Inverter/Charger Settings

LOG wrote:
John,
I contacted Deka customer service. The Deka technical manual you referenced in your post has been superseded and is no longer being sent out by Deka. The charge voltages for the gell dominator have been increased from the original 14.1 at 77 degrees to 14.58 at 77 degrees. Before using this information, forum members might want to research on their own. Thanks again,
Larry

I emailed them yesterday and got an updated manual as an attachment for my 8A24M. The document is entitled "8A-8G I&O_2012.pdf".

Here is a temp comp chart from Appendix A;

Voltage Compensation Chart

-Charge/Absorption-
oC ,Float,-Min., Max.-, oF
?35 13.32 13.62 14.40 ?95
34 13.34 13.64 14.42 93.2
33 13.36 13.66 14.44 91.4
32 13.37 13.67 14.45 89.6
31 13.39 13.69 14.47 87.8
30 13.41 13.71 14.49 86.0
29 13.43 13.73 14.51 84.2
28 13.45 13.75 14.53 82.4
27 13.46 13.76 14.54 80.6
26 13.48 13.78 14.56 78.8
25 13.50 13.80 14.58 77.0
24 13.52 13.82 14.60 75.2
23 13.54 13.84 14.62 73.4
22 13.55 13.85 14.63 71.6
21 13.57 13.87 14.65 69.8
20 13.59 13.89 14.67 68.0
19 13.61 13.91 14.69 66.2
18 13.63 13.93 14.71 64.4
17 13.64 13.94 14.72 62.6
16 13.66 13.96 14.74 60.8
?15 13.68 13.98 14.76 ?59

They now use the same chart for AGM and Gel!

HTH;
John

John,
I contacted Deka customer service. The Deka technical manual you referenced in your post has been superseded and is no longer being sent out by Deka. The charge voltages for the gell dominator have been increased from the original 14.1 at 77 degrees to 14.58 at 77 degrees. Before using this information, forum members might want to research on their own. Thanks again,
Larry

This is an update to my original post. I talked to Xantrex technical service. The default voltage for the recharge voltage for the SW3012 is 12.5 volts. The technical representative said that is what it should normally be set at. The representative also said that the recharge rate is only applicable when the charger is set to two stage charging mode. In the three stage charging mode the voltage is determined by the float voltage setting. Thanks to all that replied to my questions.
Larry

Why not call xantrex. I'm sure they will help you.

Larry;

I don't believe that there is any DC device in your rig that requires more that 12.0V.

Don't be surprised if Xantrex says to use their Gel setting. The temp sensing cable is going to go a long way to automatically manage the charging/floating volts to keep those Gels healthy.

In our Good Sam chapter, we have a rig with 4 x 6V Werker Gels from Batteries Plus for 400AH. They are charged with a Magnum ME2012 set to Gel. Two of them are claimed to be 10yrs old and were transferred forward to the current rig in 2006, when two more new ones were added. You should expect many years of service from your setup.

Please post what you find out from Xantrex.

HTH;
John

John,
Thanks for the reply. The batteries are deka 8D gell dominators. The charger is a Xantrex new generation inverter/charger with all the bells and whistles, and all the parameters are adjustable. It also includes temperature compensated. The wire is attached to the positive post of one of the batteries. The 13.4 volts I am talking about are not the amount of charge voltage. The 13.4 volts is the voltage the batteries read that causes the battery charger to start charging the batteries. In other words, when the batteries drop to 13.4 volts, the battery charger goes into bulk charging mode. I am not sure but I think this 13.4 volt is only applicable when the charger is set to two stage charging. In that mode, the charger does not go into float mode, but just stops charging. So, I would like to know at what voltage should I set the charger so that it will start charging again. I think that 13.4 is way too high. It seems at that voltage the charger would always be charging. I am going to call Xantrex on Monday. I am also going to ask what charging volages are default when the charger is set to gell mode. Thanks.
Larry

Argosy24 wrote:
Gel cells need a higher charge voltage than lead acid, 13.4v seems low for them. Deka should have specs on their website, that would be the best place to start.

Gels ARE lead acid!

Gels and AGM have a LOWER charging voltage than flooded lead acid(FLA).

Larry;

Are these 8Ds labelled Dominator(gelled) or Intimidator(AGM)? Deka

Does your Xantrex have a Gel setting?

In the meantime, limit your charging voltage to 14.1V and float to 13.4V.

P.S.

This may be the Deka info you need. Deka Technical Manual.

On page 4 look at chart D to see the ill effects of using too much charging voltage on a Gel. Battery life can be shortened.

On page 11, top right, is a temperature chart for Gel. At 90 - 99F, your 13.4V looks good if that is the temp in Austin.

Does your Xantrex do automatic temperature compensation? You need to try make the Xantrex match Deka's specs.

HTH;
John

Gel cells need a higher charge voltage than lead acid, 13.4v seems low for them. Deka should have specs on their website, that would be the best place to start.

Fred,
Thanks for the reply. I am not sure what the recharge voltage means. I am trying to set up the new to me Xantrex Freedom SW 3012 and one of the parameters is "Recharge Voltage." When installed, it was set to 13.4 voltage. I am trying to find out if that is what I should have it set to or maybe set it to another value.
The batteries are two 8D gels made by Deka.
Larry

What kind of batteries do you have?

What is the total amp hour capaicty? Or battery size and number of batteries?

Are you limited by something like being plugged into a 15 amp shore power? Or are you somewhat unlimited by being plugged into 30 or 50 amp service.

You do have the ability to set the inverter/charger to a shore power less than what you actually are at, so say you are visiting a friend, you plug into their garage, and want to limit charge rate so input amperage is less than 10 amps at all times. You can do that, and the charger will reduce it's charge rate if the incoming amperage is not exceeding 10 amps.

13.4 volts is a little to high for a "Float" voltage. I prefer 13.2 volts. 12.5 is way to low of a float voltage, while 12.9 is just barely high enough to keep the battery from sulfating.

At some times, my voltage will reach as high as 13.9 volts, while in the absorption stage, it will go that high to quickly fill the battery while on a generator.

Fred.