[RE-wrenches] Thirsty batteries: Daily absorb cycles on top of grid powered float

[jay peltz]

Hi mick,

The more current classic firmware has a VMX mode which is adjustable for absorb time based on how quickly it got there, plus you can set it to skip days etc. Also. The new wiz bang jr allows better return amp monitoring 
So if you are running old firmware, good time to upgrade. 

Jay

Peltz power. 




> On Oct 6, 2014, at 7:16 AM, Mick Abraham <mick at abrahamsolar.com> wrote:
> 
> Greetings, Mechanics~
> 
> My client's (flooded lead acid) battery is in Float almost all the time, courtesy of an XW inverter stack plus public utility power while the system waits in standby. "Selling to grid" is not enabled for complicated reasons, so here's the problem.
> 
> Each day at sunup, the Midnite charge controls implement a new 3 stage charge cycle including a lengthy absorption interval. The batteries require frequent water additions and there may be other deleterious effects from running a complete bulk/absorb charge every day on a battery that's already highly charged. 
> 
> Possible solutions: 
> 
> (1) We could tweak the Midnite settings for a short absorption interval with less gassing...but if a prolonged grid outage should develop we would wish the absorption interval had not been shortened.
> 
> (2) Your suggestions here, please. The client would be willing to update and/or reconfigure their Midnite software if that would help or the client would even consider hardware revisions. We chose the Midnite controllers in 2011 largely because of their 250 volt input ceiling, btw. 
> 
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> 
> Thinking ahead to my future but similar projects:
> 
> Does any DC charge controller know that a new absorb cycle is not needed each day provided that the battery never dropped below Float the night before? A full cycle would still be wanted every 30 days or so just to stir things up, so that's almost like a 30 day equalization trigger only it would be a bulk trigger instead.
> 
> OR: would "selling to grid" avert this problem since the "battery backup with grid tie" type inverter is aware that the battery never left the Float stage?
> 
> OR: would AC coupling also avert this problem even if "sell to grid" is not enabled, for the same reason cited above?
> 
> OR: Your suggestions here, please.
> 
> Thanks & Jolliness, Mechanix. The Wrench List is the Bomb!
> 
> Mick Abraham, Proprietor
> www.abrahamsolar.com
> 
> Voice: 970-731-4675
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