SiO2 Battery -UPDATE 5 (Two Batts)
Updates 22 Oct, 8 Nov, 10 Nov (photo), 14 Nov, 15 Dec http://azimuthsolar.ca/product/12v-100ah-sio2-battery/ Mostly PT has given info on these over several posts in several threads, but I have l...
Forum Discussion
I got the second one so have 200AH under the closet floor hard to get at, but close to the inverter so that all works out. Also am able to use the 55 amp converter and be close enough to the 25 amp per 100AH charging rate "limit". The thing is, these are modified AGMs and you need to get them to full every so often, same as regular AGMs.
Only way to do that is charge them at 14.6ish till amps get right down. I found that to be around 0.5a/100AH same as my old regular AGMs. BUT that means you need an ammeter and a charger that stays at 14.6ish until you see the amps get down to that.
I use my Trimetric monitor for the ammeter, and my adjustable voltage PowerMax for the method to hold voltage constant without the thing changing "stages" on me when I don't want it to. So that is the same as with my old AGMs too.
It works so the amps get down to around 0.4/0.5 and then next time you look it is 0.6/0.7. That is typical AGM action. Once it is full the amps just go to heat, and as it heats up it takes more amps. So you have to be there to stop the recharge when the amps begin to rise again. Same as regular AGMs.
What is different here, is the high discharge rate allowed with these SiO2s, so I can run the microwave etc on the 200AH bank no worries, and that you can run the bank down to below 20% SOC no worries (another job for the Trimetric to help keep track of how low you go)
It will be over a month now before the next time the camper goes anywhere, so I am floating the SiO2s till then as suggested by Trojan for AGMs. When the camper is busier I will have to decide on the "float or not" question. I think now I will ignore Trojan's guideline, because the batts are too hard to get at for wires off disconnect, and I don't have a remote disconnect method that does not add wire to the inverter-battery distance for more voltage drop. Worry about that next year! :)
Only way to do that is charge them at 14.6ish till amps get right down. I found that to be around 0.5a/100AH same as my old regular AGMs. BUT that means you need an ammeter and a charger that stays at 14.6ish until you see the amps get down to that.
I use my Trimetric monitor for the ammeter, and my adjustable voltage PowerMax for the method to hold voltage constant without the thing changing "stages" on me when I don't want it to. So that is the same as with my old AGMs too.
It works so the amps get down to around 0.4/0.5 and then next time you look it is 0.6/0.7. That is typical AGM action. Once it is full the amps just go to heat, and as it heats up it takes more amps. So you have to be there to stop the recharge when the amps begin to rise again. Same as regular AGMs.
What is different here, is the high discharge rate allowed with these SiO2s, so I can run the microwave etc on the 200AH bank no worries, and that you can run the bank down to below 20% SOC no worries (another job for the Trimetric to help keep track of how low you go)
It will be over a month now before the next time the camper goes anywhere, so I am floating the SiO2s till then as suggested by Trojan for AGMs. When the camper is busier I will have to decide on the "float or not" question. I think now I will ignore Trojan's guideline, because the batts are too hard to get at for wires off disconnect, and I don't have a remote disconnect method that does not add wire to the inverter-battery distance for more voltage drop. Worry about that next year! :)
