Battery charging with solar connected ?

[Dave_S]

I have a Protecta 12VDC 25Amp 7 stage charger.

6x Trojan t105 6V batteries in series/parallel.

650W of solar.

My batteries are due another recondition charge cycle. Part of the process is that they go through equalisation which over charges them. Last time they gurgled like crazy which worried me because the instructions said not to remove the vent caps so I thought that was unusual and may be due to the extra input from the solar.

Do you guys disconnect the solar before connecting the charger? Is it ok to have the solar disconnected for 24hrs ?

[smac999]

both on are fine. 25a is a tiny charger for 600ah battery bank.

nothing should be equalizing your batteries. that should be done manually when you want to.

[Dave_S]

Thanks, I thought it was ok but the gurgling worried me, they weren't hot and didn't distort.

I can set it to do a recondition charge and it charges and decharges them to test them then runs some maintenance cycles as needed to try to improve them (including equalisation). Last time I did they came back to life really well. Sort of a battery charger for dummies - which makes a good fit for me.

Am I right thinking the 25Amps just makes it slow and I hope safer.

[john61ct]

FLA batts need to "gurgle" in order to charge fully.

Just make sure

keep water level maintained

watch voltages don't go over mfg specs

stop charging (drop to Float) when amps fall to .005 - .01C, .5A per 100AH, but not before then

[hellosailor]

Dave-
What john said. Equalization involves putting an excessive voltage on batteries, which in turn causes the electrolyte to boil/bubble more vigorously. Which also pretty much ensures you will need to add some water afterwards to top them up. Make sure you are only using DISTILLED water for this, it is only a buck per gallon in the bigbox stores. Two bucks in the "ironing" supplies at supermarkets.
And it is normal for voltage to fall just a little when you top up the electrolyte, until the next charge cycle.
If you peek into the battery before you start, the electrolyte level should also be full (covering the plates fully and then there's normally a mark for correct level) BEFORE you start the equalization cycle.

This is also the time when they will produce the most hydrogen gas, so the smoking light should be extinguished and ventilation provided, just in case.

[Dave_S]

Thanks all

I'll run it today and leave it overnight.

[daletournier]

One interesting point is Trojan recommend leaving caps on when equalising, other wet deep cycles that I've equalised in the past I had caps off as recommended at the time by the manufacturers.

[Dave_S]

All done, batteries came up nicely. Thanks for your help.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

Am I right thinking the 25Amps just makes it slow and I hope safer.

25 amps is still a lot/more than enough if you are just using it to equalize, or to charge all day at the dock where you have all day. But I just replaced my 100-amp charger because it would only do 40 amps on the generator. I see it worked good for you. which makes it perfect.

[john61ct]

A charger that has a large rate for fast charging when possible, but can be de-rated to accommodate upstream limitations, gives a lot of flexibility and future-proofing.