Battery capacity setting for IP40 Charge Controller

[russ]

What do the above results say about the state of the batteries?

Not much - they need to sit a couple of hours before reading the voltage.

[Solar40]

Not much - they need to sit a couple of hours before reading the voltage.

Thanks Russ.

After a couple of hours-
Average cell voltage of the batteries: 2.09
Battery monitor volts: 49.90 with batteries discharging @ -9A.
Load: Inverter, TV, 1 light, desktop computer, medium fridge.

After 8 hours-
Average cell voltage of the batteries: 2.05
Battery monitor volts: 49.10 with batteries still discharging @ -9A.

After 16 hours @ 8.30am the next morning-
Average cell voltage of the batteries: 2.06
Battery monitor volts: 49.35 with batteries discharging @ -3A
Load: Inverter & medium fridge.
Solar panel Amps: 1.4A


Gel batteries 24 x 2v BAE 6 PVV 660 Secura solar

[Solar40]

Does anyone know the minimum charging current for this type of battery?
Gel type - BAE 2v 6 PVV 660 Secura solar

I've emailed the sales company (nothing back yet) and will email the manufacturer.

A BAE (battery manufacturer) representative has been in touch.

His response- 'The minimum charge current is 1.5A/100Ah C10. This equates to 7.95A'

[Solar40]

Do you have a digital voltmeter? It's a good idea to measure the voltage across each of the batteries while current is flowing. If you are pushing 44 amps into the batteries while you measure, you can look for discrepancies among the batteries. You might find one battery is an outlier... If you try to recover your batteries by a long, controlled overcharge, you may be greatly overcharging all the batteries in an attempt to recover that one weak battery. Sometimes it's best to separate the batteries and try charging them in isolation.

Great idea. Thanks Mapmaker.
Just measured all 24 batteries and didn't find an outlier.
The journey continues...

[Solar40]

Hi, does anyone know if the current BCAP setting - 660Ah - is correct?

48v battery bank (24 x 6 PVV 660 - BAE Secura PVV Cell solar)
Charge Controller (Plasmtronics PL40)
Solar panels ( 24 x 60w)

My concern is that it should be set to the C20h setting of 596Ah.

Thanks

From the manufacturer-

C10 is normally accepted for setting of charge parameters. So, C10 529Ah.

[Solar40]

A question about setting the wrong BCAP value...

What would you estimate the outcome to be if the Charge Controller BCAP was incorrectly set to 660Ah for 1 year instead of 540Ah?
(The correct BCAP setting is 529Ah C10, but, in reality 540Ah C10 is used because of Charge Controller stepsize limitations).

Solar system: off-grid / 24 x 60W panels / 48V gel battery bank / Plasmatronic PL40 Charge Controller

PL40 Charge Controller settings as approved by battery manufacturer-

VOLT 48V

BMAX 56.4V (Maximum voltage in boost mode)

EMAX 56.4V (Equalisation voltage)

ETIM 0 (Equalisation time in hours)

EFRQ 150 (Number of days between equalization cycles)

ABSV 55.8V (Absorption voltage)

ATIM 3 (Absorption time in mins)

FLTV 54V (Float voltage)

HYST 0.3V (Hysteresis used when not in PWM mode)

BRTN 49.2V (Voltage below which return to Boost mode occurs)

CHRG 40A (Charge current limit)

BFRQ 20 (Maximum number of days between boost cycles)

TCMP 8 (Selection of temperature compensation profile. 8 = no temp sensor)

[mapmaker]

ATIM 3 (Absorption time in mins)

Three minutes of absorb? Why even bother... that should likely be 3 hours or more.

I downloaded he manual... do you have the controller set to program #1?

--mapmaker

[Solar40]

Onya Mapmaker.

Sorry, my typing error. It is indeed 3 hours not 3 mins.

The Manufacturer recommended setting 4 over setting 1.

He said - 'Ideally your battery charge voltages should be within these parameters:
Boost/Absorption - 55.2V - 56.4V. Float 54V.

Setting 1 is pretty close to these readings with Boost of 56.8 Max, Absorption of 56V and Float of 55.2V.

I would however suggest setting 4 where you can adjust the settings to suit.'

He then listed the settings from BMAX to TCMP.