?? on charging

[blake2go]

Hi ,
I have a small set up and am using a controller to charge a deep cycle battery.
Now at first I saw it charge to full and the the charge light would flicker in float mode.
Now I understand that a full battery is 12.7 volts.
Mine is showing 13.o8 is this being over charged? Am I missing something?
Has the controller gone nuts?

Thanks!

[Sunking]

Yes you are missing something. You are confusing State of Charge (SOC) voltages for a rested battery, with a float charger. SOC voltages are pretty much useless on a operating systems. SOC is only practical on a battery that is disconnected and allowed to rest several hours.

A battery that is fully charged can be placed on a Float Charge indefinitely. The float charge is a voltage of 13.2 to 13.8 volts depending on the battery chemistry to keep th ebattery fully charge and over come the self discharge of a battery.

[blake2go]

Thanks!

I feel better knowing that I am not about to fry a new battery. Last night I measured the battery with a v/o meter and it was at 12.9 I ran the puter and a 12 volt light for 4 hours and ended with a measure of 12.5 that seem right?

This is the type of controller I am using, anyone have trouble with this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solar-Charge-Controller-Regulator-10A-12V-24V-battery-charge-controller-PWM-new-/251124806559?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7834739f

Yes you are missing something. You are confusing State of Charge (SOC) voltages for a rested battery, with a float charger. SOC voltages are pretty much useless on a operating systems. SOC is only practical on a battery that is disconnected and allowed to rest several hours.

A battery that is fully charged can be placed on a Float Charge indefinitely. The float charge is a voltage of 13.2 to 13.8 volts depending on the battery chemistry to keep th ebattery fully charge and over come the self discharge of a battery.

[Sunking]

I feel better knowing that I am not about to fry a new battery. Last night I measured the battery with a v/o meter and it was at 12.9 I ran the puter and a 12 volt light for 4 hours and ended with a measure of 12.5 that seem right?

Pretty close. Was the battery connected to a charger?

For SOC to be ball park accurate, it needs to be disconnected and rested for several hours.

[PNjunction]

This is the type of controller I am using, anyone have trouble with this one?

The only problem I see with that is that it seems to be intended for float-charging only since it has a 13.7 "full charge" cutoff. If you use your system on a cyclic basis, and not just as an emergency backup, I would suggest a higher-quality charge controller - at the very least a pwm type controller that has an absorb voltage.

In addition to solar charge controllers, I notice that vendor also supplies musical instruments. Perhaps concentrate on a vendor that only does solar. (my apologies to solar musicians everywhere...

[blake2go]

Tanks again

This is a small solar setup it is a 68 watt uni solar panel running to that controller to a 104 a/h deep cycle battery. All is new and new to me.

If I understand tis right the prime purpose of the controller is to keep the batt from over charging.
I hope to have a better idea of how much I can pull off and then get back in one day.

Thanks to all!

The only problem I see with that is that it seems to be intended for float-charging only since it has a 13.7 "full charge" cutoff. If you use your system on a cyclic basis, and not just as an emergency backup, I would suggest a higher-quality charge controller - at the very least a pwm type controller that has an absorb voltage.

In addition to solar charge controllers, I notice that vendor also supplies musical instruments. Perhaps concentrate on a vendor that only does solar. (my apologies to solar musicians everywhere...

[Sunking]

If I understand tis right the prime purpose of the controller is to keep the batt from over charging.

That is correct, the sole purpose is to keep the battery from over charging. With that said now panel wattage, controller size, and battery size have to be compatible. Too small of a panel on too large of a battery, and the battery will not likely ever be fully charged unless not used. Too much panel wattage on too small of a battery, cooks the battery.

Depending on your location, you have are on the lower limit of having not enough panel wattage for your battery. Depends on how much energy you use each day. Th epanel has to be able to replace what was used plus some on top of that.

[blake2go]

What I have to run will be a 12 laptop adater and between one and 2 cfls at 12 v. I'd like to be able to run all for 8 hours each day? I am here in the deep south by the water. Sun we have!

Now I can not get a real value of my batt state by v/o meter when it not charging?
Damn if this is not madding how much juice do I have and how much have I used....!?

I have a small inverter do they in of themselves use a lot of power? 200 watt// 400 max
Thanks again!

That is correct, the sole purpose is to keep the battery from over charging. With that said now panel wattage, controller size, and battery size have to be compatible. Too small of a panel on too large of a battery, and the battery will not likely ever be fully charged unless not used. Too much panel wattage on too small of a battery, cooks the battery.

Depending on your location, you have are on the lower limit of having not enough panel wattage for your battery. Depends on how much energy you use each day. Th epanel has to be able to replace what was used plus some on top of that.

[inetdog]

Now I can not get a real value of my batt state by v/o meter when it not charging?
Damn if this is not madding how much juice do I have and how much have I used....!?

You get a battery monitor, which uses a special resistor called a shunt, in series with the battery, to constantly measure the current in and out and keep a running total.

[sherlym27]

Some points to keep your battery charged at longer time

1. Remove the vibration mode in Mobile phones
2. Turn off your flashlights in Camera, Bluetooth, Auto brightness, Screen brightness
3. Avoid supplementary uses in Video Camera
4. Avoid using unnecessary features
5. Avoid uses moving or animated background or screen saver
6. Charge your battery correctly, store in cool place

Mod note - Welcome but forget the links

[blake2go]

Battery monitor

Thanks to all!
I have bought a battery monitor and now am even more confused it is tapped into the battery and while charging I see readings of 16.1 !? after dark I will see 12.4 or so I am running the inverter an hour or so and the 12 v laptop adapter for about 8 hours. I see 12.1 after that?

Why the high voltage is this a problem of the controller, or just another electric mystery?