Community Forums

Stan&Jacquie · 01-14-2015, 09:36 AM

Checked my coach in outdoor storage yesterday and noticed the voltage meter was reading 15.7 volts. I store the unit with the battery switches to the coach and the engine both turned off. Solar panels still provide charging.

Is this voltage harmful to the batteries?

I thought my Trimetric charge controller would limit this. What's wrong?

BFlinn181 · 01-14-2015, 10:38 AM

What's the condition of the batteries? Have you checked the water levels in them? If you were constantly charging at 15.7 v I'd expect so see cooked batteries. Contact Bogart Engineering (makers of Trimetric Controllers) and ask them - - - after taking voltage readings with a second voltmeter just to be sure the display on the controller is accurate.

OldToolmaker · 01-14-2015, 10:50 AM

If your solar is being controlled by a smart charger you might be seeing a short equalizing charge. one that is intended to stir the electrolyte in the batteries.

If your batteries are full up and you see 15.7V on a steady basis, well, that's not a good thing.

wa8yxm · 01-14-2015, 02:20 PM

You checked the battery voltage while they were disconnected?

I would not allow that condition to continue I would disconnect at the battery. And get your charge controller checked.

TQ60 · 01-14-2015, 08:07 PM

Steps...

1. Check voltmeter to confirm correct.
2. Check water level.
3. Full inspection of batteries including hydrometer.
4. Load test.

OldToolmaker · 01-15-2015, 02:38 PM

TQ60 maybe someone should ask if Stan&Jacquie have a charge controller for their solar panels in the first place? My questions are thiese:
Is there really 15.7V present on the batteries? If yes, then,:
Where is the 15.7V electricity coming from?

BFlinn181 · 01-15-2015, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldToolmaker

TQ60 maybe someone should ask if Stan&Jacquie have a charge controller for their solar panels in the first place? My questions are thiese:
Is there really 15.7V present on the batteries? If yes, then,:
Where is the 15.7V electricity coming from?

Don't need to ask, the OP stated in first post they have a Trimetric Charge Controller. It's a product by Bogart Ind.

Bogart Engineering | manufacturer of the TriMetric battery monitor which measures volts, amps and amp-hours for battery systems

TQ60 · 01-15-2015, 03:15 PM

I stand by my post...

A voltage that high needs attention but voltmeter needs to be confirmed first then continue.

Based on findings next steps can be determined but nothing is relevant until we confirm readings are accurate and condition of batteries.

BFlinn181 · 01-15-2015, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TQ60

I stand by my post...

A voltage that high needs attention but voltmeter needs to be confirmed first then continue.

Based on findings next steps can be determined but nothing is relevant until we confirm readings are accurate and condition of batteries.

As did I in post #2. It wouldn't be out of the question to get 15.7 v or more out of a solar array large enough to have a Trimetric controller.

TQ60 · 01-15-2015, 03:48 PM

Agree...voltage is not out of line but we need to start at voltmeter then work outward.

Have seen a few too high reading voltmeters of late that can waste a lot of time.

A voltage that high for any length of time would wipe out the battery.

nothermark · 01-15-2015, 04:13 PM

FWIW as in I don't know but my first question would be where the disconnects are relative to the charge controller and sensing circuit. If the batteries are turned off. That could be the charger trying to get current through non existent batteries. In the same vein if the charger is trying to do constant current and there is some extra resistance in the line it can up the voltage to get the current. All that would have me checking the battery posts with a DMM. Go from there.

OldToolmaker · 01-15-2015, 04:27 PM

O-kay TQ60, maybe a good question would be: Does the OP have one of these: SC-2030 Solar Charger â€” 30 Amps Max- 12 or 24V PWM type | Bogart Engineering
?
Or is the solar panel running wide open into the batteries when the sun is out?

LVJ58 · 01-18-2015, 08:37 PM

We store our coach at home in our driveway. Our single solar panel is rated at 110 watts with a Blue Sky Solar Boost 2000E 25 amp controller which includes a battery equalizing mode.

The Blue Sky manual recommends the charge voltage to be set at 14v. I leave both house & chassis battery disconnect switches in the ON position.

The controller also has a switch to display charge amperage. When batteries are fully charged amperage reading is 1.5-1.8 amps.

We've had the solar system since 2005 and to date it's performed flawlessly.

Let us know when you get your solar charge issue resolved..

Best of luck & safe travels..

TQ60 · 01-18-2015, 09:40 PM

Your solar controller indicates 14 volts but what does your battery sheet indicate?

Battery sheet trumps all other things as they do not matter.

Most batteries look for 2.25 VPC or 13.5 VDC total aproximate volts for float.

Some batteries a little more others a little less.

14.0 is only 0.5 higher but it may result in more water consumption if the battery is not happy with the voltage.