Sven
Seglare
Something seems wrong with the solar charging or the batteries, but I don't know what.
(Note, these are AGM batteries.)
We've been all solar for 6 months now, not counting the times when we have motored. We've had an abundance of power and have been absolutely amazed at how well the system has worked. In the last week or so something has changed, or I've just noticed it.
The Blue Sky display kicks in as it should with sun rise, 12.x to 14.3 volts and 0.1 Amps to start with, then climbing to 4 Amps or so as the sun gets higher. It shows that it is bulk charging. This is an MPP charger.
In the past, the Amps would continue to climb until about noon, peaking at 22 if the water maker was running, otherwise sitting at about 8 or so until the Victron would show that the batteries were getting close to 100%. Now it stops climbing and instead drops down to 1 Amp or so and goes into "acceptance" mode after just an hour or so. An hour or two later it falls to .3 Amps and goes into float mode.
According to the Victron we're only at 85% charge and the voltage at night (not open circuit, but no real load) drops from 12.7 to as low as 12.4 which I see as vindication of the Victron reading.
IOW the charger is acting as if the batteries are charged when they are far from full.
I considered the possibility that it could be an issue with lower winter sun angles but I don't think that's the case as the charger shouldn't go into acceptance mode and then float while the batteries are less that 90% full ?
Wish this had happened earlier since we are crossing the border to Mexico in the next day or two.
Suggestions appreciated.
Thanks,
-Sven
Details:
2x135 Watt Kyocera panels
Blue Sky MPP charger
4x100 Ah Lifeline AGM in house bank (18 months old)
1x100 Ah Lifeline AGM in spare bank (18 months old)
Spare bank charged via an Echocharger
(Note, these are AGM batteries.)
We've been all solar for 6 months now, not counting the times when we have motored. We've had an abundance of power and have been absolutely amazed at how well the system has worked. In the last week or so something has changed, or I've just noticed it.
The Blue Sky display kicks in as it should with sun rise, 12.x to 14.3 volts and 0.1 Amps to start with, then climbing to 4 Amps or so as the sun gets higher. It shows that it is bulk charging. This is an MPP charger.
In the past, the Amps would continue to climb until about noon, peaking at 22 if the water maker was running, otherwise sitting at about 8 or so until the Victron would show that the batteries were getting close to 100%. Now it stops climbing and instead drops down to 1 Amp or so and goes into "acceptance" mode after just an hour or so. An hour or two later it falls to .3 Amps and goes into float mode.
According to the Victron we're only at 85% charge and the voltage at night (not open circuit, but no real load) drops from 12.7 to as low as 12.4 which I see as vindication of the Victron reading.
IOW the charger is acting as if the batteries are charged when they are far from full.
I considered the possibility that it could be an issue with lower winter sun angles but I don't think that's the case as the charger shouldn't go into acceptance mode and then float while the batteries are less that 90% full ?
Wish this had happened earlier since we are crossing the border to Mexico in the next day or two.
Suggestions appreciated.
Thanks,
-Sven
Details:
2x135 Watt Kyocera panels
Blue Sky MPP charger
4x100 Ah Lifeline AGM in house bank (18 months old)
1x100 Ah Lifeline AGM in spare bank (18 months old)
Spare bank charged via an Echocharger