Victron 100/30 bulk light on

[CapnCrunch]

My boat is in a covered slip so there's no direct sunlight getting to the solar panel and she is also connected to shore power which means that the battery charger built into my Xantrex 2500 inverter is also charging the bank which is currently at 12.64v. However, the "bulk" indicator light on my victron controller is lit. Under the above circumstances, I would think that the controller would be in Float mode. I cant find anything in the victron documentation that explains this.

[thomm225]

I thought I saw where default Float was 13.8 volts and your voltage is still below that which is why it isn't in Float

I have my Float set at 13.7 volts on my PWM Controller

See Link below: The range for Float for your Victron 100/30 Controller is 13.8 volts - 27.6 volts. It appears to be the same for the others also

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload...-100-50-EN.pdf

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload...-100-15-EN.pdf

[john61ct]

I don't understand why you would think the SC should be on Float.

That should only happen after charging is complete.

What is your Absorb set to on each source?

[thomm225]

I doubt he has changed any of the settings. Check the link. Looks like the range is 14.4 - 28.8

[john61ct]

No, even some of the canned profiles are lower, e.g. GEL or LFP.

But Victrons are also fully programmable, can set to whatever you want.

Obviously need to get the right specs from the batt mfg and match that.

Should be done before the system is put into production.

I asked the question to try to see if they has an understanding of the basics, can't tell from the OP.

[billknny]

Originally Posted by CapnCrunch

My boat is in a covered slip so there's no direct sunlight getting to the solar panel and she is also connected to shore power which means that the battery charger built into my Xantrex 2500 inverter is also charging the bank which is currently at 12.64v. However, the "bulk" indicator light on my victron controller is lit. Under the above circumstances, I would think that the controller would be in Float mode. I cant find anything in the victron documentation that explains this.

Obviously nobody writing answers here has a clue about how this all works, so pay attention everybody...

First, understand that the solar controller has no idea there is anything else connected to the battery. All it knows is the battery voltage.

Every morning, even under the cover, the solar panels get enough light to "wake up" the controller. The controller sees a battery at 12.64 volts, and "thinks" that here is a partially charged battery, so immedietly goes to bulk mode to try to bring the voltage up to float. Of course, under the cover, it is generating a negligible amount of power and can not do so. It spends all day in bulk, pumping all the power it has (almost none) into the battery trying to bring the voltage up. Since it never sees absorption voltage, it never switches to float.

If the panel was in sun, every morning you would see it switch to bulk, fairly quickly bring the voltage up to absorption, then hold there for the specified time, THEN drop to float.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by billknny

Obviously nobody writing answers here has a clue about how this all works, so pay attention everybody...

How asinine. What gives you that idea.

Same bottom line, it's not in Float because it isn't supposed to be.

If that bothers the OP they could just disconnect the panels while stored under cover.

The SC is a minor parasite load.

[Pete7]

[QUOTE=john61ct;2673324If that bothers the OP they could just disconnect the panels while stored under cover. The SC is a minor parasite load.[/QUOTE]

Since it is doing what it is supposed to do, I would leave well alone. Once away from shore power it will all work.

However, 12.6 volts from the Xantex charger isn't doing much good.

[john61ct]

Yes, likely actually at rest.

[BruceS]

Sounds like he has LiFePO4 batteries to me? No one asked about battery type did they?

[john61ct]

LOL not likely.

OP has not yet returned?

[BruceS]

Why not John?
If you have them you'd know it's VERY likely.
If a lead acid battery is at 50% & you plug a 20A charger into it what voltage would you see after 4-5 minutes?
If you did the same on a LiFePO4 battery what would you see?

[john61ct]

My point was based on

1. LFP systems are **very** rare
2. The OP doesn't seem the type (guessing only, TBD)

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by billknny

Obviously nobody writing answers here has a clue about how this all works, so pay attention everybody...

First, understand that the solar controller has no idea there is anything else connected to the battery. All it knows is the battery voltage.

Every morning, even under the cover, the solar panels get enough light to "wake up" the controller. The controller sees a battery at 12.64 volts, and "thinks" that here is a partially charged battery, so immedietly goes to bulk mode to try to bring the voltage up to float. Of course, under the cover, it is generating a negligible amount of power and can not do so. It spends all day in bulk, pumping all the power it has (almost none) into the battery trying to bring the voltage up. Since it never sees absorption voltage, it never switches to float.

If the panel was in sun, every morning you would see it switch to bulk, fairly quickly bring the voltage up to absorption, then hold there for the specified time, THEN drop to float.

Nice spin.

I answered this on my first post in a much simpler way, but I understand, folks just want to talk boats and solar and electrical.

Example: The OP actually has gotten 27 post concerning his batteries being off by .19 volts after a bit of maintenance...……….….(I'm going by memory here on the math from last week. I've been sailing all weekend and it was long and hard…………)

[CapnCrunch]

I "thought" that I had read somewhere that the MPPT wouldnt even try to charge the batteries if there wasnt enough sunlight to actually produce a charging current. I guess I was wrong. Thanx for the insights, though.