Local App - SNAFU :-|

[dgd]

Default parameters are very conservative so they will not damage AGM or Gel Cells.  It is IMPOSSIBLE for the logs to ACCURATELY show state of charge. Any electronic component that tells you state of charge IS lying to you. It is not the fault of the device, it is just the fact there is no way to keep track of the variables of charge/discharge rate, temperature, Peukerts equasion, battery age...... The list of variables you would need to track is quite long. THE ONLY WAY TO ACCURATELY CHECK STATE OF CHARGE IS WITH A HYDROMETER.

True, with flooded lead acid batteries. But as different technology batteries become more prevalent there is no realistic alternative other than to use electronics, a battery monitor, to obtain a reasonable indication of the battery SOC.
I don't often use a hydrometer but use the battery cell voltage as a good indication of SOC for day to day monitoring.. but this indicator does not work with Lithium cells 

dgd

[Lya72]

News :

Today : no solar, just 0.4Kw produced

Just a question : What is your worst day production in Winter with your installation ??
In January, I have 10 days at 0.1Kw produced with 4 panels totalling 960W, facing South, without snow but with rain.



At 16:00, SG at 1.18, charger plugged

At 23:00 SG always at 1.18


Yann

[Westbranch]

Correction... ? ...

Today : no solar, just 0.4KwHr? produced

Just a question : What is your worst day production in Winter with your installation ??
In January, I have 10 days at 0.1KwHr? produced with 4 panels totaling 960W, facing South, without snow but with rain.

Yann, I would not expect your little charger to make much difference to the SG , most (all?) of its output would be going to the constant loads

When the sun does shine do you have any shadows on the panels?

[Westbranch]

Yann, can you please add a signature line with you system details so we do not have to search through all your posts for them, thanks.

[dgd]

At 23:00 SG always at 1.18

Yann,

you seem to be missing the point that while talking about data logs,  pv input and weather at your location, your batteries are soon going
to be damaged, maybe beyond repair.
A 4 amp charger, although better than nothing, will not recover your batteries. They need a decent charge at 31 to 32voltss for a few hours 4 to 6 probably and the only way you will achieve this now is with a generator. As I posted before borrow or hire one, this WILL be cheaper than finding you have to replace the batteries.

dgd

[Westbranch]

dgd, RIGHT, he does need a better charger, and it appears that he does have mains power that he has the 4A charger plugged into.

Yann you can also charge one battery at a time if you have a larger 12 Volt charger available.

You MUST get them recharged as SOON AS POSSIBLE before it is too late.

[SolarMusher]

Hi Guys,
I'm afraid that Yann has not really understood all of your posts  .
So, sorry for trying to explain in French, I'll translate if you want but basically it's what's you guys are desperately trying to explain.

Yann,
Ton petit chargeur n'est pas assez puissant pour recharger et égaliser ces batteries. Tu es en train de les égratigner avec ce chargeur 4A. Tu vas perdre ces batteries et celà va te coûter pas mal plus cher que d'acheter un chargeur 24V/25A. Une électrolyte à 1.185 veut dire en clair que tes batteries sont à la limite de ne plus être récupérable, à toi de voir.
Essaies de répondre aux questions que les gars te posent sinon sans réponse de ta part, ils vont lâcher les uns après les autres.
dgd te demande si tu as contrôlé/pesé ton électrolyte après la journée de charge où ton  Classic est passé en Float et si oui quels en étaient les résultats? C'est une trés bonne question et une réponse nous donnerait une idée précise de l'état de sulfatation de tes batteries.
West te demande de mettre en signature de tes messages les composantes précises de ton système pour que tout le monde s'y retrouve. Il te demande ausssi des précisions sur le type de chargeur que tu as et te conseille un moniteur de batterie Midnite sympa et pas cher pour mieux gérer ton système: voir http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/MNBCM12.13a.pdf

Excuse me guys,
Erik

[TomW]

Erik;

Bravo! Second languages are tough and can make for interesting threads. Hopefully that helps him.

I only know 2 languages. English and Bad English so my hat is off to anyone who can communicate in  more than one!

Hope it helps get him on track.

Tom

[Westbranch]

Erik, that was a good summary...
I sometimes translate in my head literally and I am reminded now  that 'ask' translates to demande 'en francais'.  Too many years since high school...
ps je ne parles pas francais.
Eric

[dgd]

Erik,
Thanks for seeing the need and stepping up to fill it.
dgd

[Lya72]

Hi,

Code Select Expand


@Erik,
Tout d'abord, Merci pour ton effort de traduction.
N'oublies pas qu'il y a le décalage horaire qui fait que je ne réponds pas instantanément et aussi que je ne suis pas tout le temps entre mon ordinateur et mon Classic.

Pour dgd, j'avais répondu en précisant qu'à 16 heures, l'electrolyte était à 1.18 juste après la fin de la période de Float. Mais effectivement, il fallait aussi regarder mon graphique des voltages joint (IMG003466) , pour repérer que la période de Float s'était terminé à 16 heures.
A 23 heures, après 7 heures de charge, il était toujours à 1.18.

Ce matin, après 19 heures de charge, à 11:00, il est encore à 1.18.
Je joint une photo du chargeur, et le graphique des voltages de la matinée ainsi que le relevé d'electrolyte de ce matin à 11:00.

Sinon, j'ai aussi mis à jour la signature de mon profil Forum.

Donc, en début d'après-midi, je vais séparer les batteries en 2 blocs de 12 Volts chacun et essayer la charge d'un bloc.

Yann


Hi,

@ Erik,
First of all, Thank you for your translation effort.
Do not forget that there is a time difference which is why I do not respond instantly and also that I'm not all the time between my computer and Classic.

For dgd, I replied stating that at 16 hours (04:00PM) the electrolyte  was to 1.18 just after the end of the Float period . But actually, it was also necessary to look at my chart attached voltages (IMG003466) to locate the float period ended at 16 hours.
Yesterday, at 23 hours, after 7 hours of charging, it was still 1.18.

This morning, after 19 hours of charging, at 11:00AM, it is still 1.18.
I attached a picture of the charger, and the graph of voltages in the morning and the electrolyte statement this morning at 11:00.


So, early afternoon, I'll separate batteries in 2 blocks of 12 Volts and try to charge each block.


Otherwise, I also updated my profile signing Forum.


Do not hesitate to ask, if possible I will reply.

Yann

[Halfcrazy]

So no matter what the SG always shows 1.18? Are you sure the Hygrometer is ok? The float is not hitting the top is it?

Ryan

[SolarMusher]

Thanks all for your understanding,
Not worth, Tom, as French is my first language but it made me a bit nervous to spend 1hr30 (typing laboriously on my keyboard at 6hr30 am  ) trying to explain Varimax clearly in a few words, and read in the evening that the only thing Yann seems to remember from all of our posts is that a simple 4amps trickle charger will do the job  .
I've never written such a long letter to my wife  .
Erik
Yann,
Tu perds ton temps avec ce chargeur, c'est un chargeur d'appoint pour garder une batterie chargée alors que pendant ce temps tes batteries se dégradent. 4x batteries te coûteront pas mal plus chère qu'un petit chargeur Iota 24V/25A dont tu auras besoin chaque année en automne/hiver.
You're wasting your time with this small trickle charger, it has been designed to hold float charge on small 100Ah car batteries.
In the meantime, your batteries are dying if not done. 4x battery will cost more than a small Iota 24V/25A charger that you will need every year and each fall/winter.
Erik

[Lya72]

Hi ERIK,

Sorry for the time loose, we are in the same "galere" when you must translate something and when your editor automatically replaces your english Words by the approximative same words in French with accents (the became thé, a became à) (you must retype every two words !!), so each post is during 1/2 hour.


NO, I understand the urgency but here in France, it's the end of the week and no shops are open to rent/buy a bigger charger.


So, I'm doing with the charger that I already have (a 10A charger in 12V and 5A in 24V )

I can't use the Classic because it's raining and the production in watts is ZERO !!


But good news, after separing the batteries in two blocks, the first block is now jumping to 15.7 Volts and the charger delivers 7A in these two batteries (see photos enclosed, if you are connected !!).



Hi Ryan,

Actually, we are saving the batteries with a charger, without the Classic use since yesterday 16:00.
When we will get Batteries SG up to 1.22, 1.25, I will restart using the Classic, but before, I'm waiting.

Thanks to all.

Yann

[SolarMusher]

So, early afternoon, I'll separate batteries in 2 blocks of 12 Volts and try to charge each block.

Yann, inutile de t'acharner, charger tes batteries en deux séries de 12V ne donnera aucun résultat, celà ne doublera pas la puissance de ton chargeur! Tu auras toujours le même ampérage de charge à 12V qu'à 24V. Ça ne sert à rien!
Ryan a raison, faits attention quand tu prends une mesure avec ton pèse-acide à ne pas trop le remplir pour que la tête du flotteur ne touche pas le fond du tube.
Splitting this bank is not a great idea, it won't add more amps at 12V. You will always have the same amps and poor result with 12 or 24V settings, no matter which one you choose. Not great!
Ryan maybe right, you'd better check your hydrometer to be sure its float doesn't hit the plastic cover
Erik