A way To Save Charging Time

[mrm]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...pacity.185414/

Maine Sail has said repeatedly that full is when the charge rate is <2% at absorption voltage. So, yes, kick it back to absorption when you think it's full and see what the charge rate is, simple as turning off the charger and on again.

Yes, but it also depends on battery manufacturer specs / recommendations. Have a look at Maine Sail's post
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2389968 re proper understanding of absorption phase..

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Bleemus

Not really. It doesnt measure DC Amps.

This is what you want . . .

Attachment 147940

Who makes that one, where can I buy one?

[Kenomac]

Todays final tests went well, over a 10 hour period 61Ah used to take care of everything including refrigeration. Took 1 hour to bring the house bank up to 98.4% of 450Ah, then an additional 1.5 hours to reach 100%. So 2.5 hours total, but a little seems to be still trickling in but less than 2%.

So the bimini is being shipped in the morning to the Solbian factory for solar installation. I think 450W of solar should take care of our needs along with running the generator for 30 minutes each morning or an hour to 1.5 hours every other day.

Looking forward to solar.

[poiu]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Todays final tests went well, over a 10 hour period 61Ah used to take care of everything including refrigeration. Took 1 hour to bring the house bank up to 98.4% of 450Ah, then an additional 1.5 hours to reach 100%. So 2.5 hours total, but a little seems to be still trickling in but less than 2%.

So the bimini is being shipped in the morning to the Solbian factory for solar installation. I think 450W of solar should take care of our needs along with running the generator for 30 minutes each morning or an hour to 1.5 hours every other day.

Looking forward to solar.

A few things are amiss here. Maybe I missed a post, but how do you know your batteries have a capacity of 450Ah? They will have surely lost a good bit since new. The only sure way is to discharge them. A partial discharge and a correlation with the voltage reduction on your battery voltage curve should get you reasonable data also.

I don't think your count at 450Ah is correct because at the high charge voltages a lot of the charge current is not staying in your battery. The battery is acting as a giant low ohm resistor. The amp counter is counting up, but the amps are going out of the sides in the form of heat, not as stored power. You need to work out your capacity correctly. It will stop this overcounting. It will not count when on charge and once you have reached your pre-set capacity limit.

Your settled voltage readings you gave in a post above don't sound so great at 25.08v. The Trojan manual should tell you what to expect, but I would expect a lot higher at full charge.

Have you also checked the meter voltage accuracy. I suggested this earlier?

[Bleemus]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Who makes that one, where can I buy one?

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Syst...tem+multimeter

I love mine and I have a Fluke but use this one all the time.

[Kenomac]

Poiu,

The factory specifications indicate at 100% charge, the battery voltage should be 25.46V. Here's an image of my management meter taken just moments ago.

My batteries are apparently in very good shape, contrary to what I was lead to believe.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Bleemus

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Syst...tem+multimeter

I love mine and I have a Fluke but use this one all the time.

Other than price, is there a difference between your's and this one? Thanks for the link.
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/p...FVe2wAodVXYMnQ

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Other than price, is there a difference between your's and this one? Thanks for the link.
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/p...FVe2wAodVXYMnQ

I've got one of those. It's annoyingly inaccurate. It works ok for higher currents but sucks at the low end. What you're measuring will be at the low end. Spend the money and get the blue seas or the fluke.

I've got a fluke as well and haven't touched my crappy once since I got the fluke.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Who makes that one, where can I buy one?

I bought a Mastech MS2115A over the internet. Much cheaper than a similar Fluke and it does everything needed for your typical boat trouble shooting requirements.

https://www.amazon.com/Mastech-MS211.../dp/B00KFLSXAI

[Bleemus]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Other than price, is there a difference between your's and this one? Thanks for the link.
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/p...FVe2wAodVXYMnQ

That doesnt look like mine except the case is similar.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I've got one of those. It's annoyingly inaccurate. It works ok for higher currents but sucks at the low end. What you're measuring will be at the low end. Spend the money and get the blue seas or the fluke.

I've got a fluke as well and haven't touched my crappy once since I got the fluke.

Understood. Does Fluke also make one that measures DC amps?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Understood. Does Fluke also make one that measures DC amps?

Yep, for over $400, compared to about $70 for the Mastech

[Kenomac]

Ouch, I'll go with Mastech or Blue Sea.

[poiu]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Poiu,

The factory specifications indicate at 100% charge, the battery voltage should be 25.46V. Here's an image of my management meter taken just moments ago.

My batteries are apparently in very good shape, contrary to what I was lead to believe.

I was responding to your earlier reported settled voltage of 25.08. If the measurement is actually 25.46 and you have measured it correctly, after a few hours after removing the charger and with negligible or no load then that's a good reading. Measure with a hydrometer as a cross check. That's a less error prone tool, just a bit time consuming.

As to capacity, a reading of 100% of the specified voltage does not mean you have 100% of the original capacity.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by StuM

Yep, for over $400, compared to about $70 for the Mastech

It's not that bad!!

$270

https://www.fluke-direct.com/product...FQ6paQodt9gA4g