I recently installed a small off grid system in my cabin ( 100 w panel, 100Ah deep cycle gel leisure battery and a 10 amp charge controller). This particular charge controller gives the option to change the display so that the battery stops discharging etc when at a certain level however Im not clear what the settings should be for my particular system and the instructions don't go into that detail. The controller is set at a factory setting but I would rather set it to the correct settings for my panel/battery. Can anyone help please? Thanks in advance
Charge Controller Settings
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Giving us the Manufacturer and model # will help a lot. When you say gel, is this AGM or GEL?
Would probably be best to check this before setting up. Some charging systems will automatically go in an equalization mode and this is for Flooded Lead Acid and this could ruin an AGM battery.
Some stats can be found in an owners manual online. So some will charge a FLA battery at 10% AH rate, but my data allows 13%.
For stop charging at a particular rate, it sounds like that's what its designed for. You'll see high amps and has a certain voltage is reached, known as bulk mode, then amps will taper back off as that set votlage is reached, and then it will slip to a float mode where low current and voltage are pushed into the battery. -
65395C13-550D-4038-BD01-3A0E4F223ED6.jpegGiving us the Manufacturer and model # will help a lot. When you say gel, is this AGM or GEL?
Would probably be best to check this before setting up. Some charging systems will automatically go in an equalization mode and this is for Flooded Lead Acid and this could ruin an AGM battery.
Some stats can be found in an owners manual online. So some will charge a FLA battery at 10% AH rate, but my data allows 13%.
For stop charging at a particular rate, it sounds like that's what its designed for. You'll see high amps and has a certain voltage is reached, known as bulk mode, then amps will taper back off as that set votlage is reached, and then it will slip to a float mode where low current and voltage are pushed into the battery.Last edited by CraigOwl; 07-10-2021, 04:06 AM.Comment
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Did the battery come with a user manual that have charge voltages?
How abut the charge controller? Did it have a manual like this?
The PWM controller I listed has adjustable voltages. If you can adjust yours, its important to keep the Equalization mode off for Lead Acid Batteries that can’t vent, which there’s no vents on that one.
Honestly though, I have not used VRLA GEl batteries before and would not feel comfortable charging them on my cheap PWM controller I own because it does not have a VRLA mode. For my MPPT, if I had charge specs on a data sheet, I would feel comfortable charging. On my MPPT I can shut equalization to always off.Comment
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Yes the very basic instructions for the controller look similar to yours. Here also is the instructions ( the bits I think may2A68B1B8-403B-4228-8CB9-56066EE6E4B8.jpeg be relevant) for the aforementioned battery. I realise for those in the know like yourself this must seem quite simple but to me its just a huge learning curve and Im grateful for all help with this. Many thanksComment
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I have not used gel nor have I used the PWM controller for the instructions I loaded. I think I know what to do, but I don’t want to spend your money if I’m wrong and something gets ruined.
These less expensive PWMs come with a load that will shut off either at night if chose, and or otherwise will shut off at a low volts and turn on at a low volts. That is not intended to run big items, maybe a low wattage light. Big items need to be connected to the battery at a busbar, not the two wires for a load. I wish I could tell you a limit, but I’ve yet to find a limit in instructions except, “Don’t connect an inverter/“. I like to see specs.
One of the reasons I’m reluctant is these Gel batteries have a very low idle discharge rate and are mode to be left stored for a long time unused like for telecom equipment, and then if there’s a power outage, to be turned on. Also, the specs on that battery saw 1000 cycles at a 30% discharge, which leaves 70% left. I don’t know the threshold for these gel batteries. With FLA, going below 50% is very bad. Don’t see gel batteries on a solar install typically because of the low Depth of Discharge.
Again I. Could be wrong since I’ve never used gels and your battery is marketed for the van segment.
Here is where I go when I have questions
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