Had to Lower My Solar Float Voltage-Update
Updated 9 July
Just a note for folks in a similar situation.
My usual procedure in a normal summer here with my set-up with the Eco-Worthy controller (adjustable Absorb and adjustable Float ) is to set Vabs at 14.8 and then, since it immediately goes to Float (no time at Vabs) I set the Float as high as it will go, which is 14.5 so it stays there till dark.
Somewhere not long before dark the batts are at "true full" by baseline SG, which I can tell because the Trimetric reads 15AH "over" (into positive)and this corresponds to baseline SG. Supper and evening usage of the big draws via inverter (microwave etc) keeps the batts from going on too long at the high voltages, losing positive plate and water.
Well not this year! We are having fabulously good weather, thanks to some giant squids off Peru or whatever it is, so now the batts are getting to baseline SG mid- afternoon and IMO spending too long at high voltage before dark.
So the new drill while this lasts, is to lower the Float voltage to 13.8 once the Trimetric says we are at 10AH over, which is about 3:30 pm these days. I will keep track and adjust as required of course.
The EP Solar controller I had before had a fixed charging profile of getting to 14.6, stay there for two hours, then drop to 13.8 till dark. That would be perfect right now, but with this controller, I will have to do manual resetting of the Float till the weather gets back to normal. Put it back to 14.5 in the morning then to 13.8 mid afternoon.
Lesson is---keep an eye on things and adjust as required. Solar is not a set and forget system.
Just a note for folks in a similar situation.
My usual procedure in a normal summer here with my set-up with the Eco-Worthy controller (adjustable Absorb and adjustable Float ) is to set Vabs at 14.8 and then, since it immediately goes to Float (no time at Vabs) I set the Float as high as it will go, which is 14.5 so it stays there till dark.
Somewhere not long before dark the batts are at "true full" by baseline SG, which I can tell because the Trimetric reads 15AH "over" (into positive)and this corresponds to baseline SG. Supper and evening usage of the big draws via inverter (microwave etc) keeps the batts from going on too long at the high voltages, losing positive plate and water.
Well not this year! We are having fabulously good weather, thanks to some giant squids off Peru or whatever it is, so now the batts are getting to baseline SG mid- afternoon and IMO spending too long at high voltage before dark.
So the new drill while this lasts, is to lower the Float voltage to 13.8 once the Trimetric says we are at 10AH over, which is about 3:30 pm these days. I will keep track and adjust as required of course.
The EP Solar controller I had before had a fixed charging profile of getting to 14.6, stay there for two hours, then drop to 13.8 till dark. That would be perfect right now, but with this controller, I will have to do manual resetting of the Float till the weather gets back to normal. Put it back to 14.5 in the morning then to 13.8 mid afternoon.
Lesson is---keep an eye on things and adjust as required. Solar is not a set and forget system.
