Weird Issue Sterling Error Light, Solar Stops Charging

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by FlyingCloud1937

Sounds like you are running in deficit mode.. If your bats never see 14-4 to 14.8 for LFA's, for 2-3 hours, you are not reaching full absorption.

So likely you will hard-sulphate your bank, and it will die an erly death.

A healthy charge cycle will take it all the way up, then after a few to eight hours it will drop back down to float voltages.

Lloyd

I am not so sure this is a doom and gloom situation. 12.6 in the morning after drawing the evening and overnight loads is a pretty high SOC.

13.6, while not an equalizing charge is still sufficient to keep pushing amps in as long as it is available. If he is solar only it may depend what the charger is set for.

in other words with house loads on I would expect the solar to keep providing what the "boat" needs.

The real science experiment is to actually measure the acceptance rates but that is a bit of an involved process.

The next step - for real. Get the Smartgauge wired up. Let it run for a week and then it will give you a pretty accurate SOC - If it never gets above 90% then let's talk again. Right now it's all guessing.

Simon - I have lost the bubble here - Are these wet cell batteries or AGM?

Do you have an idea how many amps you use overnight?

[simonpickard]

AGM yes.

I've got a battery monitor ordered so will give more info when that is wired in.

So are you saying that with solar I should be seeing the batteries up to 14.4v also?
I never see this. Once they get to 13.7ish it flips over to float mode.



Please visit my blog:
www.sailing-interlude.com

[simonpickard]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

AGM yes.

I've got a battery monitor ordered so will give more info when that is wired in.

So are you saying that with solar I should be seeing the batteries up to 14.4v also?
I never see this. Once they get to 13.7ish it flips over to float mode.



Please visit my blog:
www.sailing-interlude.com

Please visit my blog:
www.sailing-interlude.com

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

AGM yes.

I've got a battery monitor ordered so will give more info when that is wired in.

So are you saying that with solar I should be seeing the batteries up to 14.4v also?
I never see this. Once they get to 13.7ish it flips over to float mode.



Please visit my blog:
www.sailing-interlude.com

I am not sure of the manufacturer of your battery and what they recommend - Here is the page from Lifeline batteries.

Lifeline AGM Batteries Charging Procedure

Here is what they say about 3 stage chargers -


3 Stage Chargers
Bulk 14.2-14.4 volts Acceptance 14.2-14.4 volts Float 13.2-13.3 volts

I do not know what the options are for your solar controller in terms of adjustability but...

Your batteries can take around 14.4 volts in bulk phase - if you panels can deliver it.

You've said the controller does not stay in acceptance very long, if at all.

You've said that the morning voltage is 12.6 which (a lot of factors dependent - temps, resting state etc.) but fundamentally indicates a decent state of charge - maybe over 70%

The voltage of 13.6 may be a little high for float voltage but I don't think there is any real worry here. We know the charger is cycling through stages but we still aren't sure if the batteries are reaching a full charge.

Don't worry about it for now and get the gauge hooked up.

I guess the question is what are you seeing in bulk stage?

[simonpickard]

I've got a Victron MPPT 75/15 controller, I've read the manual but couldn't see a place where I can change it to different battery types?

As fas as I can remember I've never seen it up in the 14's from Solar alone. I did see it in float mode the other day resting at 13.7v.

Regards,
Simon

[Ex-Calif]

Refa pages 6-8.

I believe you will want to stay with position 2 and this results in a float of 13.8.

I think all is normal with this controller.