Help battery issue with Hydrometer

nick1994
nick1994 Registered Users Posts: 3
Okay so I installed a 1.3 kw Pv system in my house. It runs on 48 volts I purchased 4, 6 volt POWERTRON 210 ah batteries I also purchased 4,  6volt Duracell 215 ah batteries they are in a 48volt series. When the bank is fully charged it’s at about 51.2-51.7 volts. Runs a 8000btu ac for about 5-6 hours a night consuming ruffly 3 kilowatts. never have had a  problem YET with the battery’s. Except.. 

My duracells for some reason will read at the highest 1200 on the hydrometer and the powertron wilt read about 1250-1260 on the same meter. The volts on each battery is the same when fully charged. 

NOTES 
The battery sets were purchased within a week of each other so the life wouldn’t mess up the charge. 

I do understand that they are different amp hours could this be why?

Also the Duracell’s that I have the issue with were refilled with distilled water because for some reason they lost water quicker then the powertrons  but I did not over fill them.

I have the bulk charge setting at 58v and 54 for float charge. 


New to the whole solar but have studied the terminology pretty well if someone could help me I would appreciate it. 


Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Different brands often use slightly different chemistry, to make "their own" and I'd never expect the 2 sets to exactly track.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
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  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Before you refilled the Duracells, could you tell if any of the metal plates inside were not covered by liquid?
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    mike95490 said:
    Different brands often use slightly different chemistry, to make "their own" and I'd never expect the 2 sets to exactly track.
    This is a good statement, because there are all types of flooded lead-acid batteries, mixing can result in a mismatch, lead anttomony, lead calicum, lead carbon, pure lead, etcetera etcetera, each with their own characteristics, low water consumption, high discharge currents, low maintenance to name a few, oil and water don't mix, different chemistries may mix better than oil and water but never mix well, looking into exactly what the chemistry is shouldn't be that difficult, with the Internet at ones disposal.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
  • nick1994
    nick1994 Registered Users Posts: 3
    With the plates they were still covered with water. I did a lot of research with this before purchasing but never though this would be an issue.  

    I also tried to google about the chemistry but other then batteries plus the Duracell deep cycle batteries I got do not really have that much Info on line about them.  
  • nick1994
    nick1994 Registered Users Posts: 3
    Also thank for the responses I appreciate it. 
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Request a material  safety data sheet, MSDS, from the vendor, they are obligated by law to provide this upon request, this will provide information included the manufacturer, which may not be the branded name, the manufacturer should be able to provide the materials used in their construction including charging rates etcetera.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.