Solar panel and battery noise
Hello all! I am running 2 6VDC deep cycle batteries in series on my travel trailer. I recently bought a 120W solar panel that is for a 12V circuit. I hooked up the solar panel using the charge...
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Boon Docker wrote:ktmrfs wrote:canicon25 wrote:
I went and found the manual for the power converter/charger. It is an Elixir ELX-45. In the specifications section it says DC output is 13.5Volts 45Amps.
It also says "...designed to output a constant voltage of 13.5-13.6 volts at no load and 13.1 volts at full load to ensure trouble free service of all 12volt DC appliances."
Does this mean when plugged into shore with everything turned off the batteries would only be receiving 13.5-13.6VDC max? Kinda sounds that way to me.
yup, and your batteries will NEVER become fully charged and likely never get to the point where you see any bubbling. That also means since they never get fully charged, battery life will suffer.
Therefore it is likely that the solar controller is trying to get the batteries fully charged. hence the bubbling and noise. Assuming they are connected correctly to the solar controller.
Where did you get that information from?
FLA battery mfg will show charging requirements.
to fully charge a flooded cell lead acid battery, the battery voltage must rise to between 14.2 and 14.6 V for a period of time until charging current drops to a certain level. Level depends on the battery AH and other conditions.
For further info look at how a progressive dynamics chargers work. Even the infamous WFCO will CLAIM to rise to 14V. (but it won't) Another issue is that at 13.6 V charging current will be VERY low, it will take a long time to partially charge the battery.
Once the battery is FULLY charged, then the charger needs to drop back to between 13.2 and 13.6V (depending on battery and temperature)
If you don't get the 14+V charging the battery has a high risk of developing plate sulfation and an early death.
Basically a FLA charging profile in the following order is
a) constant current or current limit till cell voltage hits a certain limit. ideally around C/10, but often higher is ok
b) constant voltage (14+V) until charging current drops to a certain limit limit is based on the AH and battery chemistry
c) low constant voltage to keep it charged (13.2-13.6V)
