Solar iboost not working

[Mary 12345]

We have a solar iboost which was working fine then suddenly stopped. If you turn it off at the mains and then on again, it says low voltage and heats via solar initially with a high reading then this drops until zero and it states heating off. Amy ideas on what the problem could be? Thanks

 

[marconi]

Dear Mary12345: I cannot find a message which says 'low voltage' but I did find one 'Sender battery low'; perhaps this is what you meant. If it was 'Sender battery low' then you need to replace the two AA batteries in the sender; do not use rechargeable batteries - only use normal alkaline as you buy in the shops.

The sender is this device which connects via a lead to the clamp around a cable near the meter:

Solar iBoost+ Sender - Marlec - https://www.marlec.co.uk/product/solar-iboost-sender/

 

[Mary 12345]

Dear Mary12345: I cannot find a message which says 'low voltage' but I did find one 'Sender battery low'; perhaps this is what you meant. If it was 'Sender battery low' then you need to replace the two AA batteries in the sender; do not use rechargeable batteries - only use normal alkaline as you buy in the shops.

The sender is this device which connects via a lead to the clamp around a cable near the meter:

Solar iBoost+ Sender - Marlec - https://www.marlec.co.uk/product/solar-iboost-sender/

We have changed the batteries in the sender and no difference. The light on the sender is flashing intermittently and the little Wi-fi signal is also flashing on the iboost itself. The low voltage message appears briefly as you switch the mains switch back on on the iboost, the. It is replaced with the version/model details briefly then goes to normal display and the blue light comes on and heats via solar initially at a level expected for the weather but this then slowly drops/decreases until the display reads heating off. You can then turn the iboost off again via the mains and on again and the whole process is repeated but obviously can’t do this all the time.....

 

[marconi]

Thank you. I will look into it tomorrow and if needs be contact the manufacturer.

 

[marconi]

Mary12345: Good morning Madam. To submit a query I need to know the following information:

1. Press display and please tell me the savings made today, yesterday, last seven days, last 28 days etc.

2. Is it the Iboost or Iboost plus?

3. Do you know when it was installed and by whom?

4. Do you have battery storage for your PV system?

5. Does the green light on the sender flash?

6. Does the radio symbol (top right) on the iBoost display flash? It looks like a Christmas tree with waves.

7. Are you still able to heat the water using the electric immersion element?

Thank you.

 

[Mary 12345]

Mary12345: Good morning Madam. To submit a query I need to know the following information:

1. Press display and please tell me the savings made today, yesterday, last seven days, last 28 days etc.

2. Is it the Iboost or Iboost plus?

3. Do you know when it was installed and by whom?

4. Do you have battery storage for your PV system?

5. Does the green light on the sender flash?

6. Does the radio symbol (top right) on the iBoost display flash? It looks like a Christmas tree with waves.

7. Are you still able to heat the water using the electric immersion element?

Thank you.

1 - today 0; yesterday 0; last 7 0.36 (me turning it on and off otherwise would be 0); last 28 days 95.99; total 5198.00

2- iboost

3- can’t find any paperwork apart from the manual - think we had it installed just after the solar panels in 2016 ish

4- no

5- yes

6- yes

7- yes; kicks in when press boost, haven’t left on to see if heats water to full temperature over time as is expensive and we have an oil boiler to heat water

Thank you

 

[marconi]

I have submitted a query into Marlec the manufacturer. If I were to hazard a guess on what is wrong I think the iBoost's internal 'keep alive' battery is flat.

 

[Mary 12345]

I have submitted a query into Marlec the manufacturer. If I were to hazard a guess on what is wrong I think the iBoost's internal 'keep alive' battery is flat.

Thank you so much, that makes sense, does that mean we need a complete new iboost or can just the battery be replaced?

 

[marconi]

I will attempt to call MARLEC today - I received an 'all to busy because of C19' in response to my on-line query. You must be very disappointed not to be harvesting the sunshine.

 

[marconi]

Mary12345: Eventually my telephone call to MARLEC went through to a recorded message: 'blah, blah, blah, covid, difficult time, blah, etcetera'. The advice in it is to do what I have done for you already - complete an on-line query and wait for a response. We will have to be patient.

 

[marconi]

Mary12345: I received this email from MARLEC which you can read below. The first step is to arrange for an electrician to check the mains electricity supply to the IBoost. A 30 minute visit by an electrician will soon confirm if power is or is not available and that the element and thermostat are satisfactory. Armed with this information you can then contact Angela Lovell, tell them what the electrician found and then arrange for MARLEC to take a look at the unit noting though that at the moment their service to customer has changed temporarily.


Marconi

Angela Lovell <[email protected]>
23/04/2020 14:37
1
Good Afternoon

This will be a problem perhaps with the voltage into the property or at least what is reaching the Solar iBoost please check the unit has been installed correctly, details on the Marlec website.
If possible have an electrician check this for you. If he checks this na (not applicable) and if continues we will have to take a look at your unit however at the minute the office is closed and we are not accepting returns and cannot test equipment.

kind regards

Angela Lovell - Sales Co-ordinator

Tel: +44(0)1536 201588 [email protected] www.marlec.co.uk www.solariboost.co.uk

 

[Mary 12345]

Mary12345: I received this email from MARLEC which you can read below. The first step is to arrange for an electrician to check the mains electricity supply to the IBoost. A 30 minute visit by an electrician will soon confirm if power is or is not available and that the element and thermostat are satisfactory. Armed with this information you can then contact Angela Lovell, tell them what the electrician found and then arrange for MARLEC to take a look at the unit noting though that at the moment their service to customer has changed temporarily.


Marconi

Angela Lovell <[email protected]>
23/04/2020 14:37
1
Good Afternoon

This will be a problem perhaps with the voltage into the property or at least what is reaching the Solar iBoost please check the unit has been installed correctly, details on the Marlec website.
If possible have an electrician check this for you. If he checks this na (not applicable) and if continues we will have to take a look at your unit however at the minute the office is closed and we are not accepting returns and cannot test equipment.

kind regards

Angela Lovell - Sales Co-ordinator

Tel: +44(0)1536 201588 [email protected] www.marlec.co.uk www.solariboost.co.uk

Thanks you; yes frustrating not to be able to use the sun to its full potential. From this and all your advise I think it is something to do with the unit or it’s electrical supply but appreciate not much can be done until covid19 is over. Stay safe

 

[marconi]

If you don't have a regular electrician then you might look at the 'Local Electricians' tab at the very top of the page to search for one who might be prepared to visit and observe the social distancing rules. You could fumigate him/her before they entered your home if you were worried.

 

[Grumpy_Wombat]

Hi, just seen this thread and my be able to offer some help, shame on the information you have received so far though.

Firstly, what you describe is normal start-up behaviour for an iBoost. When it is first switched on it displays "Low Voltage" (reasonable, there was no voltage) then the software version and then it briefly provides power to the tank to check that that works. Indeed, if you switch an iboost on at night, that is exactly what it does, so it seems unlikely that you have anything wrong with the main iBoost unit.

The symptoms you describe are, however, consistent with the iBoost sender believing that there is no spare power to divert to the immersion heater and this points to the sender unit (or worse). The sender measures the current (power) being fed back into the power grid (exported) and gives that information to the main iBoost controller so that it can adjust the amount of power it sends to the tank, aiming to always export a little.

We know your sender unit is talking to the main iBoost controller so communications are not the problem. So immediate thoughts are:

a) hate to say it, but is your solar system generating as it should be and generating the expected amount (don't know your details so can't be more exact)
b) now check that the thin cable from the send to the current clamp (the square block that clips to your live power feed) is undamaged
c) check that the current clamp is firmly clipped on the right mains input cable. This must be the live feed from either the utility company fuse or isolator switch. The current clamp has a latch on it to be able to fit or remove it and this latch must be firmly closed so the clamp tight right round the relevant cable
d) if the current clamp has been removed for any reason do check that it has been put back on the right way round (yes, it needs to "face" the right way!). If you want a picture of a clamp in position just ask.
d) And if none of these things apply then suspect that the sender has died - but that seems unlikely.
Hope that helps before you run up too many bills.

 

[Grumpy_Wombat]

Hi, just seen this thread and my be able to offer some help, shame on the information you have received so far though.

Firstly, what you describe is normal start-up behaviour for an iBoost. When it is first switched on it displays "Low Voltage" (reasonable, there was no voltage) then the software version and then it briefly provides power to the tank to check that that works. Indeed, if you switch an iboost on at night, that is exactly what it does, so it seems unlikely that you have anything wrong with the main iBoost unit.

The symptoms you describe are, however, consistent with the iBoost sender believing that there is no spare power to divert to the immersion heater and this points to the sender unit (or worse). The sender measures the current (power) being fed back into the power grid (exported) and gives that information to the main iBoost controller so that it can adjust the amount of power it sends to the tank, aiming to always export a little.

We know your sender unit is talking to the main iBoost controller so communications are not the problem. So immediate thoughts are:

a) hate to say it, but is your solar system generating as it should be and generating the expected amount (don't know your details so can't be more exact)
b) now check that the thin cable from the send to the current clamp (the square block that clips to your live power feed) is undamaged
c) check that the current clamp is firmly clipped on the right mains input cable. This must be the live feed from either the utility company fuse or isolator switch. The current clamp has a latch on it to be able to fit or remove it and this latch must be firmly closed so the clamp tight right round the relevant cable
d) if the current clamp has been removed for any reason do check that it has been put back on the right way round (yes, it needs to "face" the right way!). If you want a picture of a clamp in position just ask.
d) And if none of these things apply then suspect that the sender has died - but that seems unlikely.
Hope that helps before you run up too many bills.

e) The PS. If you have an Iboost+ then do check that the clamp is firmly plugged into the sender unit (it's captive on iBoost units).