A Forum run by Enthusiasts of MidNite Solar

Other MidNite Electronics => MidNite Battery Capacity Meter => Topic started by: mosolarfan on May 19, 2014, 08:29:40 PM

Title: battery monitor question
Post by: mosolarfan on May 19, 2014, 08:29:40 PM
I installed the bcm (switched version) to a project box that houses the fuse holder and a momentary pushbutton switch.
my KID is set for absorb at 14.8 for 2 hours and reaches float on most days. the red led has never changed to yellow or green.
Is this because of the momentary switch? (flooded batteries, jumper removed)
Title: Re: battery monitor question
Post by: TomW on May 19, 2014, 08:50:23 PM
It dpends how the switch is installed.  If it disconnects the  battery + or - it will never achieve a "full charge" since whenever status.

There is a spot on the circuit board that you power via a switch that just removes power from the LEDs when t is off so will NOT affect  the red green and yellow LEDs.

If that makes sense.

I will see if I can find that photo of how to do it..
Tom
Title: Re: battery monitor question
Post by: TomW on May 19, 2014, 08:54:50 PM
Here it is:

http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/batCapMeterMod.pdf (http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/batCapMeterMod.pdf)

shows exactly how to do it.
Title: Re: battery monitor question
Post by: mosolarfan on May 19, 2014, 09:02:04 PM
red wire from battery + to fuse holder, switch wire at same connection, through switch to yellow switch wire of bcm, other side of fuse holder to bcm red wire black wire from bcm straight to battery -

my switch lead tie in is just on the other side of the breaker per the drawing.
Title: Re: battery monitor question
Post by: TomW on May 19, 2014, 09:05:42 PM
Quote from: mosolarfan on May 19, 2014, 09:02:04 PM
red wire from battery + to fuse holder, switch wire at same connection, through switch to yellow switch wire of bcm, other side of fuse holder to bcm red wire black wire from bcm straight to battery -

my switch lead tie in is just on the other side of the breaker per the drawing.

It can take awhile for the MNBCM to see it has had a full charge. I have seen it happen in one day or several after being powered down doing rewiring / maintenance.

Just give it some time. If it doesn't eventually show it has been charged fully it may be a bad unit.

Tom
Title: Re: battery monitor question
Post by: Westbranch on May 19, 2014, 09:35:08 PM
IIRC the red light means that the battery has not been charged fully for 2 weeks, so it should go to green after a couple of days of a full charge.

However, if the charger is not able to finish the charge the red led will stay on until the full charge is made.

See the little table of Full Charge voltages for each battery type on page 2 near the bottom.  That voltage must be reached for 1 hr to meet the criteria for a full charge...

What type of batteries do you have?