Datenight
Guru
Greetings from Cape Verde!
We had a fast sail from the Canaries and are now getting ready to cross to Barbados.
On the trip here the four year old AGM battery bank started giving low voltage alarms. We were running the generator 3 times per night for an hour at a time. The solar kept up during the day. The SOC never went below 84%. The batteries are 12 volt, 135 amp hour AGM’s. Bought in France by my cousin. Eight batteries wired in series parallel to give a 540 ah bank at 24 volts.
Fully charged this morning all batteries were fine. After running the bank down to 87% (shore power and solar disconnected) one battery of each pair shows extremely low voltage. Pair 1, 8.7 and 12.92 v. Pair 2, 8.76and 12.94 v. Pair 3, 12.8 and 8.9. Pair 4, 9.24 and12.48v. Unable to post a photo.
My solution is to take out the bad batteries and combine the remaining good ones for lower overall capacity but much better (I think) longevity. Buying new is not an option before we leave.
Between solar during the day and the generator if needed I think we will be fine.
What say you?
Thanks,
Rob
We had a fast sail from the Canaries and are now getting ready to cross to Barbados.
On the trip here the four year old AGM battery bank started giving low voltage alarms. We were running the generator 3 times per night for an hour at a time. The solar kept up during the day. The SOC never went below 84%. The batteries are 12 volt, 135 amp hour AGM’s. Bought in France by my cousin. Eight batteries wired in series parallel to give a 540 ah bank at 24 volts.
Fully charged this morning all batteries were fine. After running the bank down to 87% (shore power and solar disconnected) one battery of each pair shows extremely low voltage. Pair 1, 8.7 and 12.92 v. Pair 2, 8.76and 12.94 v. Pair 3, 12.8 and 8.9. Pair 4, 9.24 and12.48v. Unable to post a photo.
My solution is to take out the bad batteries and combine the remaining good ones for lower overall capacity but much better (I think) longevity. Buying new is not an option before we leave.
Between solar during the day and the generator if needed I think we will be fine.
What say you?
Thanks,
Rob