Today I was letting the AC180 run the battery down by unplugging it for a few hours. I plugged the AC back in when it was at about 37% and the whole thing “died” cutting off all the power to my valuable computer equipment! Yet the display remains on including the AC light, however next to that light is a small flashing warning in red “short”, which remains flashing along with the AC button, even after a factory reset. I can’t believe a machine built for this purpose in the 2020s doesn’t have short protection as standard.
The error on the app says Inverter Output Failure (inverter soft startup) E004. @BLUETTI @BLUETTI_CARE
So now I am running everything off my spare battery supply (from a competitor brand) and I would like to get this fixed ASAP. Serial number is AC1802436003079382
loT v9046.01
ARM v2074.07
DSPv2078.07
BMS v1033.12
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Hi @christangey,
Here is what I was able to find regarding the error codes:
| Error Code |
Description |
Suggested Action |
| E004 |
Output failure. |
Ensure the output voltage is within ±10% of the rated voltage or proper grid connection. |
Note: Do not randomly connect the power station to a wall outlet or to the unit itself, and do not disconnect it arbitrarily either. Make sure to switch off the power station first; this helps prevent internal short circuits. This is also stated in the power station manual.
This can lead to a short circuit in the BMS board and the inverter. There is a possibility that the fuse on the BMS board has been damaged due to this short circuit.
Some Bluetti units have an internal and sometimes an external fuse that you can replace, but this only applies to a limited number of models.
Hopefully this information helps.
Kind regards,
Jason
Thanks Jason. Bottom line is what machine built for this purpose in the last decade doesn’t have short circuit protection as standard? So where to now?
Hi @christangey,
In this case, the fuse is responsible for the short-circuit protection, since the power station has a floating ground.
What you can do is check a few things. See which functions still work on the power station, such as:
-
AC input: Can you still charge the power station via the mains?
-
AC output: Does the AC inverter still work?
-
DC input: Can you still charge the power station via the solar panel?
-
DC output: Do the USB ports still work?
For example, if the AC input no longer works, the fuse might be blown. On some power stations, such as the Elite series, you can replace this yourself. The fuse is usually located near the AC port on the power station itself; for example, on my Elite 30, it is located directly under the C-13 plug socket.
For other issues, you will need to contact Bluetti’s RMA service (Return Merchandise Authorization). You can reach Customer Support at +1 909-570-0909, Monday to Saturday from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM PDT, or via email at service@bluettipower.com, with responses typically within 24 hours.
Keep in mind that repair and shipping costs can sometimes be higher than purchasing a second-hand or new power station.
Kind regards,
Jason
1 Like
Hi Jason,
No I can’t charge via AC, AC inverter doesn’t output. Setting up a solar panel would be major so I’ll only do it if I have to, but DC output DOES work. I can’t find a physical fuse near the AC input but there is a 15A “circuit protector” button which seems to do absolutely nothing. I have contacted Bluetti Australia and am awaiting their response.
Hi @christangey, to resolve this issue, please disconnect all loads from the AC180 and restart it.
Does the app still show an error when there is no load connected?
If so, the problem cannot be fixed via a firmware update.
We have located your email and arranged follow-up repair service.
Many thanks to @Mr. Stone for his concern and assistance with this matter.