foggysail
Guru
I just installed 8 new 115 Duracell (East Penn) golf cart batteries along with a Victron 150/70 MPPT controller. I don't know why my old Duracells failed after 5 season and I wondered if my Victron could have over charged them. I still don't know, maybe it was just accumulated age and abuse. But an interesting thing happened on the way to the Forum!
Yes indeed, interesting! I purchased the Victron USB adapter cable so I could see the charger settings along with adjusting them. Yes, I guess you can do the same with their meter kit, if so .....what a joke! Try it for yourselves and enjoy.
OK, back to the USB which worked just fine. This is where things get interesting.
Rolls insists their 12V flooded batteries be set with no exception:
bulk/absorption 15
float 13.5
equalization 15.6-15.9
Trojan requirements:
bulk/absorption 14.8
float 13.5
equalization 16.2
Victron:
bulk/absorption 14.4
float 13.7
equalization 15
I set mine to:
bulk/absorption 14.6
float 13.6
equalization---set to off.
I tried to split differences. But hey, lead acid battery technology is over 100 years old an no absolute standards? OK, the differences are small so why is Rolls so insistent and for that matter Trojan? There must be magic numbers for maximum battery life. Later when I have more time, I might check what other battery manufacturers (whats left of them) recommend.
Yes indeed, interesting! I purchased the Victron USB adapter cable so I could see the charger settings along with adjusting them. Yes, I guess you can do the same with their meter kit, if so .....what a joke! Try it for yourselves and enjoy.
OK, back to the USB which worked just fine. This is where things get interesting.
Rolls insists their 12V flooded batteries be set with no exception:
bulk/absorption 15
float 13.5
equalization 15.6-15.9
Trojan requirements:
bulk/absorption 14.8
float 13.5
equalization 16.2
Victron:
bulk/absorption 14.4
float 13.7
equalization 15
I set mine to:
bulk/absorption 14.6
float 13.6
equalization---set to off.
I tried to split differences. But hey, lead acid battery technology is over 100 years old an no absolute standards? OK, the differences are small so why is Rolls so insistent and for that matter Trojan? There must be magic numbers for maximum battery life. Later when I have more time, I might check what other battery manufacturers (whats left of them) recommend.