Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 25-03-2019, 21:18   #46
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 37
Re: Stray- Current Corrosion, or Galvanic Corrosion, or?????...Help

Quote:
Originally Posted by Warren Drifter View Post
SeaBis electrolysis elimination system is a pretty good gadget to have connected all the time to monitor if and when there is stray DC current. Mine works very well and helps when tracking down suspicious DC equipment.

The device has a built-in AC alarm. As I am never connected to AC shore power, it is only an added unused feature. But whenever the solar panels belt out any higher than 13.8 volts DC, that AC alarm light starts flashing intermittently along with the battery negative side of the monitor and sometimes the positive side as well. If I turn off the solar panels or wait til sundown so their output is below 13.8 volts DC, all goes back to normal.

The seller suggested my solar panels are producing too much AC voltage. I am wondering if anyone out there has the same experience.
--------------

Hello and thanks for everyone's comments on my above question. I have done a few tests and having narrowed it down a bit, wish to share my findings with you.

When my original charge controller having a factory “float” setting of 13.8 vdc sees my batteries full at 13.8 vdc, it disallows anymore charge to the batteries. But when the SeaBis unit sees this action, it warns me of something by flashing the green DC lights and the red AC alarm light.

With suspicions that the SeaBis unit reactions are due to the charge controller, I bypassed the controller and fed power from the panels directly into the batteries. I cautiously let the batteries build up to 14.4 vdc. The SeaBis unit did not react like before and kept it’s green light constant and it’s red AC alarm light stayed off.

The results of that direct charge test inspired me to purchase another charge controller. It came with a factory (adjustable) float setting of 13.4 vdc. This charge controller caused the SeaBis unit to react the same as my previous charge controller with only difference being that it reacted when at the lower float setting of 13.4 vdc.

That was indeed interesting so I spent many hours doing tests by turning off the panels and letting the batteries stabilize and then recharging them with different “float” settings using this new charge controller. I done this test by changing the float setting in 2.0 volt increments for each test from 13.0 volts to 14.4 vdc and observed the SeaBis unit reacting with flashing green DC lights and red AC light at each test as soon as the “float” setting had been surpassed.

I think I have done a fair test and can honestly conclude that the reaction of the SeaBis unit is directly related to the suppression of excess current over and above the float charge setting. Then I browsed the web searching for information on charge controllers learning that my two controllers are the most common charge controllers used for solar panels and that they are PWM controllers, PWM meaning Pulse Width Modulators. The site below is a very good explanation on why and how these charge controllers work.

Pulse Width Modulation Charge Controllers Explained

Without any extensive background education in electronics, I will still risk saying that whatever internal gadget or function is built into the SeaBis unit, it is seeing this DC pulse and is interpreting it as AC (alternating current) thus triggering the red flashing warning AC light.

I hope this helps clear up this matter. Thanks.
Warren Drifter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2019, 21:35   #47
Registered User
 
Uncle Bob's Avatar

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney Australia
Boat: Fisher pilothouse sloop 32'
Posts: 3,416
Re: Stray- Current Corrosion, or Galvanic Corrosion, or?????...Help

Quote:
Originally Posted by Warren Drifter View Post
--------------

Hello and thanks for everyone's comments on my above question. I have done a few tests and having narrowed it down a bit, wish to share my findings with you.

When my original charge controller having a factory “float” setting of 13.8 vdc sees my batteries full at 13.8 vdc, it disallows anymore charge to the batteries. But when the SeaBis unit sees this action, it warns me of something by flashing the green DC lights and the red AC alarm light.

With suspicions that the SeaBis unit reactions are due to the charge controller, I bypassed the controller and fed power from the panels directly into the batteries. I cautiously let the batteries build up to 14.4 vdc. The SeaBis unit did not react like before and kept it’s green light constant and it’s red AC alarm light stayed off.

The results of that direct charge test inspired me to purchase another charge controller. It came with a factory (adjustable) float setting of 13.4 vdc. This charge controller caused the SeaBis unit to react the same as my previous charge controller with only difference being that it reacted when at the lower float setting of 13.4 vdc.

That was indeed interesting so I spent many hours doing tests by turning off the panels and letting the batteries stabilize and then recharging them with different “float” settings using this new charge controller. I done this test by changing the float setting in 2.0 volt increments for each test from 13.0 volts to 14.4 vdc and observed the SeaBis unit reacting with flashing green DC lights and red AC light at each test as soon as the “float” setting had been surpassed.

I think I have done a fair test and can honestly conclude that the reaction of the SeaBis unit is directly related to the suppression of excess current over and above the float charge setting. Then I browsed the web searching for information on charge controllers learning that my two controllers are the most common charge controllers used for solar panels and that they are PWM controllers, PWM meaning Pulse Width Modulators. The site below is a very good explanation on why and how these charge controllers work.

Pulse Width Modulation Charge Controllers Explained

Without any extensive background education in electronics, I will still risk saying that whatever internal gadget or function is built into the SeaBis unit, it is seeing this DC pulse and is interpreting it as AC (alternating current) thus triggering the red flashing warning AC light.

I hope this helps clear up this matter. Thanks.
Given that you have tried two separate charge controllers with the same outcome, I would respectfully suggest that the problem is not with them.
Could it be that that the Sea Bis unit may not be what it is touted to be??
__________________
Rob aka Uncle Bob Sydney Australia.

Life is 10% the cards you are dealt, 90% how you play em
Uncle Bob is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
corrosion, current

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Stray Current Detector Ian R Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 12 27-12-2018 19:02
Galvanic corrosion or Stray current? NEW PICS!! Captain Pappy Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 7 12-09-2014 13:37
Stray Current MartinMayer Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 32 10-01-2011 04:48
How to Measure Stray Current in the Water erict Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 11 03-12-2010 11:07
Stray Current Corrosion . . . Boracay Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 29 29-09-2010 06:13

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:48.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.