<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Drake,<div><br></div><div>Charging an AGM battery does not have to occur at the maximum charge voltage allowable; you can charge at a lower voltage for longer periods of time and still achieve 100% SoC. Since you have grid power to work with, slow down the charge cycle.<div><br></div><div>Assuming you have a late model ME-RC and version 5 or higher inverter, you can custom program the charge voltages. Here's what I would do: </div><div><ol class="MailOutline"><li>Go to Custom settings for battery type (setup menu 04).</li><li>Set the Absorb voltage for 26.8.</li><li>Set the Float for 26.4</li><li>Set the absorb time to 8 hours</li><li>Be sure the charge rate( setup menu 05) is 100%.</li></ol><div><br></div></div><div>Near the end of the absorb charge cycle, measure the current going into the battery. If it is less than 0.2 amps/100AH capacity, the bank is full. You should #3 & #4 above until it works out for the low temp. comp. and charge time but it should work well.</div><div><br></div><div>If you are concerned about this lower voltage, set up a periodic equalize charge to 28.8.</div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; 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color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">Larry Crutcher</div><div>Starlight Solar Power Systems</div></div></span></span><div><br></div></div></span></div></span></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span>
</div>
<br><div><div>On Mar 7, 2013, at 3:00 PM, Drake wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
<div>
Hello Wrenches,<br><br>
I had an unexpected glitch in AC coupling a Magnum 4024 PAE
inverter. The system utilizes AGM batteries, which (according to
Concorde tech support) have a very strict upper voltage limit.<br><br>
The relay used to stop the current input from the direct grid tie
inverter, when battery voltage is high, is controlled by a Morningstar
Relay Driver. The relay driver is set to shut off the charge at
28.8 volts.<br><br>
The charger on the Magnum is set to charge the batteries to 28.6
volts. <br><br>
The plan was to be able to charge batteries from the Magnum without
tripping the AC connection between the grid tie inverter to the
grid. The Magnum should charge to 28.6 volts, 0.2 volts below the
relay driver's programmed trigger point. <br><br>
There is one catch to using this approach. The Magnum inverter has a
remote temperature sensor in the battery bank. The relay driver is not
temperature corrected. Therefore, when the batteries are cold, the
charging voltage goes up in the Magnum. This higher voltage trips
the relay controlled by the driver, and disconnects the grid tie inverter
from the grid. <br><br>
I've played with the voltage set points, but the charge voltage on the
Magnum would be too low for good battery maintenance. If these were
liquid electrolyte batteries, I'd crank up the voltage on the relay
driver. Since they are AGM batteries, it doesn't seem like a good
idea to do that. <br><br>
The work around for this at present is to;
<ul>
<li>Charge batteries at night in the winter
</li><li>No problem is expected in the summer
</li></ul>The batteries are in an insulated box in a shed connected to the
house. The inside of the battery box has a screened hole that is supposed
to allow heated air into the box. This vent doesn't keep the
batteries warm enough to prevent the problem. <br><br>
Is there a temperature sensitive, voltage controlled relay or diver
available? Has anyone used a temperature bulb with the relay driver
in a way that could solve this problem? Has anyone else come up against
this issue, and if so, what was your solution?<br><br>
Thanks,<br><br>
Drake <br><br>
<br>
<a name="_MailAutoSig"></a>Drake Chamberlin<br>
<i>Athens Electric LLC<br>
OH License 44810<br>
CO License 3773<br>
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer<br>
740-448-7328<br>
</i><a href="http://athens-electric.com/">http://athens-electric.com/</a>
<br>
</div>
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