Individual Battery Voltages
jcheil
Solar Expert Posts: 722 ✭✭✭
I know that SG is the best way to determine the SOC of a battery.
However, I had some free time, and since small digital panel meters were only $1.49 each, I decided to make a display showing the individual voltages of each battery that I have in my series/strings.
At best, I could use it to visually determine if I had a major failure of a cell/battery somewhere in the string, which otherwise would go undetected. At worst, all the meters look really cool at night
So my question is: What is an acceptable voltage variation for each of the batteries in the series?
Mine seem to be within 0.03v of each other although I do have two that are 0.08v different from the others.
I checked the panel meters accuracy against my fluke and they were all within 0.015 of each other.
However, I had some free time, and since small digital panel meters were only $1.49 each, I decided to make a display showing the individual voltages of each battery that I have in my series/strings.
At best, I could use it to visually determine if I had a major failure of a cell/battery somewhere in the string, which otherwise would go undetected. At worst, all the meters look really cool at night
So my question is: What is an acceptable voltage variation for each of the batteries in the series?
Mine seem to be within 0.03v of each other although I do have two that are 0.08v different from the others.
I checked the panel meters accuracy against my fluke and they were all within 0.015 of each other.
Off-Grid in Central Florida since 2005, Full-Time since June 2014 | 12 X Sovello 205w panels, 9 X ToPoint 220w panels, 36x ToPoint 225w panels (12,525 watts total) | Custom built single-axis ground mounts | Complete FP2 Outback System: 3 x FM80, 2 x VFX3648, X240 Transformer, FLEXnet-DC, Mate-3, Hub-10, FW500 AC/DC | 24 x Trojan L16RE-B Batteries 1110ah @ 48v | Honda EU7000is Generator and a pile of "other" Generators | Home-Made PVC solar hot water collector | Custom data logging software http://www.somewhatcrookedcamp.com/monitormate.html
Comments
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Re: Individual Battery Voltages
The typical recommendation is to "equalize" a battery bank if the spread in S.G. is 0.015 or 0.030 or greater... That works out to be around 0.015 to 0.030 volts per cell (for 12 volt battery; 6 cells * 0.015 to 0.030 volt => 0.090 to 0.180 volt per 12 volt bank) difference.
-BillNear San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset -
Re: Individual Battery Voltages
If you are interested theres a guy on the midnite forum currently working on a battery cell monitor. It outputs serial the voltage and temp of each cell.1.8kWp CSUN, 10kWh AGM, Midnite Classic 150, Outback VFX3024E,
http://zoneblue.org/cms/page.php?view=off-grid-solar -
Re: Individual Battery Voltages
Is this the thread?
http://midniteforum.com/index.php?topic=1528.0
-BillNear San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset -
Re: Individual Battery Voltages
Yup, that's the one.
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West Chilcotin, BC, Canada -
Re: Individual Battery VoltagesThe typical recommendation is to "equalize" a battery bank if the spread in S.G. is 0.015 or 0.030 or greater... That works out to be around 0.015 to 0.030 volts per cell (for 12 volt battery; 6 cells * 0.015 to 0.030 volt => 0.090 to 0.180 volt per 12 volt bank) difference.
-Bill
Just so I understand you, so on a 6v battery it would be 3 cells * 0.015 to 0.030 volt => 0.045 to 0.090 volts per 6 volt battery.
Meaning perhaps I am borderline on those two that I have which are 0.08v difference.Off-Grid in Central Florida since 2005, Full-Time since June 2014 | 12 X Sovello 205w panels, 9 X ToPoint 220w panels, 36x ToPoint 225w panels (12,525 watts total) | Custom built single-axis ground mounts | Complete FP2 Outback System: 3 x FM80, 2 x VFX3648, X240 Transformer, FLEXnet-DC, Mate-3, Hub-10, FW500 AC/DC | 24 x Trojan L16RE-B Batteries 1110ah @ 48v | Honda EU7000is Generator and a pile of "other" Generators | Home-Made PVC solar hot water collector | Custom data logging software http://www.somewhatcrookedcamp.com/monitormate.html -
Re: Individual Battery Voltageswestbranch wrote: »Yup, that's the one.
That looks really cool, but from what I read it only works with 2v batteries.
If it worked with 6v batteries I would love to use it!Off-Grid in Central Florida since 2005, Full-Time since June 2014 | 12 X Sovello 205w panels, 9 X ToPoint 220w panels, 36x ToPoint 225w panels (12,525 watts total) | Custom built single-axis ground mounts | Complete FP2 Outback System: 3 x FM80, 2 x VFX3648, X240 Transformer, FLEXnet-DC, Mate-3, Hub-10, FW500 AC/DC | 24 x Trojan L16RE-B Batteries 1110ah @ 48v | Honda EU7000is Generator and a pile of "other" Generators | Home-Made PVC solar hot water collector | Custom data logging software http://www.somewhatcrookedcamp.com/monitormate.html -
Re: Individual Battery Voltages
I think your on a very illusive hunt for any two lead acid batteries to ever have identical anything. There just to many variables to take into account. That's the very reason I got rid of all my shunts and Battery monitors, it'll drive you crazy, like looking for Big Foot. Large differences and trends you can do something about, the small stuff are blips on the screen. -
Re: Individual Battery Voltages
And just to add a note of caution... You are measuring three cells in series... Nothing says that all three cells have low (or high) S.G... One could have low SG and two could have nominal or high SG, and you would never "see" the one low cell voltage in the string.
The old style batteries that had exposed bus bars on the top make checking cells much easier--But made the batteries more difficult to keep clean/sealed... Going with 2 volt cells does have its "charms".
-BillNear San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset -
Re: Individual Battery VoltagesBlackcherry04 wrote: »I think your on a very illusive hunt for any two lead acid batteries to ever have identical anything. There just to many variables to take into account. That's the very reason I got rid of all my shunts and Battery monitors, it'll drive you crazy, like looking for Big Foot. Large differences and trends you can do something about, the small stuff are blips on the screen.
This. In spades.
Temp differences, wire resistance differences ... trying to hunt down fractional Volts between cells ...
Spare me from such an obsession.
If you've got a 5% at rest Voltage difference between batteries, worry. -
Re: Individual Battery VoltagesCariboocoot wrote: »This. In spades.
Temp differences, wire resistance differences ... trying to hunt down fractional Volts between cells ...
Spare me from such an obsession.
If you've got a 5% at rest Voltage difference between batteries, worry.
I agree, perhaps overkill, but at least with this setup I would be able to see if there was a major cell failure which otherwise might not be noticed for some time.
But I do thank everyone for their suggestions and comments. They all bring value.Off-Grid in Central Florida since 2005, Full-Time since June 2014 | 12 X Sovello 205w panels, 9 X ToPoint 220w panels, 36x ToPoint 225w panels (12,525 watts total) | Custom built single-axis ground mounts | Complete FP2 Outback System: 3 x FM80, 2 x VFX3648, X240 Transformer, FLEXnet-DC, Mate-3, Hub-10, FW500 AC/DC | 24 x Trojan L16RE-B Batteries 1110ah @ 48v | Honda EU7000is Generator and a pile of "other" Generators | Home-Made PVC solar hot water collector | Custom data logging software http://www.somewhatcrookedcamp.com/monitormate.html -
Re: Individual Battery Voltages
You can also simply stick your volt meter probes in adjacent cells to read cell voltage. You want to wash the probes well but it works fine. In Fact, somewhere in my junk I have an old analog batter meter, designed to be dropped in the cells.
Icarus
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