Top Charge Question

joelmyer wrote:
Mostly I monitor amps which I have seen as high as 11 amps.

Max amps is more a measure of the solar collection not battery condition. You want to watch how far the amps taper off while holding at 14.8 volts.

With 4x GC2 you are looking for amps to taper to less than 2 amps at 14.8 volts to call full charge. (.5% of capacity)

joel,

I think maybe niner is addressing the 'over 100% Ah's' result? The trimetric must be properly programmed. For example, if it's set for 14,8v and 5a, it will read above 100% if you go beyond those parameters when charging. The trimetric is more than just a bare bones Ah counter. There are several more settings to consider. I still need to learn how to use mine to its fullest.

joelmyer wrote:

The morning I unplugged, I reset the AH from full to zero and have reset it several times when it got to more than +20 AH. The AH from full was the basics for my top 10% SOC statement. Obviously there is more going on. USB says charge inefficiency can be 5% to 50%. MEX posted a link to a paper that suggested it can be 100% in the top 10% of charge. TriMetric defaults to 5%.

So an amp/ah meter is not that useful.

joelmyer wrote:

mena661 wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:
You should see 1.275 or better, for all cells.

X2

x3

That's what USB says. That's where I want to go.

Got involved with chili dogs, conversation and adult beverages last night. Today is advertised as partly cloudy with a high of 72. We haven't seen a totally clear day for about 10 days now. But it looks just a little hazy now at 8AM. So hopefully solar will get me up to near full and the MegaWatt tonight will get one bank on the road to specific gravity happiness.

To answer NinerBikes questions:

Trimetric is a meter, it measures the voltage at the battery as well as net amps into/out of the battery and amp hours from full.

The morning I unplugged, I reset the AH from full to zero and have reset it several times when it got to more than +20 AH. The AH from full was the basics for my top 10% SOC statement. Obviously there is more going on. USB says charge inefficiency can be 5% to 50%. MEX posted a link to a paper that suggested it can be 100% in the top 10% of charge. TriMetric defaults to 5%.

TriMetric

EcoWorthy is set to 14.8/14.4. I have rarely seen 14+ volts but I don't sit inside & watch volts. Mostly I monitor amps which I have seen as high as 11 amps (that's net as measured by the Trimetric).

US Battery recommends 14.4 bulk, 14.4 absorption, 15.3 top charge and 15.3 equalization.

Late breaking news: At 8:22 Mr Sun is putting more into the batteries than is being used.

Joel

Joel

Set your trimetric for 15.3 volts. Run it there for 2 or 3 full sunny days in a row. Measure your SG at 3 or 4 PM at the end of each of those days. If your SG is at or above 1.275, your work is done. If not, it's going to take heavy duty 16.0V to get a true equalize charge, not just a "top" charge, to get the plates desulfated.

Do a search here on "Equalize charging", with Mexicowander as the author. It's been discussed many, many times, how to do an equalize charge.

I like my way, and it works !
Deep sixed my hydrometer long ago.
I used to see a degradation in battery voltage when I was on generator.
Now on solar, no change in voltage after 6 weeks, batts see a couple hrs of 14.6 every day before sundown. 2 12'ers, near 5 yrs old, doing fine.

I have funner things to do than to be unnecessarily babysitting batteries.
They take care of themselves,.....as long as that cheap china controller keeps chugging ! :)

15.3 equalization, huh?

If I go to solar blvd, time to drop in to US Battery and harrass them a little
..

Looks like some of the younger fresh-meat engineers either are getting uppity or the fluorescent tie boys have tied up their keeper.

mena661 wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:
You should see 1.275 or better, for all cells.

X2

x3

That's what USB says. That's where I want to go.

Got involved with chili dogs, conversation and adult beverages last night. Today is advertised as partly cloudy with a high of 72. We haven't seen a totally clear day for about 10 days now. But it looks just a little hazy now at 8AM. So hopefully solar will get me up to near full and the MegaWatt tonight will get one bank on the road to specific gravity happiness.

To answer NinerBikes questions:

Trimetric is a meter, it measures the voltage at the battery as well as net amps into/out of the battery and amp hours from full.

The morning I unplugged, I reset the AH from full to zero and have reset it several times when it got to more than +20 AH. The AH from full was the basics for my top 10% SOC statement. Obviously there is more going on. USB says charge inefficiency can be 5% to 50%. MEX posted a link to a paper that suggested it can be 100% in the top 10% of charge. TriMetric defaults to 5%.

TriMetric

EcoWorthy is set to 14.8/14.4. I have rarely seen 14+ volts but I don't sit inside & watch volts. Mostly I monitor amps which I have seen as high as 11 amps (that's net as measured by the Trimetric).

US Battery recommends 14.4 bulk, 14.4 absorption, 15.3 top charge and 15.3 equalization.

Late breaking news: At 8:22 Mr Sun is putting more into the batteries than is being used.

Joel

Joel

NinerBikes wrote:
You should see 1.275 or better, for all cells.

X2

What do you have the bulk charge voltage set at on the Trimetric, meaured at the Trimetric, and again, at the battery terminals?

What does your battery manufacturer recommend for bulk charging voltage?

1.250 and 1.260 SG is not in the top 10% SOC... You should see 1.275 or better, for all cells.

Does it go 15.3 every day? How many hours of that?
Would seem like enough to me. How old are the batteries?

Otherwise I would pay for one night of power to just get it done.