I just redid the house bank in the boat with 1200 A/hr of Lifeline AGM and installed a Balmar SG2000. The bank is charged while at dock with a magnum 2818 inverter charger. configured for AGMs and also a dedicated smart charger.
Lifeline specs float charge when the temp is 77 degrees at 13.3 volts. The magnum will achieve the voltage and turn off and turn back on when the battery voltage falls to some level at around 12.8 volts. The current when in Float mode is never more than 15 amps... So with just the inverter/charger the battery voltage fluctuates between 12.8 and 13.3 volts.... If I turn on the the battery charger it will allow the float voltage to go up to 13.5 volts and holds it there but the net current into the battery bank is 1 to 2 amps....
CMS says that for Lifelines 13.4 Vdc is fine.... My question is with the low current flowing into the bank does it hurt the battery bank to allow the FV to go to 13.5 to 13.6 Vdc or is it best to shut down the charger and let the inverter charger cycle between 13.3 and 12,8Vdc....
Lifeline specs float charge when the temp is 77 degrees at 13.3 volts. The magnum will achieve the voltage and turn off and turn back on when the battery voltage falls to some level at around 12.8 volts. The current when in Float mode is never more than 15 amps... So with just the inverter/charger the battery voltage fluctuates between 12.8 and 13.3 volts.... If I turn on the the battery charger it will allow the float voltage to go up to 13.5 volts and holds it there but the net current into the battery bank is 1 to 2 amps....
CMS says that for Lifelines 13.4 Vdc is fine.... My question is with the low current flowing into the bank does it hurt the battery bank to allow the FV to go to 13.5 to 13.6 Vdc or is it best to shut down the charger and let the inverter charger cycle between 13.3 and 12,8Vdc....