Handy solar info for lead acid batteries
Handy Bob
Forum Discussion
I think that "dead wrong" is a bit hyperbolic. By and large his major tenets are large enough wiring for minimal voltage drop, charging at the BATTERY manufacturer's spec'd voltage, measure voltage at the batteries and use a decent controller.
Not exactly controversial ideas.
Part of the problem with charging batteries is that the only voltage that matters to the battery is the difference between it's current voltage and the charge voltage.
Taking 12.5 as an example and simplifying things, if your charge voltage is 14V and you have a 3% drop to the batteries (-0.42V) you are losing 0.42V/(14V-12.5V) = 0.28 or 28% of your potential energy that could be going into the batteries.
Not exactly controversial ideas.
Part of the problem with charging batteries is that the only voltage that matters to the battery is the difference between it's current voltage and the charge voltage.
Taking 12.5 as an example and simplifying things, if your charge voltage is 14V and you have a 3% drop to the batteries (-0.42V) you are losing 0.42V/(14V-12.5V) = 0.28 or 28% of your potential energy that could be going into the batteries.
