Another battery Queestion

petertearai

Another question. Is running the vacume 65 amps at nominal 12 volts have the same or similar effect as an eqilize in that it willl mix the electrolite ? Also is 65 amps for 10 min or so ok on my 900 ah batts. Assuming a soc of approx 90%
Thanks for your replys I am finding this forum very informative.
Regards Peter

BB.

Re: Another battery Queestion

Peter,

It is the formation of Hydrogen and Oxygen gas on the plates while charging that "stirs" the electrolyte--Not just any heavy current flow (discharging in your case with the loads does not generate gas at the plate/electrolyte boundaries).

A good starting Rule of Thumb for Flooded Cell Lead Acid Batteries. Note Battery Amp*Hour Capacity is spec'ed here at the 20 Hour Rate:

• C/20 (5%) minimum rate of charge--planned long term discharge rate (efficient)
• C/10 (10%) about the optimum maximum rate of charging (recommended for tall "L16" type batteries) and discharging.
• C/8 (12.5-13%) Generally the maximum continuous charge/discharge rate for flooded cell batteries. Run risk of overheating batteries with higher rates of continuous current flow.
• C/2.5 (40%) maximum short term recommended surge current (starting loads for pumps, minimum battery bank capacity for Hybrid Inverter systems). Current in excess of C/2.5 for flooded cell may take the battery bank outside of 10.5-15.5 volt range (12 volt bank reference).

The above is my recommendations on posts I have read over the last few years here (and other Mfg. recommendations).

For your 900 AH battery bank (assuming 20 Hour Specification):

• 900 AH * 1/20 = 45 Amps minimum recommended charging current / optimum long term discharge current
• 900 AH * 1/10 = 90 Amps Optimum maximum current
• 900 AH * 1/8 = 112.5 Amps maximum continuous current
• 900 AH * 1/2.5 = 360 Amps maximum short term current (well pump starting surge, etc.)

Feel free to discuss offer other suggestions. Just one guy's opinion.

-Bill