My solar and the chassis batteries
Outside of Quartzsite boondocking for the last month. Very happy with the solar but have one last question i thought id throw out to the group. I can hear that Aux Start relay kicking in. Im thinki...
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Well, Since it was down to 40 deg. last night & I woke up this AM talking like Michael Jackson I decided to fire up the 7500 Quietdiesel. House batteries where sitting at 12.0 volts.
Was not getting much off the solar so I figured I would have the Xantrex EQ the house batteries while I had the generator running. House batteries slowly started ramping up to 16 volts so I kicked the Midnight Solar Classic 150 into EQ mode.
At 16.1 vdc I went out to check the house batteries with the hydrometer. I decided to check the voltage at the isolator solenoid and the BCC was sending it 14+ volts so I pulled the House Batteries disconnect solanois fuse that dropped the voltage to the isolator solenoid. Figured I'd rather pull a fuse than to break out the 10mm box end wrench and risk shorting one of the leads. No need to EQ the chassis batteries.
During my testing last couple of days it appears the BCC is NOT dropping the voltage to the isolator solenoid. Old Bounder thinks the BCC might be pulsing the isolator solenoid somewhere around 12 volts but during EQ I see it getting 14+ volts from the BCC. It would be nice if the BCC would drop the voltage to the isolator solenoid when EQ'ing the house batteries, e.g. drop the solenoid if the House batteries get up to something like 14.9 or 15 volts.
My next project will be a cutout relay. When the Classic is charging the house batteries or equalizing it will sent 12VDC to the relay that will open contacts and drop the voltage the BCC is sending to the isolator relay.
Any thoughts?
Was not getting much off the solar so I figured I would have the Xantrex EQ the house batteries while I had the generator running. House batteries slowly started ramping up to 16 volts so I kicked the Midnight Solar Classic 150 into EQ mode.
At 16.1 vdc I went out to check the house batteries with the hydrometer. I decided to check the voltage at the isolator solenoid and the BCC was sending it 14+ volts so I pulled the House Batteries disconnect solanois fuse that dropped the voltage to the isolator solenoid. Figured I'd rather pull a fuse than to break out the 10mm box end wrench and risk shorting one of the leads. No need to EQ the chassis batteries.
During my testing last couple of days it appears the BCC is NOT dropping the voltage to the isolator solenoid. Old Bounder thinks the BCC might be pulsing the isolator solenoid somewhere around 12 volts but during EQ I see it getting 14+ volts from the BCC. It would be nice if the BCC would drop the voltage to the isolator solenoid when EQ'ing the house batteries, e.g. drop the solenoid if the House batteries get up to something like 14.9 or 15 volts.
My next project will be a cutout relay. When the Classic is charging the house batteries or equalizing it will sent 12VDC to the relay that will open contacts and drop the voltage the BCC is sending to the isolator relay.
Any thoughts?
