Hi,
I got the Victron 712 battery monitor and am in the process of installing it.
I see on page 10 of the manual:
"In solar systems or other applications with fluctuating charge currents, the following measures can be taken to reduce the probability for the BMV to reset prematurely to 100% state of charge:
a) Increase the charged voltage to only slightly below the absorption charge voltage (for example: 14.2V in case of 14.4V absorption voltage). Increase the charged detection time and/or decrease the tail current to prevent an early reset due to passing clouds"
What have you guys been setting?
My setup:
- Toyota Tundra (not sure what the alternator voltage is but likely too low) and FWC wiring
- IBS-DBR dual battery relay (http://ibs-tech.ch/en/products/dual-battery-system/ibs-dbr-dualbatt-relay.html)
- Two 125 AH batteries (https://www.vmaxtanks.com/SLR125-12Volts-125AH-Deep-Cycle-Solar-AGM-Battery_p_38.html) - Charging Voltage 14.4-14.9V and Float Voltage 13.5V-13.8V
- Blue Star Solar Boost 2000e MPPT with charge voltage set to 14.5 V (http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/uploads/pdf/Manual_BSE_SB2KE.pdf)
- 12v 180w solar panel (https://www.solarblvd.com/products/solar-cynergy-180-watt-12v-monocrystalline-solar-panel/)
- IOTA DLS-30 and IQ-4 (https://www.iotaengineering.com/pplib/IQ4manual.pdf)
The Blue Star Solar Boost 2000e MPPT is only 2 stages: bulk and absorption but no float. "The 2000E provides a two stage charging process, Bulk and Constant Voltage. The 2000E will be in Bulk charge when battery voltage is below the charge voltage setpoint. During Bulk the 2000E delivers as much charge current as possible to rapidly recharge the battery and drive battery voltage up to the charge voltage setpoint. Once the battery recovers sufficient charge for battery voltage to rise to the charge voltage setpoint, both PV current and output charge current are reduced as necessary to control battery voltage at the charge voltage setpoint."
The IQ4 has 3 stages: bulk/absorption/float at voltages 14.8V/14.2V/13.6V.
I rarely plug the camper in the AC. When not in use, the camper is parked in the sun with the solar maintaining the batteries. It's applying 14.5V during the day (as I type this message in the afternoon, it's delivering 0.7A at this voltage, I have not used the camper in a week).
How bad is it that my solar charge controller does not have float?
I'm thinking of setting the Victron battery monitor charged voltage to 14V so it's below both the solar charge controller and the IQ4 absorption voltage and not changing the other settings as I don't quite grasp the problem with passing clouds yet (and what about nighttime?).
Herve
I got the Victron 712 battery monitor and am in the process of installing it.
I see on page 10 of the manual:
"In solar systems or other applications with fluctuating charge currents, the following measures can be taken to reduce the probability for the BMV to reset prematurely to 100% state of charge:
a) Increase the charged voltage to only slightly below the absorption charge voltage (for example: 14.2V in case of 14.4V absorption voltage). Increase the charged detection time and/or decrease the tail current to prevent an early reset due to passing clouds"
What have you guys been setting?
My setup:
- Toyota Tundra (not sure what the alternator voltage is but likely too low) and FWC wiring
- IBS-DBR dual battery relay (http://ibs-tech.ch/en/products/dual-battery-system/ibs-dbr-dualbatt-relay.html)
- Two 125 AH batteries (https://www.vmaxtanks.com/SLR125-12Volts-125AH-Deep-Cycle-Solar-AGM-Battery_p_38.html) - Charging Voltage 14.4-14.9V and Float Voltage 13.5V-13.8V
- Blue Star Solar Boost 2000e MPPT with charge voltage set to 14.5 V (http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/uploads/pdf/Manual_BSE_SB2KE.pdf)
- 12v 180w solar panel (https://www.solarblvd.com/products/solar-cynergy-180-watt-12v-monocrystalline-solar-panel/)
- IOTA DLS-30 and IQ-4 (https://www.iotaengineering.com/pplib/IQ4manual.pdf)
The Blue Star Solar Boost 2000e MPPT is only 2 stages: bulk and absorption but no float. "The 2000E provides a two stage charging process, Bulk and Constant Voltage. The 2000E will be in Bulk charge when battery voltage is below the charge voltage setpoint. During Bulk the 2000E delivers as much charge current as possible to rapidly recharge the battery and drive battery voltage up to the charge voltage setpoint. Once the battery recovers sufficient charge for battery voltage to rise to the charge voltage setpoint, both PV current and output charge current are reduced as necessary to control battery voltage at the charge voltage setpoint."
The IQ4 has 3 stages: bulk/absorption/float at voltages 14.8V/14.2V/13.6V.
I rarely plug the camper in the AC. When not in use, the camper is parked in the sun with the solar maintaining the batteries. It's applying 14.5V during the day (as I type this message in the afternoon, it's delivering 0.7A at this voltage, I have not used the camper in a week).
How bad is it that my solar charge controller does not have float?
I'm thinking of setting the Victron battery monitor charged voltage to 14V so it's below both the solar charge controller and the IQ4 absorption voltage and not changing the other settings as I don't quite grasp the problem with passing clouds yet (and what about nighttime?).
Herve