Should I Keep Float Charging My Batteries

tampabikeracer
tampabikeracer Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
Hello, all.  I just finished a solar install on my 5th wheel trailer.  I have 1140w of solar panels, and 960ah of batteries.  My rig is in a storage facility until the end of January when we journey to Florida.  Should I leave my solar controller on and continue to keep my batteries full, or is it better for my battery bank to turn off the controller and let them discharge some, then recharge to 100%?  Thanks for any info on this subject.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Depends on what type of batteries are you using?  FLA, AGM LI type, Gel, NiFe, NiCd, or ?
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • tampabikeracer
    tampabikeracer Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭
    #3
    They are Crown flooded lead acid batteries.  I've got eight (6v) of them set up in series-parallel.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Either way for ~ 8 weeks of storage, there is not much to gain by resetting everything...  if you really want to, after it has been  through a good charge, you could reduce the absorb time to... (your choice)... and/or set the V to your Float setting. Then it will sit and Float like it's on Float service,, as long as there are NO PHANTOM LOADS!
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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