? I'm introducing my kids to throwing and am looking for the right clay! I thought my soil would suffice but it's not right so we went to the closest store and bought the only one they sold but it's still not what we need

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  11 месяцев назад

      Yes, there's a whole playlist on my pottery adventures (ceramics) otherwise check out Andy Wards ancient pottery, cheers @@Laurel-Crowned

    • @UKsystems
      @UKsystems Месяц назад

      victron may replace it

  • @puffinjuice
    @puffinjuice 8 месяцев назад +2

    If you want controllers without potting just go for the cheaper chinese brands like Epever. They have a good reputation and their controllers might be more serviceable.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  7 месяцев назад

      Hi, I seem to get on well with Steca units, especially the Tarom series, cheers

    • @UKsystems
      @UKsystems Месяц назад

      but they have issues with mppt power in absorbtion

  • @tofo2
    @tofo2 5 месяцев назад

    It could be filling the device and making it unserviceable is also a cooling issue. The coils and even the capacitors may get hot in a non ventilated box. I have a faint memory some of the earlier Blue Solar devices where filled with something similar to sand.
    But I would rather have a serviceable unit than having it glued. The design is trivial and easy to check for errors if not filled with "glue". Att least they could have made all power electronic devices on the heatsink and the fuse accessible.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  5 месяцев назад

      Hi, at least it did come apart, but damage could occur. as you will see I've fixed another of these after a successful cover removal, cheers

  • @PavolFilek
    @PavolFilek 8 месяцев назад

    HI, beuautiful video, you can build 2-phase 200 V IN 100 A IN / 10 - 70 V OUT / 100 A OUT MPPT as DIY ESP32 project for 150 - 180 €. With tracking better than Victron and EpSolar, with efficiency around Victron, MidNite or Studer products. So two such MPPTs can get 2 x 6600 W for 66 V battery and temps of FETs and inductors never go over 45 - 46 *C in 22 - 23 *C ambient.

  • @barryreeves9191
    @barryreeves9191 Год назад

    Hi om wandering if a couple of the screws underneath are for heatsink

  • @stiffmeister0hYeah
    @stiffmeister0hYeah 7 месяцев назад

    I have a 150/100 with error 40. The battery ground wire slipped out, I slid it back in. Although the unit powers up, can see it on phone application...cannot clear error 40. Are these repairable?

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  7 месяцев назад +1

      Hi, those 150/ 100 are impossible to take apart without major damage, so unless it's a software issue then I'm not hopeful, video on the opening up soon, cheers

    • @chrisr819
      @chrisr819 3 месяца назад

      Reset the MPPT means manually installing the software update again, after that it automatically switches off and resetting. Fixed that on mine.

  • @pollywollydo
    @pollywollydo Год назад

    Wonder if Acetone would work 🤔

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      I hear it will, but what will it do to capacitors and the like? This seems to work and that I did not care if it turned out total destruction, cheers

    • @pollywollydo
      @pollywollydo Год назад

      @@TheInfoworks was thinking more of a few bleed holes in the case and flood with a few cc’s of acetone merely to release the “ lid” it’s going to be a type of technology which is going to be needed down the line with Tesla type battery repairs 🌝

  • @vintageb3
    @vintageb3 Год назад

    Yep

  • @teddycunningham7568
    @teddycunningham7568 Год назад

    Good info . Am building a large bank of ercon automobile batteries to use as storage and

    • @teddycunningham7568
      @teddycunningham7568 Год назад +1

      Am building a large bank of recovered auto batteries for storage and to sell as a side business. Charging from solar at 48v and want to try your light bulb trickle charging method on my 12v battery recovery system. Having good results with pulse desulfation devices and 2 amp charger but would like to go direct from 48 v without electronics. Any suggestions from you or the viewers will be appreciated as this a work in progress . I am aware that auto batteries are not suited for deep discharge so I am building a large capacity so as to use less than 25 percent of capacity. These batteries have been purchased for scrap price so when they are used up they can go to be recycled and money spent will be recovered. Thanks for all you do.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад +2

      @@teddycunningham7568 Good man, thinking sideways, no point deep cycling batteries as you just have to charge them up. Apply the first rule of solar and you will be on the right side, cheers

    • @pollywollydo
      @pollywollydo Год назад

      @@teddycunningham7568 any experience with glass mat or gel types ?

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад +1

      @@pollywollydo Forget gel, but AGM are fine if used as buffers and not deep cycled. If you deep cycle the life is about 4 years, cheers

    • @teddycunningham7568
      @teddycunningham7568 Год назад +2

      @@pollywollydo the a.g.m. and gell are responding well to pulse desulfation device with trickle charging . Am buying scrap batteries any that do not have 12v after charging overnight are traded to my local auto parts store core pile where I only take home batteries holding 11.5 v or more . I often bring home 4 to 8 and have about 80 percent sucess rate after a week of trickle charging with desulfator.. working towards a bank of 100 or more batteries at 48v and a smaller 12v bank to process new arrivals.

  • @tofo2
    @tofo2 5 месяцев назад

    I saw there is an aluminium plate inside the cover to disperese heat and maybe shield the outside world from high frequency fields.
    Maybe it can be heated with some inductive power aplied from the front.
    A few big neodymium magnets on a roting disc driven by some drilling machine will cause heat.
    Or an half open tranformer with iron core, an electromagnet, can induce current in the aluminium?
    Then the heat is generated from inside and from all conductive parts near the front.
    And now with the "substance" available it could be tested at what temperature it becomes soft.
    Worth a try.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  5 месяцев назад

      Hi, the melt test sounds a good idea, I going to try that with a heat gun. The problem with heat is the capacitors all packed together in potting. I doubt they would survive as the contact pins are not very strong. Keep watching, cheers

  • @johnallen3555
    @johnallen3555 11 месяцев назад

    where is your external fuse!?

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  11 месяцев назад

      Hi, do you think it needs one in this situation, interesting, cheers

    • @johnallen3555
      @johnallen3555 11 месяцев назад +1

      just think for a momentif you would be comfortable joining the wires together for a dead short
      - if you are comfortable with this level of power in the wires, and any additional damage to the circuit, no need for a fuse
      - if not, you can limit any additional board damage or melted wire insulation by the addition of a fuse.
      I know this is a low risk, but, for something different imagine the recent japanese earthquake, or some other distracting emergency event (heart attack?) resulting in the pair of unfused wires remainig connected. (yes I know low risk ...)

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  11 месяцев назад +1

      John, it's an experimental dab, not a screw connection @@johnallen3555

    • @UKsystems
      @UKsystems Месяц назад

      @@TheInfoworks they spec one

  • @herbertvonsauerkrautunterh2513
    @herbertvonsauerkrautunterh2513 6 месяцев назад

    I wouldn't bother whether they units. Buy epsolar instead. I am buying the RS 450/100 tr though..

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Месяц назад

      Exactly, you're right, cheers

    • @UKsystems
      @UKsystems Месяц назад

      poor mppt in the absorbtion stage

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Месяц назад

      @@UKsystems Hi, is that the Victron or the Epsolar, cheers

    • @UKsystems
      @UKsystems Месяц назад

      @@TheInfoworks the epsolar

  • @kevsmith5363
    @kevsmith5363 Год назад

    not trx bench

  • @imnobody4522
    @imnobody4522 3 месяца назад +1

    You were finished when the magic smoke came out of the board. the short answer to the question, what blows a fuse, is always going to be, a queer electron.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  3 месяца назад +1

      Hi, this was a good led which FET could have failed, see the next video, cheers

  • @rilosvideos877
    @rilosvideos877 17 дней назад

    What a bad and customer unfriendly policy that the devices of Victron are not serviceable! I have a 150/45 MPPT and a Pheonix Inverter from Victron - but i will think twice before buying the next device!

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  15 дней назад +1

      Exactly, but our 3KW Multi plus has run for decades. We do run it softly and use the UPS function for loads above 1.5 KW, cheers

  • @user-dr2pg8fk2i
    @user-dr2pg8fk2i Год назад +3

    Alright. If they potted the whole thing it would be completely un-repairable like Enphase micro inverters which are garbage. Fully potting the device would also be a nightmare for heat dissipation. Victron should consider making the face plate a screw on instead of glued with potting material.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад

      Hi. I agree with you that full potting would be a disaster, also form the previous comments there is a vibration dampening benefit for controllers used in trucks etc. Is this the best compromise, maybe not, cheers

  • @markwitkop7022
    @markwitkop7022 Год назад

    Or, its a cheap way of keeping moisture out of the circuitry.

    • @TheInfoworks
      @TheInfoworks  Год назад +1

      Maybe, or as another viewer pointed out, it's an anti vibration feature when these units are fitted in trucks and boats. Still at least we know now how to get around it, cheers