Help! Bogart Solar Controller Overcharging

"....with Deka which call for lower and slower charging so I'll be re-programing. AGM's as you know also require quite a bit lower charge voltages than the Trojan and Interstates wet cell batteries like."

AGMs do vary by brand and type for charging specs. Mine want about the same as Trojan and Interstate Flooded for charging and Float. Some other brand/types do want lower voltage charging.

IMO make sure about that "slower." A lower charging voltage does not necessarily mean a slower charger rate too. LY has posted his AGM hates low and slow. (bringing up whether that AGM is suitable for being on solar)

When I e-mailed Bogart to discuss the possibility of dual SC2030's in parallel, Ralph, the designer of the trimetric, SC2030 etc called me the very next day and discussed what to do in depth. I'm sure they'll get back with your right away. Bogarts a small company, but also quite customer oriented from what I have seen.

Not sure what you had happen that resulted in the voltage climbing higher than what you expected. Are you using a temp sensor and compensation? might be an issue going on there.

Using the defaults, or basic settings a value isn't set into P8 which limits the maximum voltage of the SC2030. Default is 65 volts. I set mine to 15.3 being as how the Norcold refrigerator circuitry max voltage is 15.4. The wet cell Interstates I was using liked high voltage Finnish of 15.2 which could get higher with temp comp. I'm currently swapping out my Interstates with Deka which call for lower and slower charging so I'll be re-programing. AGM's as you know also require quite a bit lower charge voltages than the Trojan and Interstates wet cell batteries like.

Any chance you accidentally turned equalization on?

Please post back with your results as I'm sure others beside myself are interested as t what went wrong.

Rbertalotto wrote:
I have three 140w panels on the roof with a Bogart SC-2030 charge controller and a Trimetric monitor.

Left the camper to go four wheeling and returned to see the batteries (Two group 31 AGM) charging at 17.5 volts!

I disconnected the solar panels and the house converter was working fine and charging at 13.5

Trimetric showed 100% charge

HELP!

Although this week I'm in a campground with shore power, all next week I'm in Phoenix boondocking. I need my solar!

I tried to call Bogart and an answering machine said they are not taking calls today and to leave an email and they will get back to me in 24 hours! Great customer service.....

what is your P8 setting? And P1? Also grab the battery temp reading please.

I can't add much except to ditto that in my experience Bogart has excellent tech support. When you call them have a meter in your hands and near your charger/monitor/batts.

manually disconnect when batt voltage exceeds your liking.

This applies to another brand /type of solar controller, but may also be what you are seeing with the Bogart. BTW the Bogart tech support is very good, so there must be a good reason for your delay.

"STEP 2: Test FET’s (power transistors) – A unit with an shorted FET will not charge a
battery. One with an open FET may overcharge the battery.....

A very high reading (16-20 volts*) would indicate an open FET, or very low reading (2-5
volts*) would indicate a shorted FET. Units with open or short FET’s are defective

What profile do you have it set on? Not that it would go to that voltage on any of them. It seems you'd want 18.
You may also try disconnecting the sc2030 from the Trimetric to see if it does basic charging. Be sure the switch on the sc2030 is set to agm.

Have you rebooted?
Checked settings?
Automatic equalization was off?