Solar Question
This is not a RV application but there seems to be a lot of solar knowledge on here so I thought I would ask. I run a 12V system in my remote cabin for LED lights and RV size water pump and CD play...
Forum Discussion
Stew,
I'm thinking either your batteries are very heavily sulfated/stratified, or there's an issue with your charger. I've been considering your situation, and it dawned on me, that 25a charger should have no problem charging those batteries in 8 hrs.
All summer I was charging my 430Ah bank with a 40 amper. That's about a C/11 charge rate. And I was doing 85-100's in less than 4 hours. That's twice the size bank than yours, with a lower charge rate.
Assuming your bank is as high as 225Ah, with a 25 amper, (a C/9 charge rate), it would take no more than a little over 3 hours to do a 50-85%. And at your higher charge rate (your C/9 vs. my C/11) the final 15% should take no more time to do than it took me to do the last 15%... so 7-1/2 hrs tops to do a 50-100% on a 225Ah bank at a C/9 charge rate.
So, either the batts are heavily compromised, or the charger is not producing what it should; either due to undersized wiring, too low a charging voltage, or a malfunctioning charger. With sufficient wiring and voltage there is no reason that 25 amper shouldn't charge a 200-225Ah bank from 50-100% in well under 8 hours.
Another possibility is the generator is not providing enough power to the charger; though this is unlikely.
I'm thinking either your batteries are very heavily sulfated/stratified, or there's an issue with your charger. I've been considering your situation, and it dawned on me, that 25a charger should have no problem charging those batteries in 8 hrs.
All summer I was charging my 430Ah bank with a 40 amper. That's about a C/11 charge rate. And I was doing 85-100's in less than 4 hours. That's twice the size bank than yours, with a lower charge rate.
Assuming your bank is as high as 225Ah, with a 25 amper, (a C/9 charge rate), it would take no more than a little over 3 hours to do a 50-85%. And at your higher charge rate (your C/9 vs. my C/11) the final 15% should take no more time to do than it took me to do the last 15%... so 7-1/2 hrs tops to do a 50-100% on a 225Ah bank at a C/9 charge rate.
So, either the batts are heavily compromised, or the charger is not producing what it should; either due to undersized wiring, too low a charging voltage, or a malfunctioning charger. With sufficient wiring and voltage there is no reason that 25 amper shouldn't charge a 200-225Ah bank from 50-100% in well under 8 hours.
Another possibility is the generator is not providing enough power to the charger; though this is unlikely.
