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Post by ianali on Jun 2, 2020 13:24:39 GMT
Having fitted extra solar panels I found I couldn’t lower the float voltage for my new sealed lead acids. Have brought a new controller which allows for adjustment. Have set float to 13.3v but yet to see it go into float mode. I know it’s a kinda how long is a length of string question, but how long might a bank sit at 14.4v for? Batteries currently still taking very low amps in, amp meter flickering around 1amp down to .1 amps going in. This has been same for last couple of days. Should be in float I’d have thought? No load on them at all. Batteries do not feel warm.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 13:46:17 GMT
Having fitted extra solar panels I found I couldn’t lower the float voltage for my new sealed lead acids. Have brought a new controller which allows for adjustment. Have set float to 13.3v but yet to see it go into float mode. I know it’s a kinda how long is a length of string question, but how long might a bank sit at 14.4v for? Batteries currently still taking very low amps in, amp meter flickering around 1amp down to .1 amps going in. This has been same for last couple of days. Should be in float I’d have thought? No load on them at all. Batteries do not feel warm. Which controller?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 13:47:36 GMT
I have 640w of solar, and the mppt is four stage. It hardly ever goes to float.
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Post by Telemachus on Jun 2, 2020 14:13:44 GMT
Having fitted extra solar panels I found I couldn’t lower the float voltage for my new sealed lead acids. Have brought a new controller which allows for adjustment. Have set float to 13.3v but yet to see it go into float mode. I know it’s a kinda how long is a length of string question, but how long might a bank sit at 14.4v for? Batteries currently still taking very low amps in, amp meter flickering around 1amp down to .1 amps going in. This has been same for last couple of days. Should be in float I’d have thought? No load on them at all. Batteries do not feel warm. Depends on the controller, obvs., but I would have thought it would go into float when the current drop to 1A, or before that even. The batteries won't be warm because even if all that power were going to make heat, it is still 12w or less. In fact the power is mostly going to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen.
I think the important thing to remember is that the controller can't distinguish between current going into the batteries, and current going into the boat's services eg fridge etc. So if the fridge is on, and a few other things, that might be 5A that the solar controller is pushing out to keep the voltage up at 14.4v. Of course if your "1 to 0.1A" refers to the solar output, then the above is a red herring, but by the way you describe it, it sounds more like the current going into the batteries, which as I said is not necessarily the same as the current coming out of the controller.
Probably doesn't matter too much as the sun goes down, eventually!
EDIT - just noticed you said "with no load on them at all" so perhaps in this instance the current out of the controller is the same as the current into the batteries. Yes I would have expected it to go to float. Are there any settings for battery capacity, current at which point it switches to float, or time delay before going to float?
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Post by Clinton Cool on Jun 2, 2020 14:18:10 GMT
I'd suggest it doesn't matter. If you go on an 8 hour cruise when your batteries are already almost full the alternator will keep on supplying 14.4v (or whatever the setting is.) If this isn't damaging your batteries unduly, neither is the solar at 14.4.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 14:24:29 GMT
Hmmm, just checked mine, and it is on float. Earlier, it was 0.8 or something silly at 13.5v. I've set mine to *gel* mode for these new agm's, as that's what the manufacturer suggested. I ran the trojans on *user* mode before. It's now on 13.3.
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Post by ianali on Jun 2, 2020 14:25:37 GMT
Should have said, it’s a mppt controller(epever model). I’d have expected it to go into float, think I’m a little paranoid because I’ve ended up with sealed batteries. Il have to have a good read of the instructions and see if there are other adjustments to be made. Not had chance yet, with not staying aboard at mo I’ve been favouring my motorbikes.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2020 14:35:19 GMT
Should have said, it’s a mppt controller(epever model). I’d have expected it to go into float, think I’m a little paranoid because I’ve ended up with sealed batteries. Il have to have a good read of the instructions and see if there are other adjustments to be made. Not had chance yet, with not staying aboard at mo I’ve been favouring my motorbikes. The *user* option on the tracer isn't very helpful. If you're running agm's, try setting the tracer to *gel* settings, and set the boost function at 180 mins. If not agm's, then the *sealed* setting is what you need to be using.
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