Can't Get My Batteries Fully Charged

[Mike90250]

18v at the controller is enough to charge good batteries.

So we need to know this
What size are the solar panels
How much power do the lights consume at night ( in KWh )
what size are the batteries

Batteries are brand new thanks for your help!!

[Sunking]

You dug up a 6-year old post to hijack a thread? your batteries are toast.

Hi need help with solar power light system. Any info would help.
I have 3 panels that go down to a solar controller and then from there to the batteries. The batteries only seem to get to about 50 percent and don't go any higher. I disconnected batteries and had 18 volts on the incoming side of panel. But for some reason batteries only get up to about 12 volts. My problem is the lights are not coming on at dusk like they had been when I first installed.

[steve8679]

I know this thread is 3 years old... did you ever get the system sorted out?
Also curious as to the exact battery cell model # and manufacturer... as charge controller and inverter charger voltage settings (temperature compensated) need to be set (at battery terminals) for what the battery requires.

Regards,

[Naptown]

I just looked at the specs and the chargers on the magnums are generally 100A
The 30A AC is input alternating current

[Sunking]

I'm just reading in the Magnum manual that the AC Input Amps default is 30 amps.

I take it then you have a hybrid inverter with built-In charger and generator auto start. That 30 amps I bet is th echarger current and is one major problem and why you generator will not get the batteries charged up. Example if your batteries were at 50% DOD with 30 amp charging will take your generator 20 hours to recharge if you turn everything off.

WHAT IS THE MODEL NUMBER of the Magnum Inverter so I can look up the specs?

You have a serious mis-match problem. First thing you need to do to save your batteries is get you a 24 volt 100 to 150 Amp charger and use it yesterday to get your batteries back up. That 30 amp charger is only using approx 1000 watts of your generator 6 Kw capacity. It is a waste.

[Mike90250]

That's why a IOTA charger is in my lineup of gear, built for one purpose, and no mucking about. It will keep batteries alive, but cannot get a full charge onto them.
Your batteries likely dropped below the auto-detect setpoint for 24V, and your gear reset to 12V.
As to why you can't access the menus, someone else has to help you with that.

[kellystalker]

No password is enabled. I can change the voltage numbers that are there but they cap out at the 12v numbers listed in the manual. How is that even possible? Too late to call Magnum now. Hope everything holds until the morning.

New but related problem. As I've been advised to tweek settings here and there I just went downstairs tonight and ALL of the Inverter and Charger settings are defaulted to what appears to be 12V specs based on the Magnum manual. I cannot increase any of the voltages beyond the default values and now my SOC is reading 24%. I just took a specific gravity and although I need to charge the batteries the SOC doesn't correspond to the voltage reading on the remote which is 23.9 right now.

Arggg... I'm losing my mind.

[inetdog]

New but related problem. As I've been advised to tweek settings here and there I just went downstairs tonight and ALL of the Inverter and Charger settings are defaulted to what appears to be 12V specs based on the Magnum manual. I cannot increase any of the voltages beyond the default values and now my SOC is reading 24%.

Does the system require you to enter an installer's password to open up those settings to override? Maybe the system has been kept "logged in" until now and then it somehow reset and you have to authorize yourself again?

[kellystalker]

New but related problem. As I've been advised to tweek settings here and there I just went downstairs tonight and ALL of the Inverter and Charger settings are defaulted to what appears to be 12V specs based on the Magnum manual. I cannot increase any of the voltages beyond the default values and now my SOC is reading 24%. I just took a specific gravity and although I need to charge the batteries the SOC doesn't correspond to the voltage reading on the remote which is 23.9 right now.

Arggg... I'm losing my mind.

There are two basic strategies to use when panels and generator are in the right ballpark for the bank size and the load:

1. Run the generator early in the morning to handle the bulk stage quickly and efficiently (generator constantly at near maximum output), then let the PV carry through the absorb into float, assuming that can be finished within the total amount of daylight available. Or
2. Let the panels do the bulk and start the absorb and just stop when the light runs out, but at least to 80% SOC, then plan to finish off using the generator at least once or twice a week.

In either case, if the batteries can take it, set the Absorb voltage higher to keep the CC in bulk mode longer. This will reduce the time spent not using the full available PV output, and can make it more possible for the PV to finish absorb at least some of the time.

If you just do not have enough combined PV and Generator, you will have to reduce your load somehow.
Remember though that using the generator for the tapering-current absorb stage is a waste of fuel and generator hours.

[kellystalker]

I'm just reading in the Magnum manual that the AC Input Amps default is 30 amps. Should this be changed to reflect the 50 amps its referring to in the brochure?



I am running an Ecogen generator. These are the specs from the brochure and we are running 120V not 240. If I recall properly when the generator first comes on it runs anywhere between 112 and 140 amps. We are using the Magnum 4000W inverter/charger. I have asked this very question (ie the size of the inverter). I have been told that the inverter size is fine given that we only have a maximum of 30 amps coming in through the panels on a good day but no one has made the connection that it might not be big enough to handle the generator. I don't know how to evaluate that but I will ask the question to the dealer.


GENERATOR Model 005818-0 (6 kW)
Rated Maximum Continuous Power Capacity (LP) 6 kW*
Rated Voltage 120 (240 capable w/kit – Model 6016-0)
Rated Maximum Continuous Load Current – 240 Volts 50 Amps (25@240V)
Main Line Circuit Breaker 50 Amps (25 Amps after conversion)
Phase 1
Number of Rotor Poles 2
Rated AC Frequency 60Hz
Power Factor 1
Battery Requirement (not included) Group 26R 12 Volts and 525 Cold-cranking Amperes Minimum
Unit Weight (Pounds/Kilos) 387/175.5
Dimensions (L x W x H) Inches [mm] 48 x 25 x 29 [1218 x 638 x 732]
Sound output in dB(A) at 23 ft. with generator operating at normal load 52

I can put my finger on it, but your numbers are meaningless. A 6 KW does not tell me anything other than what the generator is capable of. What size battery charger is the Genny operating. Is iit 10 amps, 20, 30 , 40 what? Based on a 24 volt 1050 AH battery the charger should be rated @ 130 to 150 amps @ 24 volts. At that level the generator can bring a 50% DOD back to full charge in 4 to 5 hours. But until we know the charge amps, no one can tell you anything.

But I can tell you based on the info you have provided your system is much too small, particularly the panel wattage. If your panel wattage was correct you would not have to run the generator very often other than cloudy spells and periodic maintenance with a EQ charge. Way it is now you are goiong to have to live off the generator as your primary electric source, and as of right now does not sound like you have a large enough charger connected to the generator.

[Sunking]

With a 6w generator it took 2hours to reach the charge set point of 30 in absorb. That sounds like a long time to me and do I wonder where the problem is occurring.

No one can put their finger on it.

I can put my finger on it, but your numbers are meaningless. A 6 KW does not tell me anything other than what the generator is capable of. What size battery charger is the Genny operating. Is iit 10 amps, 20, 30 , 40 what? Based on a 24 volt 1050 AH battery the charger should be rated @ 130 to 150 amps @ 24 volts. At that level the generator can bring a 50% DOD back to full charge in 4 to 5 hours. But until we know the charge amps, no one can tell you anything.

But I can tell you based on the info you have provided your system is much too small, particularly the panel wattage. If your panel wattage was correct you would not have to run the generator very often other than cloudy spells and periodic maintenance with a EQ charge. Way it is now you are goiong to have to live off the generator as your primary electric source, and as of right now does not sound like you have a large enough charger connected to the generator.

[kellystalker]

Thank you Mike. Yes I am particularly fearful of destroying the batteries. I suspect I will always have to run the generator more in the winter. Some days we might not get 1.5 kw hours of input. Our house can't get much quieter than it is. Other than the fridge we don't have much in the way of phantom loads.

With a 6w generator it took 2hours to reach the charge set point of 30 in absorb. That sounds like a long time to me and do I wonder where the problem is occurring.

No one can put their finger on it.

Thanks again.



QUOTE=Mike90250;72281]You need to quickly learn to become a power plant electrician. Because you are needing to be doing the work of one. And an electrical engineer - so you can successfully design the plant.
In winter, I run my generator (3KW) 2 hours a day at most. Summer, never need it, but I have to chase the spiders off once a week.

As Sunking says, your system is way out of balance. You are destroying your batteries. You need to put yourself into lifeboat mode, and use as little power as possible till you get your batteries charged.
It will be less expensive to fly the system designer out to your place to program the the gear properly, than to ship batteries back for a recharge. And when the designer arrives, tell him you have a backhoe and he better get the system working [/QUOTE]

[Mike90250]

....Please try to understand that I am a complete lay person when it comes to this. Although I am learning every day, I have been operating our system based on the recommendations of the dealer and Magnum. .......

You need to quickly learn to become a power plant electrician. Because you are needing to be doing the work of one. And an electrical engineer - so you can successfully design the plant.
In winter, I run my generator (3KW) 2 hours a day at most. Summer, never need it, but I have to chase the spiders off once a week.

As Sunking says, your system is way out of balance. You are destroying your batteries. You need to put yourself into lifeboat mode, and use as little power as possible till you get your batteries charged.
It will be less expensive to fly the system designer out to your place to program the the gear properly, than to ship batteries back for a recharge. And when the designer arrives, tell him you have a backhoe and he better get the system working