AGM to Lithium battery swap—not able to update Victron MPPT settings

lisadbricker · July 15

Over the weekend my husband and I switched out our original AGM batteries in our 2021 Tab 400 Boondock for a 230ah LiTime lithium battery. Unfortunately, I did not first pull up my Victron Connect app to check if I had a connection (I had no problems connecting via Bluetooth and checking stats before). After the new battery was installed I went into the Victron Connect app to change the settings on the solar controller for lithium and was unable to connect. My device showed up in the app but when I tried to connect it asked for my passcode. I entered the code I thought I’d used and it said it wasn’t correct. Yes I tried 000000 as well. I then used the 3 dots in the upper right to change the passcode but it needs the PUK. The sticker I have with my paperwork gives me serial number and part number, etc, but not PUK. I searched this forum and am seeing that I need to unscrew the device from the wall (in our tab it is behind the drawer below the fridge) to be able to get to the sticker on the back. That seems very difficult to do with all the wires fixed so tightly right next to the device. I have gone the route of submitting a request via Victron for my PUK using my serial number. Still waiting for a response.

In the meantime, our new battery has been installed and our trailer is stored outside where the solar panels do get sun. How bad is it if the solar controller is configured for our old AGM batteries while connected to our new lithium battery? And does anyone have any other advice on getting the Victron app to connect. Seems so strange that I had no issues connecting in the past, and then suddenly now that it’s critical…

TourDeForth · July 15

The Puk code should be on the solar controller itself, below the serial number on the label. I have the MPPT 75/10 in my trailer. Lifting the driver side couch I can see the label with the code on the top of the blue box.

Marceline · July 15

TourDeForth said:

The Puk code should be on the solar controller itself, below the serial number on the label. I have the MPPT 75/10 in my trailer. Lifting the driver side couch I can see the label with the code on the top of the blue box.

I think that Victron moved the location of the PUK code at some point. I know that some of them are on the back of the device.

Marceline · July 15

lisadbricker said:

How bad is it if the solar controller is configured for our old AGM batteries while connected to our new lithium battery? And does anyone have any other advice on getting the Victron app to connect. Seems so strange that I had no issues connecting in the past, and then suddenly now that it’s critical…

I don't think that it's terrible for your new battery. You just won't get a full charge on it from the solar controller. I don't know any way around resetting the passcode without the PUK. You could try maybe cutting the power to the controller one more time to see if it changes its mind when it restarts again...

pthomas745 · July 15

If you simply dropped the battery in and connected it, you may need to disconnect the battery and solar and let the solar controller reset. Pull the fuse at the battery, and pull the fuse at the solar controller coming in from the solar panels.

The Victron controller has a very specific connection protocol.

This is the section of the Solar Controller Manual. (# 3 and 5 are not applicable).

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/a5/1nxtmhird9zg.jpg

With both the fuses for the Victron cables pulled: replace the fuse at the battery first. Have a look at the Victron and see if the battery is being recognized....then replace the solar controller fuse.

It is possible for the fuse on the bottom of the Victron to blow. It is supposed to be a "reverse polarity" fuse, but some owners have reported it blown for who knows what reason.

Link to the Manual.

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Manual_SmartSolar_MPPT_75-10_up_to_100-20/29694-MPPT_solar_charger_manual-pdf-en.pdf

Binghi · July 15

I have the same trailer (2021 400 BD) and at one point had to retrieve the PUK number from the back side of my solar controller. The controller was behind the drawer like yours. I pulled the drawer out, backed out the controller’s mounting screws, then rotated the controller enough to allow me to take a picture of the back side where the label displaying the PUK was attached. The entire process from beginning to end took about an hour as I recall. It’s a mystery why Victron buried such an important piece of information like that.

elbolillo · July 15

Having the PUK on the unit is great so that it never get disassociated with the unit. That all goes to hell in a hand basket when you lose connection. When they install these at the factory they really should include the PUK with all the other instruction manuals and documentation.

That being said, the first thing I did when installing my two new 100/30 MPPT controllers was to take a picture of each PUK and put them in my Tab 400 info notebook.

lisadbricker · July 15

Thank you, everyone, for your quick responses! I have resigned myself to the fact that I’ll need to get to that label on the back of the controller, but sounds like it isn’t as big a deal as it had seemed when I looked at it. If using the PUK to reset the passcode doesn’t get me reconnected, I will try the protocol suggested by @pthomas745. It looks like everything works fine, and the battery is getting a (very slow) charge from the solar, just can’t get my Bluetooth connection established with the controller because my passcode isn’t correct.
The biggest concern I have right now is the fact that we left the new battery connected to an active solar controller with the wrong settings, and solar panels that are getting full sun. We are nearly an hour away from where we store our Tab, but will be going back this weekend to try to finish getting the battery system set up properly. I just want to be sure the battery will be ok until then, even if it isn’t getting charged as quickly (or completely) as it should.

pthomas745 · 12:58AM

The solar controller, even still set to the "old" lead acid settings, will still charge the battery to about 85 percent. Your charge may be "slow" because the solar controller is tapering off the charge for an almost full battery.

Binghi · 2:27AM

lisadbricker said:

Thank you, everyone, for your quick responses! I have resigned myself to the fact that I’ll need to get to that label on the back of the controller, but sounds like it isn’t as big a deal as it had seemed when I looked at it. If using the PUK to reset the passcode doesn’t get me reconnected, I will try the protocol suggested by @pthomas745. It looks like everything works fine, and the battery is getting a (very slow) charge from the solar, just can’t get my Bluetooth connection established with the controller because my passcode isn’t correct.
The biggest concern I have right now is the fact that we left the new battery connected to an active solar controller with the wrong settings, and solar panels that are getting full sun. We are nearly an hour away from where we store our Tab, but will be going back this weekend to try to finish getting the battery system set up properly. I just want to be sure the battery will be ok until then, even if it isn’t getting charged as quickly (or completely) as it should.

Your new battery will be fine. Once you get the PUK and re-connect to your Victron Solar app, you can change the app settings to lithium and, given a sunny day, have your battery at 100% in a jiffy.

lisadbricker · 7:41PM

Thank you so much for the peace of mind! This community is the best.

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AGM to Lithium battery swap—not able to update Victron MPPT settings

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