Battery status.

Phantom

Phantom

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We were parked up on a friends horse field in our motorhome for six months but have now bought another house. Up at the field the solar was restricted by tall trees for about half of the day but we had electric hook up anyway so batteries were always on charge to a degree but not sure if that was actually detrimental as the battery monitor capacity/percentage seemed to keep dropping over time, but guess that could be the monitor not quite tallying in and out? The Victron solar controller would be showing near full charge on float but battery monitor would only be at about 80%, so rightly or wrongly I reset it to 100% but the same thing keeps happening. It's quite possible that the original 210Ah battery capacity is now down to about 170Ah but it works just fine showing about 12.7v at night so no worries but just curious.
Maybe I should check battery electrolyte levels after 6 months on charge, but access is not really possible for another 4 weeks. Where the motorhome is parked now it is getting more sun on the 120w panel though is shaded by the house, still quite a difference from a week ago where it was just about breaking even. We don't use much power, just phone and tablet charging really!
IMG_20210606_213356.jpg
 
I am not an expert on batteries nor solar panels. BUT i have both.
There are differnt types (you may know) Gel, AGM, flooded lead acid, lead acid. Each needs different charge values.
I had 3X Gel (Fitted on purchase Excide 90Ah) which need 14.4v to charge. Now 3 X flooded lead (Varta LFD90) which needs 13v to charge and 12.7v on load (or so I understand and which is how I have set it)
Overcharging causes gassing if vented and that may be the cause. You may need to check the battery type to confirm charge rate and re-set if needed.
I suspect others will be better suited to help.

Found this web site very helpful (use google search for a and n caravan services then battery technology)

From the web site and may help:-

"That 33% of AGM and Gel batteries died from 'drying out'. Remember hearing the myth that Gel and AGM's never lose fluid by gassing? If you read the manufacturers information, they all state that AGM batteries lose fluid, but the loss is usually fairly low. It is the battery retailers that make statements the fluid loss is 'Zero'."

Hope you find the solution



​

 
in it for fun said:
I am not an expert on batteries nor solar panels. BUT i have both.
There are differnt types (you may know) Gel, AGM, flooded lead acid, lead acid. Each needs different charge values.
I had 3X Gel (Fitted on purchase Excide 90Ah) which need 14.4v to charge. Now 3 X flooded lead (Varta LFD90) which needs 13v to charge and 12.7v on load (or so I understand and which is how I have set it)
Overcharging causes gassing if vented and that may be the cause. You may need to check the battery type to confirm charge rate and re-set if needed.
I suspect others will be better suited to help.

Found this web site very helpful (use google search for a and n caravan services then battery technology)

From the web site and may help:-

"That 33% of AGM and Gel batteries died from 'drying out'. Remember hearing the myth that Gel and AGM's never lose fluid by gassing? If you read the manufacturers information, they all state that AGM batteries lose fluid, but the loss is usually fairly low. It is the battery retailers that make statements the fluid loss is 'Zero'."

Hope you find the solution



​

Click to expand...
Your vartas require 14.4 to full charge but drop back to around 13.7 on float, if you have been charging at 13v then damage will be done and they may never reach full capacity.
 
Phantom said:
The Victron solar controller would be showing near full charge on float but battery monitor would only be at about 80%,
Click to expand...

At the fear of being asked what my question has to do with the OP's original post, again......So if I've understood the question.

@Phantom Do you have a Victron BMV and use their VRM Portal?

I ask this as I had an AGM battery and struggled for a long time before getting the BMV to sync to my satisfaction. The battery type I think is immaterial but viewing the battery charge characteristics in the VRM Portal made setting the values in the BMV's settings easier.
 
Phantom said:
It's just a Victron Smart Solar 100/20. Batteries are FLA.
Click to expand...
Ok.

I found it easier to study the voltage and current on the VRM Portal graphs when the charger goes through its different states, Absorption to Float. From these I was able to determine the Victron BMV voltage and current to get a reliable and accurate reset point. I guess the similar information is available in the Trends tab for the Smart Solar.

What do you have for a battery monitor and how do you determine the battery is only 80% charged?
 
Last edited:
trevskoda said:
Your vartas require 14.4 to full charge but drop back to around 13.7 on float, if you have been charging at 13v then damage will be done and they may never reach full capacity.
Click to expand...
Thanks for reply and help. As b4 not an expert but take advice. Will change the charge to 14.4 with fingers crossed
 
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