FHU - Solar - Battery Charging
Question on Solar and Battery charging when in FHU Park. I have 600W Solar system with TS45 PWM Charge controller. My battery bank that I am using is 4 GC2. I am a high dc user, during evening to morn...
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I also have grid power and choose to cycle my battery often, as I want to see how it performs being cycled heavily, as it interests me.
I could easily plug in and never cycle the battery and claim a 12 year life for it, But I take pride in not having to use the grid too.
The water usage depends on the amount of time held at absorption voltage. Note most charge controllers do not hold this long enough with their stock settings. Also many do not hold it high enough.
Once again the Hydrometer is required to know if your batteries are indeed full when the solar controller drops to float voltage. Do not just believe the amp hour counter or any blinking green light, or claims from the 'just fine' head in the sand brigade.
It has been shown time and again that float voltage is almost always prematurely allowed by most controllers and that more time at absorption voltage is required for a true restorative 100% recharge.
The time at absorption voltage is a moving target dependent on depth of discharge, the charge rate upto absorption voltage, and temperature. It will also change as the battery ages, and water use will also increase as the battery ages.
If you really want to get the most from your battery bank, you need to determine what Absorption voltage and what duration to hold it until specific gravity rises to within 0.005 of maximum. Whatever water loss occurs from this is a secondary consideration as it is more important to fully charge the battery than worry about 0.01 cents of distilled water escaping to the atmosphere every day.
Some claim the Hydro caps or Water miser caps do work as advertised and reduce water usage. If I bother ever getting a trojan T-1275 I will consider getting them, but right now I am questioning my need for a house battery at all. My Dual purpose TPPL AGM easily starts my engine depleted to 30% state of charge and can accept huge currents and appears quite happy as long as it gets fully charged each day and gets a 40%+ charging rate often.
That said it is cloudy today, afternoon, and I am 45AH from full. Time to plug in, or drive.
I could easily plug in and never cycle the battery and claim a 12 year life for it, But I take pride in not having to use the grid too.
The water usage depends on the amount of time held at absorption voltage. Note most charge controllers do not hold this long enough with their stock settings. Also many do not hold it high enough.
Once again the Hydrometer is required to know if your batteries are indeed full when the solar controller drops to float voltage. Do not just believe the amp hour counter or any blinking green light, or claims from the 'just fine' head in the sand brigade.
It has been shown time and again that float voltage is almost always prematurely allowed by most controllers and that more time at absorption voltage is required for a true restorative 100% recharge.
The time at absorption voltage is a moving target dependent on depth of discharge, the charge rate upto absorption voltage, and temperature. It will also change as the battery ages, and water use will also increase as the battery ages.
If you really want to get the most from your battery bank, you need to determine what Absorption voltage and what duration to hold it until specific gravity rises to within 0.005 of maximum. Whatever water loss occurs from this is a secondary consideration as it is more important to fully charge the battery than worry about 0.01 cents of distilled water escaping to the atmosphere every day.
Some claim the Hydro caps or Water miser caps do work as advertised and reduce water usage. If I bother ever getting a trojan T-1275 I will consider getting them, but right now I am questioning my need for a house battery at all. My Dual purpose TPPL AGM easily starts my engine depleted to 30% state of charge and can accept huge currents and appears quite happy as long as it gets fully charged each day and gets a 40%+ charging rate often.
That said it is cloudy today, afternoon, and I am 45AH from full. Time to plug in, or drive.
