[RE-wrenches] Magnum Battery Charger Question
boB Gudgel
boB at midnitesolar.com
Sun Sep 27 11:50:44 PDT 2009
Jason Lerner wrote:
> Hi Bob,
>
> I put on an old Todd charger with Voltage regulation, but not absorb
> and float. I can change the voltage up or down as needed. Changing
> out the remote is a good idea. I do have another Magnum inverter at
> another location, but was trying to avoid another couple trips....
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jason
> On Sep 27, 2009, at 9:57 AM, robert ellison wrote:
>
The custom battery voltage setting mode were not always available in the
inverters, so it could be, I suppose, the rev of that
unit is not new enough. I have heard of an instance this was a problem
with a system. It doesn't warn you that this feature
is not available of course, just because the remote has it built in.
OR, maybe the unit is just defective? Hard to see why it would do this,
but maybe...
Also, it may not be widely known that when AC is first applied to the
Magnum inverter for charging, if the battery is
already above a certain voltage, (float ?), it will not enter the
Bulk/Absorb cycle. The battery voltage must be below a certain voltage
while plugging it into the AC before it will Bulk/Absorb. I don't think
this is your particular problem though, as we've
already discussed that possibility off line.
boB
>> I have had real bad luck with Interstate Batteries. That aside here
>> are some further ideas.
>> What type of an external charger are you using? if it is a shop type
>> charger, they don't behave the same as the 3 stage charger in a good
>> inverter and you can't compare them directly.
>>
>> The best test would be to put another inverter charger on it to see
>> how it behaves. Another Magnum would be ideal. Do you have another
>> available?
>> Try a different remote also, just in case there is a problem there.
>> That would allow you to mix and mattch the invertes and remotes to
>> sort things out.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 11:44 AM, Jason Lerner
>> <wapalco at rockisland.com <mailto:wapalco at rockisland.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Hello Bob,
>> Yes I have deep cycled the batteries. I only mentioned the 12.7
>> because above that voltage it will skip the absorb charge.
>> Interstate batteries, and all the connections are good and
>> tight, specific gravity all good as well.
>>
>> I was thinking maybe it is an intermittent internal connection,
>> but I put an external charger on the same battery bank and it
>> charges just like it should....
>>
>> Thanks for the hints,
>>
>> Jason
>>
>> On Sep 26, 2009, at 8:11 PM, robert ellison wrote:
>>
>>> Have you deep cycled the batteries? Normally you would be way
>>> below 12.7 when you had to use a generator to charge,12.7 is
>>> fully charged for a 12 volt pack.
>>> .
>>> Cycle them down to 10.5 to 11 volts or so a few times and charge
>>> them back up.
>>> See if it charges better when cycled.
>>> What brand of batteries are these?
>>>
>>> The magnum chargers are great, and if shorted it goes to 14.4
>>> volts the charger is fine.
>>>
>>> Any chance you have bad connection somewhere? If you have one
>>> try using a infared pyrometer to look for a warm connection
>>> somewhere. But it has to be after you charge for a while, give
>>> it time to heat up.
>>>
>>> Bob
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 12:04 PM, Jason Lerner
>>> <wapalco at rockisland.com <mailto:wapalco at rockisland.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello All,
>>>
>>> Have a question on a Magnum 1212MM-AE. The battery charger
>>> will not get above 13.8 Volts. The system worked fine for
>>> the first three weeks with Voltage rising to 14.4 volts for
>>> the absorb cycle, but now it will not. The battery size
>>> and type setting are correct, and using the "custom"
>>> charging profile set to 15 Volts does not work.
>>>
>>> We have tried unplugging the BTS, while also making sure
>>> the battery Voltage is below 12.7 when starting the
>>> generator. The remote control is attached and there is 35
>>> amps going into the battery with a 2KW honda. It will sit
>>> at 13.8 Volts and do an absorb cycle for 2 hours and then go
>>> into float. There are 4 golf cart batteries in the system
>>> and all cells check out good, no dead cells, and connection
>>> are all bright and tight. Turning the main DC disconnect off
>>> while the gen is running shows 14.8 Volts at the battery
>>> terminals of the inverter, but the batteries will not rise
>>> above 13.8. Magnum says the battery charger is fine since
>>> it goes up to 14.8 when the batteries are disconnected, but
>>> that doesn't make for a very efficient charger if it is not
>>> connected to the batteries......
>>>
>>> I am not familiar with these chargers, did I miss
>>> something, any ideas?
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Jason Lerner
>>> Waldron Power and Light Co.
>>> (888) 927-2526
>>>
>>>
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