What could cause Gel Batteries to whine?

ollyomm
ollyomm Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Current system 2 260w 35V panels, Tracer 45 amp controller. 3 150AH gel batteries (2 years old) running a small off grid house 12 volts
Today my mother reports a whining noise coming from all 3 batteries, 1 bit noisier then others. Voltage was reading 14.1, sunny day, cloud just come in. Controller and all batteries not showing any heat (room temp to touch)
Instructed Mum to connect backup acid batteries to draw some of what I assumed was excess current. Made them bit quieter. Then she disconnected gel batteries and they made more noise.

Previously when was using a faulty controller voltage reached 15.3v which made the batteries make a similar noise

So doesn't seem to be over heating or over charging.
Should I be concerned?
Thanks in advance
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Comments

  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    It could be high frequency pulses, pulse width modulation used to reduce the charging when approaching full charge, is this only occurring late into the charge, or all the time?
    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.
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,642 admin
    #3
    Sounds like gassing/venting with >14.2 volts or so charging. Not a good for GEL (or AGM and other sealed) batteries (permanent loss of water from electrolyte and other issues).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • ollyomm
    ollyomm Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭✭
    #4
    I believe it was early afternoon so probably after bulk charging had finished.
    The batteries state that they need 14.4 for full charge.
    Mcgivor, wouldnt that pulse modulation be a noise that comes from the controller dealing with the excess?
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #5
    If the noise is definitely from the batteries Bill's explanation could be a possibility, sometimes high frequency sounds are hard to pinpoint. 
    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.
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  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #6
    It may be worth checking individual battery voltages at the battery posts. I assume the 14.1v reading was the controller?

    With 3 in parallel, there could be a balance issue developing?
    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
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Most PWM is inaudible, so I would suspect overcharge and popping the vents on the batteries, which is not a good thing,
    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

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