What if charging voltage rarely goes above 54.4 volts?

softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,915 ✭✭✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
1) Panels are designed for winter efficiency. 45 degree tilt at 37 degree latitude. 

2) Have a lot of freezers and the largest one seems to be going out. The compressor is usually running. 

I suspect that lead acid batteries may get by with these charging parameters. Have read that AGM batteries prefer to float at full charge for several hours/day.

Educated perspective? 
First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,108 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
     54.4 volts is float voltage. FLA batteries need to see higher voltage to agitate the electrolyte and to keep from stratifying and developing sulphur crystals on the plates
     Are you under paneled and simply not making as much power as you are using? If this is the case your situation will worsen.
     Are your charging setpoints set higher?

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,915 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Thanks, guess things may be OK. Thought float voltage was higher than that. 

    Charging setpoints are factory Outback. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,108 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    softdown said:
    Thanks, guess things may be OK. Thought float voltage was higher than that. 

    Charging setpoints are factory Outback. 
    That is 13.6 x 4 for a 48 volt bank.

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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