Battery questions – Imeon Energy

When the inverter boots up for the first time, is it normal that it injects power from the batteries to the grid?

IMEON ENERGY — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 08:52:05 +0000

It’s normal operation. During initialisation Imeon performs phase verification procedure to check if its phase No. 1 of the AC Grid Connector input corresponds to phase No. 1 connected to the Smart Meter. In order to do this, during 30s Imeon injects 2kW to one phase after another, and cross-checks it with the response detected by the SmartMeter. This is done to make sure that all phases are correctly identified, at the SmartMeter and Imeon inputs.

Which size of solar batteries should I choose?

IMEON ENERGY — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:45:33 +0000

It is mandatory that the sizing of the battery bank is done by an experienced professional since it must be calculated on a case by case basis, depending on the objectives of the user (duration of autonomy, savings to be made, etc.) and the configuration of the site to be equipped (site isolated or connected to the public electricity distribution network). It is essential to take into account the specifications of the batteries (such as the charging and discharging currents that they can withstand). This information is provided by the battery manufacturer. The solar electricity generated by the installation must be sufficient to supply the loads and to recharge the battery bank completely and regularly (an undercharged battery bank can deteriorate rapidly).

For lead-acid batteries, it is generally recommended by the manufacturers that the charging current is between 10% and 20% of the capacity of the battery bank and that the discharge current does not exceed 20% of the capacity. Note that, extreme currents can damage the battery bank.

The lithium batteries compatible with IMEON, communicate with the inverter over a CAN protocol. The communication allows the battery to send instructions concerning the charging and discharging currents the inverter must comply with.

Which solar batteries can be used with Imeon?

IMEON ENERGY — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:38:27 +0000

It is possible to use lead or lithium batteries.

If you’d like to use lead acid batteries, make sure that the technical specification provided by the battery manufacturer is suits the specification of the IMEON inverter and set the appropriate voltage thresholds in the OS. ONE interface.

If you’d like to use lithium batteries, it is mandatory to select batteries that are compatible with the IMEON. A list of compatible manufacturers and models is available in the download section of our website. When commissioning the system, make sure to select the correct battery in the OS. ONE interface.

Why the SOC of my solar lithium batteries is low?

IMEON ENERGY — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:08:34 +0000

The State of Charge (SOC) of the solar lithium batteries is communicated to Imeon inverter by the Battery Management System (BMS) built into the battery. You may set the minimum State of Charge, with or without grid, by using Imeon OS. ONE software, the Battery tab.

Why my solar battery charges / discharges rapidly?

IMEON ENERGY — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:02:48 +0000

It may be that charging and discharging the batteries too quickly is a sign of inadequate battery sizing, improper IMEON settings, or the end of battery life.

As a first step, ask your installer to make sure that the battery has been properly dimensioned and that the IMEON parameters have been set taking into account the technical specifications of the batteries. It is important to note that incorrect sizing of a battery can lead to premature wear.

Is it normal that the battery state of charge fluctuates?

IMEON ENERGY — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 14:48:36 +0000

If the state of charge (or SOC) of the battery fluctuates significantly, this may be a sign of improper battery sizing, improper IMEON inverter configuration, or the battery approaching end of life.

If the installation is equipped with lead-acid batteries:

Make sure the battery voltages are correctly configured in the IMEON OS. ONE.
Make sure the charging and discharging currents programmed in IMEON OS. ONE respect the recommendations of the battery manufacturer.

If the installation is equipped with lithium batteries:

The state of charge information is sent to the inverter by the battery management system (BMS) via a CAN communication protocol. If you suspect malfuntion it is therefore necessary to consult your installer and ask him to contact the battery manufacturer.

I have an impression that the batteries are not discharging.

IMEON ENERGY — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 14:43:02 +0000

If the batteries connected to the IMEON do not discharge, ask your installer to check the following:

Are the batteries well detected by the IMEON?
Is the battery bank in good condition, with a terminal voltage greater than 40Vdc?
Does the battery icon on the inverter’s LCD display blink? If this is the case, it means that the batteries have been discharged completely and are now in a charging phase. To discharge again, the batteries must, at first, reach the redischarge threshold (battery full).
Is the “allow battery discharge only at night” option enabled in IMEON OS. ONE? If yes and if you find that the battery does not discharge during the day, you should disable this option.

If the batteries are detected by the IMEON, they have the correct voltage, the battery is not flashing on the IMEON screen and the night-only discharge option is not activated, ask your installer to contact IMEON ENERGY technical support.

I have an impression that the batteries are not charging.

IMEON ENERGY — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 14:31:43 +0000

If the batteries connected to the IMEON do not charge, ask your installer to check the following:

Are the batteries well detected by the IMEON?

Is the battery bank in good condition, with a terminal voltage greater than 40Vdc?
Are external fuses to the batteries “burned”?
Is solar production much higher than the consumption of the site? As a reminder, in Smart-Grid mode, the IMEON hybrid inverter supplies the loads as a priority. If the building consumption is always higher than the energy production, the batteries will not be able to recharge.

If the batteries are detected by the IMEON, they have the correct voltage, the external fuses are functional and the solar output is consistently higher than the building consumption, ask your installer to contact IMEON ENERGY Technical Support.

Battery detection

IMEON ENERGY — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 13:39:22 +0000

The detection of the batteries is different depending on the type of batteries.

Lead acid batteries:
• Check if the batteries are in good condition and the nominal voltage is 48 Vdc. NOTE The inverter will detect the batteries of 12V or 24V, however it will not be able to use them.
• Check if the battery technology selected in the Imeon Manager software is ‘Lead-acid/GEL/AGM’.
Lithium batteries:
• Check if the batteries are in good condition and the nominal voltage is 48 Vdc.
• Check if the battery you’re using is supported by Imeon, the list of compatible batteries is available on our website.
• Check the wiring of your CAN connection cable (if applicable). Pinout of the RJ45 connector on the Imeon side can be found in the installation manual. Pinout of the RJ45 connector on the battery side must be provided by the battery manufacturer.
• Check if the battery status in the Imeon Manager software is ‘Battery Operating’. If this is not the case contact the battery manufacturer.