Battery not charging in cold weather - any resolution from Sunsynk?
I had my system installed a week ago and noticed that when it's cold my solar panels don't charge the batteries, it just sends the excess back to the grid instead. I saw a thread on here of other people saying the same thing and wondered if anyone had any luck getting a reply from Sunsynk about it? Looking at the battery temperature it seems to be varying between 5c - 14c up in the attic and as others have said once it says below about 12c it stops charging and it's not even that cold really compared to what it can get like in the UK so it doesn't seem as though its going to be much use until spring at this rate! With it being Christmas I've not raised it with my installer yet but think I might have to move the battery into the ensuite below where it is now in the attic to keep it at a working temperature which seems ridiculous. Surely the batteries should be able to charge at under 12c? I've e not heard of this problem with anyone else's batteries of different makes?
Reading all these comments - I have been through the same frustrations and problem solving! YES indeed battery [mine is a GSL but they all use the same cell types....?] charging is limited below 12degC. And YES that is a con because the spec says it charges 0degC to 40degC but it doesn't! it only charges above 12degC!
Having read numerous research papers on LifePO4 [most written in China!] I agree with all said here about keeping the battery enclosed and warm for best performance. Ideally 25degC.
BUT
1) I have not read anything as to why there is a 12degC cut-off as the only BAD is charging below 0degC. For some reason all new batteries seem to have a large 'safety margin' on this 0degC limit of 12degC??? Even more frustrating, my battery is limited to 5Amps below 12degC [only 280W] but will happily charge at 3000W at 12.1degC!!!
2) BUT more importantly, battery use above 45degC is BAD for battery life. One test showed use at 55degC reduced battery life to 1/7 [yes one seventh!] of life at 25degC use.
So folks, wrap the battery up and keep it warm with a heater in the winter BUT BUT BUT make sure it is kept cool in the summer!!!