Author Topic: Hurricane Electric Battery Question  (Read 1278 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

dastardlydan

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 75
Hurricane Electric Battery Question
« on: July 16, 2006, 01:06:47 AM »
I have four 6 volts ( US 145  244 amps )Batterys hooked

up in series / parallel for 12 volts

and one  ( Trojan 12 volt 195 amps.)

all are hooked together.


A 6 volt battery fully chargered reads 6.30 volts.

A 12 volt battery fully chargered reads 12.70 volts.


With these batterys all hooked together WHAT should the voltage read???

The Genny will charge them to 13.23 volts,

Will it hurt anything when they read 13.23 volts.????

« Last Edit: July 16, 2006, 01:06:47 AM by (unknown) »

Nando

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1058
Re: Hurricane Electric Battery Question
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2006, 08:13:32 PM »
NO


They will be OK and what you read is normal


Nando

« Last Edit: July 15, 2006, 08:13:32 PM by Nando »

altosack

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 92
Re: Hurricane Electric Battery Question
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2006, 10:52:17 PM »
Dan,


All hooked together, you should have ~585 Amp-hours at 12 V. If your generator (do you mean petrol or wind ? - the following comments assume petrol) is only charging them to 13.23 V, it will shorten their lives since they are not getting fully charged. Or do you mean 13.23 V residual after you've disconnected the genny ? What kind of charge control are you using ?


Mind you, it is possible to charge them fully at 13.23 V, but it will take many hours, which is a waste of fuel.  Your charger (for 585 Ah of battery) should put out a minimum of 15 A to charge them fully (20-30 A would be better), and it should regulate them to 14.4 V to get it done in a reasonable amount of time. An auto battery is regulated at 13.8 V, but that is a different kind of battery !


Ideally 3-stage charging is best, where the 3 stages are:



  1. Bulk charge (all amps possible from the charging source) until the absorption threshold voltage (usually 14.4 V per 12 V nominal or 2.4 V per cell for flooded lead acid batteries) is reached.
  2. Absorption charge at the absorption threshold (voltage regulated and with a tapering current). This usually lasts 2-4 hours or when a threshold low current is reached which will maintain the absorption voltage.
  3. Float, where the current is further reduced to maintain a float charge indefinitely (usually 13.2-13.4 V per 12 V or 2.2 V per cell). This is for a solar charge controller; a petrol generator charge should skip this step and stop here.


For a wind generator, which often doesn't have the daily regimen that solar has (and thus has more contiguous hours available sometimes, albeit not at as constant a charge rate), the absorption charge is often skipped, going directly to float, but the float voltage is higher, generally around 13.6-13.8 V per 12 V or 2.3 V per cell.


OK, probably more than you asked for (and maybe not even pertinent to your situation), but sometimes I can't do things by little bits !


Best Regards,

Dave

« Last Edit: July 15, 2006, 10:52:17 PM by altosack »

Flux

  • Super Hero Member Plus
  • *******
  • Posts: 6275
Re: Hurricane Electric Battery Question
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2006, 12:54:01 AM »
I assume the voltages you give are fully charged and been standing for 24 hrs to remove surface charge. That seems quite normal and when you parallel them they will likely settle to about 12.6v after charging and leaving to stand.


What I don't understand is the statement.


"The Genny will charge them to 13.23 volts,

Will it hurt anything when they read 13.23 volts.????"


Do you intentionally want to charge them to 13.23 or is that all it will charge them to.


To fully charge them you will need to get them over 14v when charging. This will still not cause them to sit at more than 12.6/7 v after the surface charge is removed.


Only being able to charge them to 13.23v will land you in trouble, it is not even up to float volts and unless you equalise them at a higher voltage every couple of weeks you will have them sulphated.


Yes Nando is right that they will be happy in parallel and Dave has given you the data about charging. I don't think they will ever charge at 13.23v and wouldn't do it without frequent equalising ( virtually an admission that they aren't charged)

Flux

« Last Edit: July 16, 2006, 12:54:01 AM by Flux »

QUAZ HOLT

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 72
Re: Hurricane Electric Battery Question
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2006, 10:04:42 AM »
Disasterly, !2 volt batteries when fully charged should read 13.76 volts or there about. This is a float voltage and should be at 20c. 77 f aprox. You need a good meter to test batteries if you are into splitting hairs. At float voltage batteries should draw minimal current. Most batteries die from lead poisoning. ;( Quaz
« Last Edit: July 16, 2006, 10:04:42 AM by QUAZ HOLT »