Victron 3000--Low Voltage alarm with High % of Capacity?

[Dave_R]

I've had an occasional low voltage alarm from my Victron 3000, showing 11.8 volts--BUT also showing battery capacity at 92%.

How is this possible?

Batteries are 3X AGM 230 AH. (Victron Blue Power 12-230) 12v system. Battery age is unknown--previous owner only owned the boat for a year and did not know when previous-previous owner installed them. Are these batteries marked with a date like auto batteries are?

An overnight at anchor usually leaves us at 92% in the morning. 1100 watts solar usually has us charged to 100% by 1pm.

11.8 volts would be a dead battery, no? Then how is the controller telling us we're at 92% charge when I get the low voltage alarm? Does the % of capacity reading come from measuing voltage, or is it some calculated reading?

Next steps to diagnose? Take individual voltage reading on each battery with a multimeter?

Thanks for any answers to these many questions.

[Avionics_Joe]

It could be bad batteries, the battery monitor, or solar charge controllers not set correctly.

The first step is to do a manual equalize, using Victron connect to the solar charge controller. While you are there confirm the voltages are set correctly!

After equalization disconnect the batteries one at a time and load test them.

If one or more is bad replace with LifePO4.

[Dave_R]

I'm not sure I know what "manually equalize" means.

Off to do research!

[wholybee]

You shouldn't equalize AGM batteries.

The first step, since there are a lot of unknowns, is to take the batteries out and one at a time measure their actual capacity. 100% certain, it isn't what is on the sticker. With that in hand, you can determine if the batteries are good or bad. And if they are good, use the numbers you measured, not the number on the sticker, to program the battery meter.

[smac999]

The inverter low voltage alarm is based on voltage at the posts of the inverter. Even if you have a cerbo and shunt etc. so it could be bad or lose cables. Or undersized cables. Causing drop between battery and inverter.

If the voltage at the battery is 11.8v with no load at 92%. Then batteries are Likly bad.

[s/v Jedi]

What is a Victron 3000 and what is reporting the percentage? Is there something reporting a voltage?

During a low voltage alarm, is there a high current appliance active, like an inverter, windlass etc.

[pierrrre]

Well, this is interesting. I was just about to pretty much ask the same question. I have 4 X 200 Ah AGM batteries and a Victron 2000 (not 3000) inverter (Picture attached). The other day in St Marteen, I bought a 220V 700 W (output power) 1080 W (input power) Microwave oven. I thought that Bob was my uncle. Not so much...


When I turn the microwave on, the inverter goes into alarm mode. I get Overload, Low Battery and soon after Temperature lights ON and a bit later the inverter shuts off.



Is it normal?


Sorry, I did not mean to hijack to thread but I did not want to start a new thread with the same question.

[Dave_R]

Pierrre, I"m very much a newby in this electronics stuff, which is why I asked the original question.

But just to address the most basic possibility--is your Victron 2000 a 110v or 120v ouput (American),and the microwave a 220v (European?)

[pierrrre]

Hi,


The inverter is a Victron Compact 230V and the Microwave is 220V. There is no 110 V on the boat. All plugs on the boat are the french style (the 2 round pins).

[s/v Jedi]

Unfortunately the OP seems to have disappeared. For other readers: the most common causes are:

1. Batteries are not fully charged at all because a battery monitor isn’t configured correctly.

2. High resistance in the cabling between batteries and inverter.

3. Batteries are end of life with minimal capacity left.

[pierrrre]

Thanks Jedi,



I suspect the cabling issue, I find the cables between the batteries and inverter too long and too small to my taste..