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Post by cybrmarc on Dec 26, 2019 15:14:32 GMT
I've been trying to figure out what the heck is going on with my batteries and I think it's this: Is it possible that by not adjusting the Rover's boost (absorption) mode that I'm cooking my batteries? I have the Rover 40 A and flooded lead acid batteries in parallel.
We have a lot of inconsistent sun here in SE Wisconsin. And I know the Rover is set to restart it's boost cycle whenever voltage drops to below 13.2. I've noticed that one's it's out of bulk, the controller rarely gets to and stays in float for the rest of the day. Could this continual re-entering of boost mode be cooking off my battery's capacity?
I had two brand new 160 AH flooded batteries hooked up to it, and they both seem to be really struggling with their capacity. They seem like their total capacity is around 100 AH instead of 320. I've had them on the desulfator for a couple weeks, and in that time I hooked up my old spare 160 AH battery (which wasn't full capacity to begin with.) It was fine for the first week, but we just had a week of consistent sun and now the battery will drop down to 11.9 - 12V after discharging just 14 Amps! Only reason I can see that happening is overcharge.
Thoughts? Do you guys adjust your boost duration for different batteries?
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Post by tattoo on Dec 26, 2019 17:20:16 GMT
I've been trying to figure out what the heck is going on with my batteries and I think it's this: Is it possible that by not adjusting the Rover's boost (absorption) mode that I'm cooking my batteries? I have the Rover 40 A and flooded lead acid batteries in parallel. We have a lot of inconsistent sun here in SE Wisconsin. And I know the Rover is set to restart it's boost cycle whenever voltage drops to below 13.2. I've noticed that one's it's out of bulk, the controller rarely gets to and stays in float for the rest of the day. Could this continual re-entering of boost mode be cooking off my battery's capacity? I had two brand new 160 AH flooded batteries hooked up to it, and they both seem to be really struggling with their capacity. They seem like their total capacity is around 100 AH instead of 320. I've had them on the desulfator for a couple weeks, and in that time I hooked up my old spare 160 AH battery (which wasn't full capacity to begin with.) It was fine for the first week, but we just had a week of consistent sun and now the battery will drop down to 11.9 - 12V after discharging just 14 Amps! Only reason I can see that happening is overcharge. Thoughts? Do you guys adjust your boost duration for different batteries? I don't mind my batteries staying at boost all the time...... It sounds to me like your rover is doing what's it should be doing........ I don't think it's cooking your batteries at all......... What is the highest voltage that you have seen? 16v 18v? How do you know it's just 14amps? For how long is it pulling 14amps? What are you checking your usage with? What EXACTLY do you have pulling on your system and where is your draw hooked up to? Do you have an inverter or is it all 12v? Way more info needed................ |
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Post by tattoo on Dec 26, 2019 17:22:45 GMT
I had two brand new 160 AH flooded batteries hooked up to it, and they both seem to be really struggling with their capacity. They seem like their total capacity is around 100 AH instead of 320. Oh by the way you need to remember you can ONLY use half of your ah in your batteries before you start hurting them......
Now if you want to use more of it buy some over priced Li batteries..................
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Post by cybrmarc on Dec 26, 2019 17:36:23 GMT
Hey Tatoo, thanks for replying. Yeah I try to stay above 12.2V because I know the 50% rule, which is how I noticed batteries were damaged because they go there so quickly.
I have a 400 Watt inverter that is hooked up to a switch that we turn on to use the cell booster or grind coffee every few days. Doesn't use much so there's no big ghost drain there.
Highest voltage on the controller is 19V. Highest voltage on batteries only maybe 15V tops. Rarely gets that high. I was more thinking if it stayed too long at 14.4-14.6 jamming volts into it that wouldn't be good.
I don't know it's at 14 amps but I was just guestimating because one day I completely charge the battery, and then the next day I'm already hitting 11.8-11.9 on the charge controller (which always reads .2 below actual voltage.) And that's just after using the 14 amps out to load on the controller. Sure, maybe it was like 16 from using the inverter for a few mins, but still, way under what it should be.
Pulling on the system is the inverter, as mentioned, and then the load from controller which goes to some LED lights, phone charging, a wifi receiver antenna, and then a monitor I have upstairs hooked up to a small 100W inverter. Most draw ever is 5Amps from all combined. Usually more in the 1-3Amp range.
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Post by cybrmarc on Dec 26, 2019 17:38:18 GMT
And most amps I use in a day is 30, and nowadays if I even use half that the 1 x 160Ah battery will read 12V at controller (so 12.2 aka 50%) after resting loadless all night.
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