I have a Classic 150 with PV and a battery. I recently purchased a new battery from Renogy (specs here: https://www.renogy.com/content/RBT200GEL12-G1/GEL200-Datasheet.pdf (https://www.renogy.com/content/RBT200GEL12-G1/GEL200-Datasheet.pdf)).
I am trying to come up with settings for the Classic to properly use this battery. The spec sheet and the Classic settings don't line up nice...
I've come up with these values, but I'm just not sure. I don't want to kill this battery.
absorb volts 14.3
absorb time 84 minutes
float voltage 13.7
equalization 14.2
equalize time 1 hour
auto equalize interval 365 days
equalize retry 2
end amps 4
current limit 60
Any opinions? Does this make sense?
I hugely appreciate any help!
You don't usually equalize gel batteries so turn off equalization and set equalization to same as absorb voltage just in case it ever gets turned on by accident.
I see in specs they don't show any higher equalize voltage anyway. no difference in their specs to just normal charging for equalizing anyway.
About two hours is usually good enough for absorb time if battery is warm and other conditions are okay .
Do you have a whizbang on your system ? If so you can use end amps and if so set the absorb time to 2 or 3 hours. It will end absorb much sooner than that. You will just have to watch it and see how it goes. There may be a bit of break in so you can run the battery down lower than normal a few times to get it up to full capacity. A lead acid battery lasts much longer if you only take 20% of capacity out of it .
Their charge graph sort of shows a bit different than their specs.
But you can use their specs a
Absorb 14.2 to 14.4 v ( your 14.3v is okay - usually start off with lower limits on newer battery and raise them some as battery ages or if it is colder)
Float 13.7v fine
set the temperature compansation for -3mv ( kid will multiply it by number of cells to get the temp compensation they say in the specs)
you won't have to worry about current limit with your setup .
Lead acid batteries are very tolerant of some abuse so don't worry. Lithium are the batteries you have to worry about more.
All gel type batteries are similar so you can compare to other companies info too
here is one example
https://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/wp-content/uploads/Renewable-Energy-Charging-Parameters-1913.pdf
http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0919.pdf
Larry