Just installed the ecoworthy controller with a 250 watt panel. I am trying to figure out what settings I should run ecoworthy on for my batteries. The batts are 2 6 volt Costco golf cart batteries. I believe they are interstate. Here is what Interstate says, Absorption voltage 7.65 so for wired as 12 volts that is 15.3 voltsFloat voltage 6.7 so at 12 volts float should be 13.4 voltsI adjusted the absorption on the solar charge controller to 15.1 volts when I went to check on it later I noticed it started to smell like my batteries were boiling so I turned it down this morning to 14.8 and will check it again in a little bit. Am I missing something here?Also, there are a few other parameters you can set on the charge controller, So far I haven't delved into those, not sure I need to?JiminDenver has been a huge help so far so a big shout out to him!

I use an Eco-W with my 255w panel and Interstate 6v batts. That 15.3 is just for a shot of finishing at the end of the usual 14.8 stage. You don't use that with the solar. Also your inverter quits at anything over 15v. I set the absorption voltage to 14.8 and the Float voltage to 14.5 (highest it will go or else I would use 14.8) when there will not be much daylight time left after the batts reach 14.8. The batts then get some absorption time at 14.5v(The controller goes to float as soon as the batts reache the set absorption voltage.)When daylight is longer, so they get to 14.8 earlier in the day, I set the float voltage to 13.6 which helps keep the water in the battsThe 6s do very well with that above settings. I check their SGs to confirm that.

Even 14.8 is probably higher than needed especially when not in use.I would go down to 14.4 volts Absorption. 13.4 Float is fine.Check with a hydrometer in six weeks to verify you are getting full charge.Check water usage more frequently as you go 14.6+ volts. May not be an issue with new batteries.

sounds good, thanks for the all the help. I am loving the solar, fully charged now! I keep staring at the controller, it's pretty exciting!

DieselBurps wrote:sounds good, thanks for the all the help. I am loving the solar, fully charged now! I keep staring at the controller, it's pretty exciting!Better not get a Trimetric then, or you'll never get anything done! :)

7.65v sounds more like "equalizing" voltagei would go 14.4~14.6 for absorption on GC batteries

Ecoworthy MPPT + 6 volt batts | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

JiminDenver
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2015
Glad to hear it. I am getting a lesson in how the low angle of the sun now is going to affect us. The 230w poly is strapped to the truck holding the batteries until they are installed, I back it out into the sun a few times a week just to keep the bank up. Today I did so and at 11 AM was only seeing 150w/10a. More than enough to maintain the bank and the big system will still be putting out 30+ amps, that will be good enough for the winter trips.

I hope you and all the others down there right now are in a safe dry place.
DieselBurps
Explorer
Oct 24, 2015
I am getting 15 amps JimInDenver, I am now in Mexico so the Solar is nice!
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2015
I am glad you figured that one out DB, not having 6v's I had no idea of the settings. Are you still in the area? Boy the weather has been nice with sunny and 80's.

So with the weather, what kind of amps are you seeing with the sun high and you batteries hungry?
Canadian_Rainbi
Explorer
Oct 11, 2015
BFL13 wrote:
DieselBurps wrote:
sounds good, thanks for the all the help. I am loving the solar, fully charged now! I keep staring at the controller, it's pretty exciting!

Better not get a Trimetric then, or you'll never get anything done! :)

Just got one. Staying at Level one for a while :)
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 09, 2015
I would go with 1.275 specific gravity temperature corrected
And then revert to float

When charging electro chemical, allow for 1/2 hour lag over-run factor.
DieselBurps
Explorer
Oct 09, 2015
I've got a trimetric too! Batts are getting fulling charged early in the morning light. I haven't been using much amps though.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 08, 2015
7.65v sounds more like "equalizing" voltage

i would go 14.4~14.6 for absorption on GC batteries
BFL13
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2015
DieselBurps wrote:
sounds good, thanks for the all the help. I am loving the solar, fully charged now! I keep staring at the controller, it's pretty exciting!

Better not get a Trimetric then, or you'll never get anything done! :)
DieselBurps
Explorer
Oct 08, 2015
sounds good, thanks for the all the help. I am loving the solar, fully charged now! I keep staring at the controller, it's pretty exciting!
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 08, 2015
Even 14.8 is probably higher than needed especially when not in use.
I would go down to 14.4 volts Absorption. 13.4 Float is fine.
Check with a hydrometer in six weeks to verify you are getting full charge.
Check water usage more frequently as you go 14.6+ volts. May not be an issue with new batteries.