Strange problem charging deep cycle battery w/ Solar (1 Viewer)

[WES1977]

I have 2 of these

and the controller from northern tools

They are 15watts a piece. They are putting out together 19volts. They can't charge my optima deep cycle marine battery. They charge other batteries with no problem. When I bought the battery I had the same problem and took it back to the place I bought it from and they tested good. The way I have it to make it work is parallel to another battery and it charges them both.

Anyone else have about the same thing? I don't understand why it doesn't work. Only thing I can think of is that the deep cycle batteries take more to charge them.

 

[george_tlc]

Many (true) deep cycle batteries require more than 14.4V to fully charge them. If your controller is lower than that then likely you won't be able to get a full charge into the deep cycle battery.

Charging voltage is also temperature dependent - so many factors thay may prevent fully charging, especially if the charge controller is not well designed or adjusted.

cheers,
george.

 

[NLXTACY]

X2, I almost made the same mistake. But I made sure I got charge controller that put out the volts I needed. Not too much, not too little...juuuust right.

 

[BC_FJC]

Deep Cycle batteries take a lot longer to charge then normal batteries. In the best conditions you are only charging with a maximum of about 2 Amps(About 1 Amp per 15W pannel). I think that most AGM batteries also require 14.2 volts to charge properly. Mesure both your charge voltage and Amps.


This is from Optima's webpage
Recommended charging information:

Alternator:

• 13.65 to 15.0 volts, no amperage limit.

Battery Charger:

• 13.8 to 15.0 volts, 10 amps maximum, 6-12 hours approximate.

Cyclic Applications:

• 14.7 volts, no current limit as long as battery temperature remains below 125°F (51.7°C). When current falls below 1 amp, finish with 2 amp constant current for 1 hour.

Rapid Recharge:

• Maximum voltage 15.6 volts (regulated), no current limit as long as battery temperature remains below 125°F (51.7°C). Charge until current drops below 1 amp.

Float Charge:

• 13.2 to 13.8 volts, 1 amp maximum current, time indefinite (at lower voltage).

 

[miked]

Tell me more about the charge controller..
I have used a 25watt panel through a SunSaver controller to charge a optima d31m with good results.
At least I THINK it's a 25watt. It's not listed so I just did a quick calc based on current and voltage output but now that I think of it, it was measured through the controller, not the directly from the panel. How would I measure the panel wattage? can I short it through an amp meter?

 

[WES1977]

I should have asked this earlier, What Charger do you guys suggest or have that you like?

Northern's other one is

Sunforce 30 Amp Digital Charge Controller, Model# 60032 | Charge Controllers | Northern Tool + Equipment

is that a good one?

 

[WES1977]

Guess i'm going out tomorrow and get this one.

 

[miked]

jeez... thats a nice controller. voltage and current display...

 

[WES1977]

well that sucks, they don't sell it at the stores just catalog. So it looks like i'll have to order a controller off the internet.

 

[WES1977]

Deep Cycle batteries take a lot longer to charge then normal batteries. In the best conditions you are only charging with a maximum of about 2 Amps(About 1 Amp per 15W pannel). I think that most AGM batteries also require 14.2 volts to charge properly. Mesure both your charge voltage and Amps.


This is from Optima's webpage
Recommended charging information:

Alternator:

• 13.65 to 15.0 volts, no amperage limit.

Battery Charger:

• 13.8 to 15.0 volts, 10 amps maximum, 6-12 hours approximate.

Cyclic Applications:

• 14.7 volts, no current limit as long as battery temperature remains below 125°F (51.7°C). When current falls below 1 amp, finish with 2 amp constant current for 1 hour.

Rapid Recharge:

• Maximum voltage 15.6 volts (regulated), no current limit as long as battery temperature remains below 125°F (51.7°C). Charge until current drops below 1 amp.

Float Charge:

• 13.2 to 13.8 volts, 1 amp maximum current, time indefinite (at lower voltage).

The cheap-O 7amp controller I have cuts out at 14volts

 

[WES1977]

I went with the Sunsaver 20 L because it's supposed to be rugged. I've had it pluged up for about a half a day and it seems better all ready.

 

[miked]

I noticed in that pic that the battery conn is 24v. how do you/can you use it with one 12v battery?

eta: never mind.. just looked it up. are you using this to charge two batteries? if so, what's your setup?

 

[WES1977]

I noticed in that pic that the battery conn is 24v. how do you/can you use it with one 12v battery?

eta: never mind.. just looked it up. are you using this to charge two batteries? if so, what's your setup?

I've got the 12 volt version controller that picture is just one I found on the net, and I do have 2 batteries in parallel.

The controller also has a feature were it will disconnect the load at 11.5 and below.

I have a 400w and a 750w continuous modified A/C converters. I'm using this to keep my my FJ40 electronic rust protector going and to have some small backup power.

 

[miked]

neat-o. Glad you found something that works. I just realized I don't have a SunSaver after all but a Morningstar 4.5amp unit. I had looked around for controllers for so long, SunSaver seems to have stuck in my mind..

The Morningstar is similar in the sense that it uses a PWM scheme. I like it because it's small, sealed and I can glue it to the back of the panel and forget about it. I only plan to use this panel to slow charge a single flooded so it should do. I also have one of those small panels that VW dealers use to keep a float on cars sitting on lots for extended periods. I can get .3 amps at 13.8v from it with the right angle to the sun.

 

[WES1977]

neat-o. Glad you found something that works. I just realized I don't have a SunSaver after all but a Morningstar 4.5amp unit. I had looked around for controllers for so long, SunSaver seems to have stuck in my mind..

The Morningstar is similar in the sense that it uses a PWM scheme. I like it because it's small, sealed and I can glue it to the back of the panel and forget about it. I only plan to use this panel to slow charge a single flooded so it should do. I also have one of those small panels that VW dealers use to keep a float on cars sitting on lots for extended periods. I can get .3 amps at 13.8v from it with the right angle to the sun.

I think Morningstar makes sunsaver. my manual has the morninstar name on it.

 

[FJ40_owner]

Sunsaver is a model manufactured by Morningstar

 

[WES1977]

We'll still having problems with the marine battery. I charged it all night with a wall outlet charger and when I woke up this morn the battery was at 12.5 volts. I unplugged the charger came back 30mins later and the battery was 11.5 volts, eight hours later 10.8volts. I took it back to the shop I bought it at and the gave me a new battery. So the problem was the battery the whole time. I bought this battery 9 months ago, and I had them test this battery after the first week and they still claimed it was good. So 9 months and a hundred dollars lost.