Floating vs Storage Voltage Question
Moved this from another thread to open the topic generally. Question was if PD converters with the 13.2 storage voltage were compatible with floating voltage specs at 13.5 and above. ---------------...
Forum Discussion
Still does not explain what is meant by "floating voltage" in the battery specs.
PD ISTR has the feature that if you are using the RV it will be at 13.6 "normal" and after a period of no (or is it low--how low?) "activity" it drops to 13.2v. If you go in the Rv and turn on a light or two it goes back to 13.6.
All those on long term shore power living in their RVs would be at 13.6 and their batteries are not disconnected.
If you keep your RV at home plugged in between trips what are you supposed to do? Is that "storage"? I go in ours a lot to do upgrades or whatever. I could disconnect the batts and be on converter but I have not been doing that.
According to Trojan, with flooded and once home and recharged, I should not leave them on Float if using the RV next week, but I should if not using it next week. If I have AGMs then I should not go on a float once they are recharged unless the next trip is more than a month later.
On solar full-time off grid, the controller will drop to 13.6 after it stays at 14.x for a time. You don't want to be at 14.x overly long, but you do want to be there till the batts are full.
I tried dropping to 13.2 in the afternoon after the batts were full and it was unsat. Got minus amps showing and voltage 13.1. RV was still being used. Turned it back to 13.6 and no problem. I think that is why they have 13.6 as "normal"
So what is "standby use" where they want you to do "float charging"?
Is there a draw on a standby battery from what it is connected to in a UPS scenario? Otherwise, why choose the higher float voltage instead of the storage voltage?
My SiO2 modified AGM battery guide says do not leave it with a small load on it or it will sulphate slowly. So would any battery in an RV with the disconnect open but the LP alarm still on.--if you don't take the wires off the battery and have a small load like that on, should you be at 13.2 or is that "using" the RV so you should be at 13.6?
The various battery guides are clear on what to do with a disconnected battery, but are not clear at all IMO what an RVer should do between trips. Even winter storage is confusing where some storage yards have power and some don't and with those some guys use solar "maintenance charging"
So that's another one--"maintenance" to go with "storage" and "floating"
PD ISTR has the feature that if you are using the RV it will be at 13.6 "normal" and after a period of no (or is it low--how low?) "activity" it drops to 13.2v. If you go in the Rv and turn on a light or two it goes back to 13.6.
All those on long term shore power living in their RVs would be at 13.6 and their batteries are not disconnected.
If you keep your RV at home plugged in between trips what are you supposed to do? Is that "storage"? I go in ours a lot to do upgrades or whatever. I could disconnect the batts and be on converter but I have not been doing that.
According to Trojan, with flooded and once home and recharged, I should not leave them on Float if using the RV next week, but I should if not using it next week. If I have AGMs then I should not go on a float once they are recharged unless the next trip is more than a month later.
On solar full-time off grid, the controller will drop to 13.6 after it stays at 14.x for a time. You don't want to be at 14.x overly long, but you do want to be there till the batts are full.
I tried dropping to 13.2 in the afternoon after the batts were full and it was unsat. Got minus amps showing and voltage 13.1. RV was still being used. Turned it back to 13.6 and no problem. I think that is why they have 13.6 as "normal"
So what is "standby use" where they want you to do "float charging"?
Is there a draw on a standby battery from what it is connected to in a UPS scenario? Otherwise, why choose the higher float voltage instead of the storage voltage?
My SiO2 modified AGM battery guide says do not leave it with a small load on it or it will sulphate slowly. So would any battery in an RV with the disconnect open but the LP alarm still on.--if you don't take the wires off the battery and have a small load like that on, should you be at 13.2 or is that "using" the RV so you should be at 13.6?
The various battery guides are clear on what to do with a disconnected battery, but are not clear at all IMO what an RVer should do between trips. Even winter storage is confusing where some storage yards have power and some don't and with those some guys use solar "maintenance charging"
So that's another one--"maintenance" to go with "storage" and "floating"
