Very Low OCV on Full Batts???
I've been seeing lower than usual resting ocv this winter, compared to last. Figured it was either wear and tear, too high a charging voltage, or a parasitic draw. So I tried throwing a lower vol...
Forum Discussion
So, Monday was the day I first found the bank down to 12.54v. I charged at the pm4b's boost setting of 15.6v for 15 minutes, and then continued at 14.6vabs until 1.1a... about 2hrs 15min in total.
Today, Wed., after just two days, they were at 12.56v. Tomorrow I will charge again, at a much higher t.c. voltage, then disconnect everything. Hopefully it's just a case of progressive capacity loss due to undercharging.
I also did some light reading and found that heavy sulfation/stratification can give false (higher than actual) voltage readings. So, maybe the 12.8+ readings a few days after charging may have been misleading. That coupled with the slightly low SG readings may be an indication of undercharging, over the last month or so. Of course, that may still not explain the 12.71v - 12.74v readings I was getting a week after charging with the Peak at 15.6 - 16v, previously. But then again, I was only taking the bank to about 6a, at those voltages... so again possible undercharging.
I guess I'll know, soon enough.
Today, Wed., after just two days, they were at 12.56v. Tomorrow I will charge again, at a much higher t.c. voltage, then disconnect everything. Hopefully it's just a case of progressive capacity loss due to undercharging.
I also did some light reading and found that heavy sulfation/stratification can give false (higher than actual) voltage readings. So, maybe the 12.8+ readings a few days after charging may have been misleading. That coupled with the slightly low SG readings may be an indication of undercharging, over the last month or so. Of course, that may still not explain the 12.71v - 12.74v readings I was getting a week after charging with the Peak at 15.6 - 16v, previously. But then again, I was only taking the bank to about 6a, at those voltages... so again possible undercharging.
I guess I'll know, soon enough.
