Opening this victron unit without damage, methods used and the internal fuse. Please support this channel through Patreon or Paypal. / windandsolarelectricity www.paypal.com...
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@switzerland36969 ай бұрын
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.
@TheInfoworks9 ай бұрын
I agree in transport applications it's important and the heating hack makes all the difference, cheers
@BradCagle Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
Yes, we will get round removing the board, busy time of year on a small holding, cheers
@JouniKyy-xn4kd29 күн бұрын
Consumering is new religion
@TheInfoworks29 күн бұрын
Exactly, driven by corporate strategies to drive profit, cheers
@mostafaelgamel6415 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
Yes, KZfaq search leaves plenty to be desired, maybe next time. I experiment so that you don't need to. Please subscribe, cheers
@mostafaelgamel6415 Жыл бұрын
@@TheInfoworks Just subscribed
@TheInfoworks Жыл бұрын
@@mostafaelgamel6415 Splendid
@JasonEmanuel Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your thoughts Jason, hope you;re a subscriber, cheers
@PavolFilek5 ай бұрын
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.
@TheInfoworks5 ай бұрын
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
@tofo22 ай бұрын
@@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.
@michaelakmotrikova635611 ай бұрын
I was surprised only by the cheap capacitors that Victron used there.
@johnmajewski10657 ай бұрын
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,
@TheInfoworks7 ай бұрын
Thanks for the comment, yes the video is to share the info and help promote self reliance, cheers
@mikemcguire58595 ай бұрын
Hi. I'm running 5 Victron controllers. from 2 to 5 years old each. All working 100% every day no problems.
@TheInfoworks5 ай бұрын
Hi, that's grand news and if you apply the second rule of solar then they will last for years, cheers
@deanmcclaughlin9142 ай бұрын
I've had three of those fail and a 75/15 fail. Gave up and bought an epever China one, been fine for years
@TheInfoworks2 ай бұрын
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
@bugsvan11 ай бұрын
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.
@TheInfoworks11 ай бұрын
That's tough, I teach, check the polarity, mark it with tape, then check it again. Never imagine it's right, cheers
@deanmcclaughlin9142 ай бұрын
Did the same to one of mine. You'd think it would have polarity protection like cheaper ones
@koffibanan3099 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
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
@1231trainfan Жыл бұрын
Isopropyl alcohol strategically placed works wonders with potting. You could use a syringe to distribute the IPA
@TheInfoworks Жыл бұрын
having seen inside this could be possible but what would it do to the varnish on the coils?
@pollywollydo Жыл бұрын
@@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 Жыл бұрын
@@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
@tofo22 ай бұрын
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.
@TheInfoworks2 ай бұрын
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
@davidniquot642311 ай бұрын
I can see 2 reasons for this foam : thermal transfer to the outside, reduce vibration
@TheInfoworks11 ай бұрын
Hi, thanks for the comment, I'm thinking vibration proofing when in boats or vehicles, cheers
@jirkas2299 ай бұрын
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
@puffinjuice4 ай бұрын
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.
@TheInfoworks4 ай бұрын
Hi, I seem to get on well with Steca units, especially the Tarom series, cheers
@user-fs3dg1po2z Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
Interesting, yours are obviously early models, this is definitely plastic and this is probably why the heat method worked, cheers
@dariustraianmirza987 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
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
@snowboarder5000010 ай бұрын
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.
@adrianleitch6996 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your thoughts, yes it's not normally just one component and so greater knowledge is required, cheers
@PavolFilek5 ай бұрын
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.
@universeisundernoobligatio3283 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
@@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.
@tofo22 ай бұрын
@@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.
@tofo22 ай бұрын
@@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.
@TheInfoworks2 ай бұрын
@@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
@alanblyde8502 Жыл бұрын
It be interesting to see the other side of it 🤙🇦🇺
@TheInfoworks Жыл бұрын
Yep, well get there, cheers
@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369Ай бұрын
thanks COOP ...
@TheInfoworksАй бұрын
hi, I fixed this controller in a later video, cheers
@tofo22 ай бұрын
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.
@TheInfoworks2 ай бұрын
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
@coeniejvr Жыл бұрын
very interesting video.
@TheInfoworks Жыл бұрын
Sometimes you just have to experiment to move forward, cheers
@nicholaskeur Жыл бұрын
That "Corporate strategy" plug is a very common JST connector...
@TheInfoworks Жыл бұрын
Brilliant, thanks
@Ether_Void Жыл бұрын
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.
@Laurel-Crowned8 ай бұрын
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 👍🏽
@TheInfoworks8 ай бұрын
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-Crowned8 ай бұрын
@@TheInfoworks great advice! I'm sure they overpowered the solar input but who knows these days
@Laurel-Crowned8 ай бұрын
@@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
@TheInfoworks8 ай бұрын
Yes, there's a whole playlist on my pottery adventures (ceramics) otherwise check out Andy Wards ancient pottery, cheers @@Laurel-Crowned
@stiffmeister0hYeah3 ай бұрын
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?
@TheInfoworks3 ай бұрын
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
@barryreeves9191 Жыл бұрын
Hi om wandering if a couple of the screws underneath are for heatsink
@TheInfoworks Жыл бұрын
Oh yes, but from the inside, cheers
@herbertvonsauerkrautunterh25133 ай бұрын
I wouldn't bother whether they units. Buy epsolar instead. I am buying the RS 450/100 tr though..
@teddycunningham7568 Жыл бұрын
Good info . Am building a large bank of ercon automobile batteries to use as storage and
@teddycunningham7568 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
@@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 Жыл бұрын
@@teddycunningham7568 any experience with glass mat or gel types ?
@TheInfoworks Жыл бұрын
@@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 Жыл бұрын
@@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.
@bali-haimailordernursery Жыл бұрын
Interesting
@TheInfoworks Жыл бұрын
Cheers
@user-dr2pg8fk2i10 ай бұрын
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.
@TheInfoworks10 ай бұрын
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
@vintageb311 ай бұрын
Yep
@TheInfoworks11 ай бұрын
That does it.
@pollywollydo Жыл бұрын
Wonder if Acetone would work 🤔
@TheInfoworks Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
@@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 🌝
@kevsmith5363 Жыл бұрын
not trx bench
@johnallen35557 ай бұрын
where is your external fuse!?
@TheInfoworks7 ай бұрын
Hi, do you think it needs one in this situation, interesting, cheers
@johnallen35557 ай бұрын
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 ...)
@TheInfoworks7 ай бұрын
John, it's an experimental dab, not a screw connection @@johnallen3555
@imnobody452221 күн бұрын
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.
@TheInfoworks21 күн бұрын
Hi, this was a good led which FET could have failed, see the next video, cheers
@markwitkop702211 ай бұрын
Or, its a cheap way of keeping moisture out of the circuitry.
@TheInfoworks11 ай бұрын
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