ckent323
Senior Member
Advmoto,
I have already traded Q&A with a Blue Sea rep. He told me that the ACR will accommodate different battery types (chemistry) but only one at a time. So both batteries must be the same chemistry but that chemistry can be FLA, SLA, AGM, Gel - not sure about LiFePO4.
(BTW: The CTEK and Xantrex reps also said that both batteries must have the same chemistry when using their systems)
The issue is having different chemistry batteries connected to the ML-ACR and in my case (and yours) overcharging the AGMs in the battery bank. You really don't know if you are shortening the life of the battery unless you monitor the state of charge (SOC) to make sure it is being charged correctly. The change is useful life may be reducing it from 10 years to 4 or 5 years (or even less) depending on how often you use the camper and how frequently and long your drives are (causing the ACR to be sending charge to the battery bank).
If you have a Solar system and a smart solar controller then it is probable the Solar charger is trying to keep your batteries charged correctly but I think the ML-ACR if always connected, and if it is set up to properly charge your FLA starting battery, will keep trying to charge the house batteries even after they should be in absorption of float stage (i.e. overcharge them).
The only way to know for sure is to have a battery monitor installed on your house battery bank so you can monitor the state of charge (SOC). Otherwise, there is really no way to know and your battery may last for a few years and then die and you may then be wondering why they did not last very long.
There is a way to use these systems in set-ups like ours having two different battery chemistrys and I cover that in the topic referenced below.
I am wondering - do you monitor the SOC of your house batteries?
(BTW: I basically covered all of this in the topic I started on "Charging Vehicle and House Batteries that Are Different Types " I put that link in comment #77 on page 8)
Regards,
Craig
I have already traded Q&A with a Blue Sea rep. He told me that the ACR will accommodate different battery types (chemistry) but only one at a time. So both batteries must be the same chemistry but that chemistry can be FLA, SLA, AGM, Gel - not sure about LiFePO4.
(BTW: The CTEK and Xantrex reps also said that both batteries must have the same chemistry when using their systems)
The issue is having different chemistry batteries connected to the ML-ACR and in my case (and yours) overcharging the AGMs in the battery bank. You really don't know if you are shortening the life of the battery unless you monitor the state of charge (SOC) to make sure it is being charged correctly. The change is useful life may be reducing it from 10 years to 4 or 5 years (or even less) depending on how often you use the camper and how frequently and long your drives are (causing the ACR to be sending charge to the battery bank).
If you have a Solar system and a smart solar controller then it is probable the Solar charger is trying to keep your batteries charged correctly but I think the ML-ACR if always connected, and if it is set up to properly charge your FLA starting battery, will keep trying to charge the house batteries even after they should be in absorption of float stage (i.e. overcharge them).
The only way to know for sure is to have a battery monitor installed on your house battery bank so you can monitor the state of charge (SOC). Otherwise, there is really no way to know and your battery may last for a few years and then die and you may then be wondering why they did not last very long.
There is a way to use these systems in set-ups like ours having two different battery chemistrys and I cover that in the topic referenced below.
I am wondering - do you monitor the SOC of your house batteries?
(BTW: I basically covered all of this in the topic I started on "Charging Vehicle and House Batteries that Are Different Types " I put that link in comment #77 on page 8)
Regards,
Craig