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Post by Admin on Sept 4, 2018 22:02:57 GMT
Ok I went down to the cabin a short while ago and low and behold it was floating even though it's been cloudy all day.... It was even floating when my fridge/inverter came on just like it has always done.... So it obviously doesn't matter if it has a load on it or not, I say it charges better with a load....
This proves it.... Pics are on the way soon... YEA....This provides us with insight when it comes to equalization. We can run some experiments off of this. -Renogy Team
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Post by tattoo on Sept 4, 2018 23:21:56 GMT
Ok here are some pics.....
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Post by tattoo on Sept 4, 2018 23:23:31 GMT
Here are the last 3 pics...
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Post by tattoo on Sept 4, 2018 23:28:52 GMT
When I took the pics above it was partly cloudy and the sun was behind the trees and my fridge had just cut off...
Now with all this said, I just thought of something.... I will know more in the morning and see if it's boosting and not stuck in float mode... LOL Hell I hope not.... LOL
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Post by tattoo on Sept 4, 2018 23:48:11 GMT
Yes you're able to change your Equalization voltage. This depends on the battery manufacturers specifications. -Renogy Team Got ya, Now how do I change it? Do I change it the same way I changed the battery settings? As far as I can tell it's 15.5 but I will check further before I change it...
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Post by bupkis on Sept 5, 2018 12:41:26 GMT
Ok how do you think the CC is doing so far?? I figured pics are much better than me telling you how they are doing and it's also showing it in real time... Now that I'm doing this in depth way more than I've ever done it's very interesting and eye opening...
The charge controller seems to be performing fine. The 352W did seem lower but we're attributing that as only temporary and perhaps when a cloud was overhead. The values are very susceptible to change when it's not a clear day. -Renogy Team Dearest Admin, I agree the CC is preforming fine but suggesting the 325w (352w) is low I would question. During constant voltage charging (absorption) the controller limits and wastes energy. (600w one moment than 620w at another ??) at the start to keep the battery @ 14.8v and 350w an hour later to keep the battery @ 14.8v. Then the date changes from 9/28 to 9/3 and is supposed to be another hr later ? ? (17.8A @ 14.76 = 262w), is it in absorption or bulk? IDK but the PV v of 62 show it is either in bulk or a high duty cycle, if sun/shade prevent maintaining 14.8 for an accumulated 2 hrs then it stays in Eq. I will link some Deka charge profile info, AFIK, Duracell 6v GC are made by Deka East Penn. What is considered full charge. Hydrometer is one check. Another is keeping the battery at some charge voltage long enough for the current to taper to some given pt like 1A/100ah or 6A for the bank. I would monitor on a sunny day, note when the battery gets to 14.6 (CC default) and watch current taper for 2hrs. You want current into the battery to taper to very low to indicate full charge. longer boost/absorption may be helpful, you may not have enough sun www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/wp-content/uploads/Renewable-Energy-Charging-Parameters-1913.pdfIf temp corrected sg readings are good, keep on trucking.
I believe you have the G10 www.mkbattery.com/documents/70070919B%20Flooded%20MonoBloc-%20English.pdfHad to add any water ever to the batts? Nearest big city? The first 1/2 of this video (Rolls battery man) is worth the time to watch! www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6ZKKJLNi80&feature=youtu.beLet me address the max voltage display of 15v or something. This may be for a very short time and is not of concern, while regulating battery voltage may not always be precise, the controller doesn't stop power fast enough and the batt v may spike up some for a very short time frame and be captured as max batt v. Planning a light usage day once a week could help the batt get to charge voltage during you window of sun, same for Eq days, less of a discharge the day before and the batt will get to voltage faster to utilize the sun window.
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Post by tattoo on Sept 5, 2018 13:15:12 GMT
Dearest Admin, I agree the CC is preforming fine but suggesting the 325w (352w) is low I would question. During constant voltage charging (absorption) the controller limits and wastes energy. (600w one moment than 620w at another ??) at the start to keep the battery @ 14.8v and 350w an hour later to keep the battery @ 14.8v. Then the date changes from 9/28 to 9/3 and is supposed to be another hr later ? ? (17.8A @ 14.76 = 262w), is it in absorption or bulk? IDK but the PV v of 62 show it is either in bulk or a high duty cycle, if sun/shade prevent maintaining 14.8 for an accumulated 2 hrs then it stays in Eq. If temp corrected sg readings are good, keep on trucking. Had to add any water ever to the batts? Nearest big city? Yep the date did change, Your sharp....
After it didn't seem to be charging much in full sun after an hour, I figured what the heck I'd change the date back to the current date to see if it made a difference... No difference..... And then I put my load back on it just to see what happened..... Plus my fridge had been off long enough.... And it did seem to charge the batteries much better.... Just as you noticed.... like I said everything I did was an experiment..... Good eye, You've been a lot of help...
Yep I fill/check the batteries every month on the 27th right before the Eq.. Since I installed the batteries almost 1.5 years ago I've used 1 gal of distilled water..... So it is charging, My plates in the batteries are clean with no build up...
The closest big city is Charlotte....
Do you think I should change the Eq setting to 15.5? I believe you are right on the G10 it looks like mine all but the sticker.... I didn't think that Duracell made it...
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Post by tattoo on Sept 5, 2018 13:27:02 GMT
Your right even in full sun with no load and no clouds the panel wattage is contently moving...
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Post by bupkis on Sept 5, 2018 13:32:58 GMT
I think it would be best to up charging time aka boost time, monitor on a good day, what the ending current is at the end of the 2 hrs of boost, 3 hrs is not too long. Might up Eq to 15 at first. If regular shade prevents maintaining boost for long times it is not an issue. I believe you have to use 'USER' as a battery type to make any changes.
One EE on solar forum suggesting never going to float with off grid and daily use cuz there is not enough time in the day! or setting the controller to revert to bulk/boost from float with minimal load, same concept.
With good sg readings you are doing good and prob seeing first signs of age and some undercharging.
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Post by tattoo on Sept 5, 2018 13:36:46 GMT
Let me address the max voltage display of 15v or something. This may be for a very short time and is not of concern, while regulating battery voltage may not always be precise, the controller doesn't stop power fast enough and the batt v may spike up some for a very short time frame and be captured as max batt v. Planning a light usage day once a week could help the batt get to charge voltage during you window of sun, same for Eq days, less of a discharge the day before and the batt will get to voltage faster to utilize the sun window.
I'm glad you addressed this, I was thinking about that too on the night before it Eq to use only the fridge and nothing else... That makes a lot of sense.... I've done that before and the low of the day is only 12.4 so that would be a lot of help.... But like I said it gets up to 12.7 by 10:00am...
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Post by tattoo on Sept 5, 2018 13:44:35 GMT
I think it would be best to up charging time aka boost time, monitor on a good day, what the ending current is at the end of the 2 hrs of boost, 3 hrs is not too long. Might up Eq to 15 at first. If regular shade prevents maintaining boost for long times it is not an issue. I believe you have to use 'USER' as a battery type to make any changes. One EE on solar forum suggesting never going to float with off grid and daily use cuz there is not enough time in the day! or setting the controller to revert to bulk/boost from float with minimal load, same concept. With good sg readings you are doing good and prob seeing first signs of age and some undercharging. Ok when it does go into float it's late in the day and it's usually only for an hour or so at best.... So do you still think I should change the setting?
I have checked at the end of the day before and the v is 14.6, 7 sometimes 8 in boost charge.... Many times when the fridge comes on and it's in float charge it goes back to boost for 30min or so.... Then to float again... What do you think?
One good thing is it won't be long before the leaves on the trees will be gone.... But the down side is the sun is lower in the sky but it's a give and take...
What is the sg you are talking about? Thanks
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Post by bupkis on Sept 5, 2018 13:54:13 GMT
Wake Forest University Solar Radiation data, panel specs 1000 w/sq M, just an FYI. Looks like on the 3rd a flat panel would collect ~900 during the time of your test
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Post by tattoo on Sept 5, 2018 14:00:47 GMT
Wake Forest University Solar Radiation data, panel specs 1000 w/sq M, just an FYI. Looks like on the 3rd a flat panel would collect ~900 during the time of your test Dang good info, I don't really understand it but I will look over it more... and try...
My panels are tilted some so it might be a little better...
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Post by bupkis on Sept 5, 2018 14:04:32 GMT
With good sg readings you are doing good and prob seeing first signs of age and some undercharging.
I have checked at the end of the day before and the v is 14.6, 7 sometimes 8 in boost charge.... Many times when the fridge comes on and it's in float charge it goes back to boost for 30min or so.... Then to float again... What do you think? I like that behavior, I like staying is boost longer, till the last little bit of chemical reaction is reverted, rather it stay there earlier on when there is more current available to keep 14.6.
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Post by tattoo on Sept 5, 2018 14:10:18 GMT
I like that behavior, I like staying is boost longer, till the last little bit of chemical reaction is reverted, rather it stay there earlier on when there is more current available to keep 14.6.
One thing I do during the day is cut the fan on for about an hour if the sun is over head. It keeps the CC and batteries at 14.4 constant as long as it's on...
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