REC Active BMS problems

Richard OGM Support Staff

3/19/22, 8:31 AM

Bret, I cant find your order in our system so I dont know the details of what your have. Did you try disconnecting the MPPT to see if the error goes away? Are you setting your addresses to 0 and 2 for an active BMS? Rick

BretS

3/19/22, 8:39 AM

Rick, I bought my REC from them before you guys were selling them. This has been in service for a while. I am desperate for help, so I was searching and found your forum. If you can\'t help me, I understand. If you can, my setup is a REC Active controlling an entire Victron set of components via a Cerbo. Everything is down, and the contactors are open because I couldn\'t get the REC to start back up after doing the wiring work. I got an error 10 immediately. I think that, as your tech pointed out, my cells may have settled a bit further apart than the RAZL setting after being shutdown for several days. But, I can\'t even get in now to find out. I appreciate any help you can provide, as my 5th wheel camper is dead until I get this straightened out.

BretS

3/19/22, 8:43 AM

I am using 2 and 0. Here is a screenshot of my settings. I have done this many times, so not new at connecting.

Richard OGM Support Staff

3/19/22, 8:49 AM

Control address needs to be zero. You have it set to 1

BretS

3/19/22, 8:54 AM

Sorry, I hit the screenshot while trying other combos. Here it is. Still no joy...

BretS

3/19/22, 8:55 AM

I saw someone else on here had a similar problem, and they toggled off the correct settings and back and it worked, so I was trying that.

BretS

3/19/22, 9:15 AM

Here is a screenshot I emailed your tech yesterday of my cell voltages. I didn\'t do anything after being connected except shut off the beeping BMS. When I turned it back on, I was unable to get \"present\".

Richard OGM Support Staff

3/19/22, 9:32 AM

I wonder if when you powered off your BMS while communicating if that caused a driver problem or something. I assume you have removed your USB cable and rebooted, then re-installed your cable during your testing?

BretS

3/19/22, 9:38 AM

Yes, I have removed the USB cable and tried both ports. I have rebooted multiple times. I even uninstalled the REC software and reinstalled it. I would think if it was a driver problem, it wouldn\'t connect up to the comm port or chime when I plug in the USB. Can the BMS firmware or anything else be hard pushed to it somehow? I would think something like that would require it sent in to somewhere. I\'m starting to think this thing is bricked, and I will be buying a new unit...

BretS

3/19/22, 10:31 AM

Tried reloading drivers on my laptop, no difference.

BretS

3/19/22, 5:25 PM

So, it turns out my RS-485 to USB cable is bad... for starters.

Richard OGM Support Staff

3/20/22, 6:27 AM

It was starting to sound like that was one of the issues. We sell the software and cable at our online store . You may also want to consider grabbing a replacement BMS only. Its not too expensive and if you find that was the problem, you can have your old one fixed by REC directly and keep it for a spare. The default profile should get you up and going. If you decide to go that way here is a cart link for you that includes a bare BMS, and USB config cable with software: https://www.offgridsoftwaresolutions.com/cart-share/nVwV1 It looks like we currently have stock but Covid and the Ukraine war are delaying production again.

Michael

4/20/25, 6:16 AM

Hello all, happy Easter, I am getting the same error code, error 10, on restarting my system having had it turned off for the winter.
the system has been running for the last couple of years without fault, I also did a shutdown last winter and it re-started without any issues. Help, where do I start, the cells

are all within range so don't blieve this to be the issue, I did have an issue with the temperature sensors very early on and I am beginning to wonder if this maybe the issue??

I can't fault the system when it's running, and I would like to get it working again.

Rick the REC was not purchased through you as it was bought before you had set up your site, it was bought directly from REC, however I did purchase my Wakespeed through you.

Best wishes to all

Rick OGM Support Staff

4/20/25, 7:07 AM

Hey Michael,

An error 10 is not good. It usually indicates a short circuit or blown fuses in the BMS. This can be caused by removing a cell tap wire while the harness is connected or a loose or corroded conection somewhere. A lightning strike can also be a cause. To test it try these steps:

1) Remove the harness
loosen and retorque all cell busbar connections
Inspect all cell tap wire connections and crimps for any signs of corrosion
Reconnect harness and test. Still an error 10?

2) Disconnect harness again and using an M10 driver remove the 4 screws in the BMS and slide out the circuit board
Remove the square black fuses and using a meter, test each one. If you have one or more blown thats not a good sign. Replace as necessary. Most electronics wholesalers will have stock
Retest. If working now, you are lucky. If not, it will need to be replaced.

In the past having it repaired in the EU was an option but with current tarrifs its likely no longer practical

Good luck

Michael

4/20/25, 10:53 AM

Hi Rick

Thanks for this, I will give all of this a go, but I am off the boat now.

It's interesting that you are indicating that it could be the cell tap wires, the display on the BMS is showing the correct cell voltages, which would indicate the fuses and the balance wires are all OK????
I will still check the fuses inside the BMS too.
I am based in the UK so maybe I can send it back to REC?????

Rick OGM Support Staff

4/20/25, 12:19 PM

ok Mike, with this additional information it changes the equation. An error 10 is usually a serious error on a failed system. When you get back please verify the error code and all cell voltages as measured at the harness pins and we can dig into it again.

And sure, from UK to EU returning for repair should be possible/practical if needed.

Michael

4/20/25, 3:48 PM

@Rick I will check the measured voltages compared to the screen shots

Michael

4/20/25, 3:49 PM

Michael

4/20/25, 3:50 PM

Michael

4/20/25, 3:51 PM

Michael

4/20/25, 3:51 PM

Michael

4/20/25, 3:52 PM

Michael

4/20/25, 3:56 PM

As you can see it seems that the BMS is seeing all the correct numbers and forwarding them onto the display, so slightly confused why the BMS is erroring out as I would have thought the numbers were all within range 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ will confirm the cell voltages tomorrow 👍👍👍

Michael

4/21/25, 10:16 AM

@Rick Hi Rick, just back from the boat, and I can confirm that the cell voltages are pretty much what the BMS is reporting, so slightly at a loss where I go from here apart from sending the unit back???? Perhaps one of the REC team would like to take a look???

Michael

4/22/25, 5:14 PM

Hi Rick, just to keep you in the loop, Tine has sent me a firmware update, I will give this a go(unfortunately I don't think I will get to the boat till the weekend), I will update the forum on the outcome, it may help others in the future.....

Rick OGM Support Staff

4/23/25, 9:17 AM

Hey Mike,

Thanks, I appreciate that. I havent heard from Tine on this one but I'll reach out to see if I can get to the bottom of it.

Rick OGM Support Staff

4/24/25, 7:54 AM

I think I have a reasonable explanation for your error. When the Active BMS first powers up it does some tests and one is to drive the active balancer which puts a large load on you cell tap wires. If you have a bad connection but there is no load, your cell voltages will be in the normal range, but when a load is applied, you will get a significant voltage drop at that corroded or lose conection, causing your error 10, but then appearing ok on the display after the test is completed. Tine has tweaked the starup routine parameters but still it indicates a possible wiring isue on your pack that needs to be fixed.

Hope that helps.

Here are Tines notes on it:

The ABMS does the balancing test routine by measuring cell voltages with or without balancing. In case the voltage differs more than 0.5 V it alarms error 10.(Of course also if the cell is <0.5 V or > 4.8 V in case of wrong measurement or cell fuses are blown). I have now increase this to 0.7V with longer measuring integration time (Sigma-Delta)

@Tine Andrejasic

Michael

4/24/25, 1:32 PM

@Rick@Tine Andrejasic

Thanks Rick, the update that Tine has supplied has resolved the issue, thanks to you both.
I will check the connections in the top of the cells, they are under a clear plastic cover so are clean.
I have a 4P4S setup with EVE 280AH cells, the 4 positive & negative terminals are linked with a 25mmx5mm nickel plated busbar there is then another two busbars linking the positive busbar to the negative of the next cell(midway between a pair of thr 4 cells), all nickel plated copper 25mmx5mm thick, this is where the balance wires are connected to, they are bolted directly to the nickel plated copper bar.
The balance wires are soldered into crimped ring terminals so I don't think there should be a connection issue there??? I would be interested in your thoughts??? Could the issue be with the multi pin connector going into the BMS??? are these cables soldered???

Thanks again for the support, it's been excellent as always.

I also found out that it's possible to update the BMS directly from my phone 😎😎😎😎

Rick OGM Support Staff

4/24/25, 4:40 PM

Thats great news Michael, pins are crimped on the harness I have here in the office.

Michael

4/25/25, 3:18 AM

@Rick could the bad connection be in the plug/socket arrangement in the bottom of the BMS?????