Victron vs Trace Display

[jacwjames]

So a month ago my Trace RC7GS display went crazy and started to repeatedly did a Equalization Charge. I was not going in the coach much but my wife went in and yelled that the panel was beeping and displaying equalizing.
I shut every thing down and started trouble shooting ultimately determining that the display was bad. These are obsolete and pretty much none existent but I got lucky and found a used one and installed and it seems to be working.



BUT when I compare % state of charge with the Victron there is a big difference. I know some of this is setup, Victron has a lot of parameters that can be changed. I found a recommended setting list from one of the large solar installers so I assume it's correct.

For instance, this AM the Victron was 82% and the Trace was 44%. Voltage was 12.4 volts, which tracks well with standard charts for Flooded batteries. Prior to my trip I tested all battery cells with hydrometer, all were good.



I tested voltage starting at the batteries the other day of boon docking all night, voltage at batteries was 12.03 volt, at the fuse going to inverter 12.01, at inverter 12.01 which I think would be acceptable voltage drop. I even had 12.01 at the front drivers side electrical panel. Victron was showing the 12.03 volts.





Does anyone have an explanation/solution on the difference in readings.

[CA in CA]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

So a month ago my Trace RC7GS display went crazy and started to repeatedly did a Equalization Charge. I was not going in the coach much but my wife went in and yelled that the panel was beeping and displaying equalizing.
I shut every thing down and started trouble shooting ultimately determining that the display was bad. These are obsolete and pretty much none existent but I got lucky and found a used one and installed and it seems to be working.



BUT when I compare % state of charge with the Victron there is a big difference. I know some of this is setup, Victron has a lot of parameters that can be changed. I found a recommended setting list from one of the large solar installers so I assume it's correct.

For instance, this AM the Victron was 82% and the Trace was 44%. Voltage was 12.4 volts, which tracks well with standard charts for Flooded batteries. Prior to my trip I tested all battery cells with hydrometer, all were good.



I tested voltage starting at the batteries the other day of boon docking all night, voltage at batteries was 12.03 volt, at the fuse going to inverter 12.01, at inverter 12.01 which I think would be acceptable voltage drop. I even had 12.01 at the front drivers side electrical panel. Victron was showing the 12.03 volts.





Does anyone have an explanation/solution on the difference in readings.

On all battery monitors that are made, the percentage is never accurate. Victron tries the best, as their engineering is second to none. That said, I have seen monitors show 100% when batteries are not nearly charged full.

Victron battery monitors need to be set up correctly and go through a full cycle of charge to be more accurate.

As an installer/engineer, I go by voltage first. The voltage is generally accurate. Voltage will accurately show state of charge. This is very true in LiFePO4 batteries where the discharge voltage curve is relatively flat but it does decline with discharge. All battery monitors show what 100% is but there is no intermediate settings on what 82% is in relation to voltage. JBD LiFepO4 BMS have intermediate settings for voltages in relation to discharge. This makes them a bit more accurate. Battery type, age, brand, chemistry, location, temperature all contribute to what is accurate.

[jacwjames]

Originally Posted by CA in CA

On all battery monitors that are made, the percentage is never accurate. Victron tries the best, as their engineering is second to none. That said, I have seen monitors show 100% when batteries are not nearly charged full.

Victron battery monitors need to be set up correctly and go through a full cycle of charge to be more accurate.

As an installer/engineer, I go by voltage first. The voltage is generally accurate. Voltage will accurately show state of charge. This is very true in LiFePO4 batteries where the discharge voltage curve is relatively flat but it does decline with discharge. All battery monitors show what 100% is but there is no intermediate settings on what 82% is in relation to voltage. JBD LiFepO4 BMS have intermediate settings for voltages in relation to discharge. This makes them a bit more accurate. Battery type, age, brand, chemistry, location, temperature all contribute to what is accurate.

Thanks for this, I kinda figured that and I do pay more attention to voltage vs % charge.



I've been trying to figure out what to set the "Charged Voltage" in the setup up menu. I've read it has to be set differently by battery type, I have flooded. My float charge usually settles in at 13.4 volts. Is that the voltage I should use.



I am on a trip and am doing a lot of boon docking. Driving from point A to B by alternator charges both sets so when I stop both batteries are 100% but it doesn't take long for the readings between the Victron and Trace display to diverge. This AM when the Trace dropped below the 11.8 volt, which is 50%, the trace was ~35%. I've read not to let the battery volt to drop below the 50% level to improve life. As a rule of thumb I don't like to let it drop below 12 volts.
If I boon dock I can run generator any time of day, but in a campground without power I have to worry about quite time, usually 10PM to 8AM. So it could be a challenge.




I've been having to do some creative things to keep battery voltage higher, at night I'll move some frozen gallon jugs from the freezer into the fridge, and then shut the inverter off. By doing this the voltage drops a minimal amount overnight.

I won't run furnace until just before I get out of bed, it was ~51F in LR this morning, which doesn't bother me. Outside temps were 35F, if it gets much colder I'll have to turn on my system heat, consisting of a 300 watt and 225 watt of pad heaters, so I'll have higher power consumption to keep basement warm.


Thanks for the response, always good to learn new things.

[Argosy]

When you said the Victron read 82% and the Trace read 44% I wondered if the Victron was setup with a battery bank twice the size of the Trace. It really wondered when you said the difference becomes apparent after a short time. Maybe the new display changed some of the parameters?

[jacwjames]

Originally Posted by Argosy

When you said the Victron read 82% and the Trace read 44% I wondered if the Victron was setup with a battery bank twice the size of the Trace. It really wondered when you said the difference becomes apparent after a short time. Maybe the new display changed some of the parameters?

I think the setup for both the Trace and Victron are correct, I had my previous settings for the Trace, and I found a setup guide for the Victron use by a solar installer.


I THINK the problem is what the Victron is using for Full Voltage, and then synchronizing it once I get the batteries full. I'll have to wait till I'm plugged in and can get a full charge to float to syncronize and see how it does after that.

[CA in CA]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

Thanks for this, I kinda figured that and I do pay more attention to voltage vs % charge.



I've been trying to figure out what to set the "Charged Voltage" in the setup up menu. I've read it has to be set differently by battery type, I have flooded. My float charge usually settles in at 13.4 volts. Is that the voltage I should use.



I am on a trip and am doing a lot of boon docking. Driving from point A to B by alternator charges both sets so when I stop both batteries are 100% but it doesn't take long for the readings between the Victron and Trace display to diverge. This AM when the Trace dropped below the 11.8 volt, which is 50%, the trace was ~35%. I've read not to let the battery volt to drop below the 50% level to improve life. As a rule of thumb I don't like to let it drop below 12 volts.
If I boon dock I can run generator any time of day, but in a campground without power I have to worry about quite time, usually 10PM to 8AM. So it could be a challenge.




I've been having to do some creative things to keep battery voltage higher, at night I'll move some frozen gallon jugs from the freezer into the fridge, and then shut the inverter off. By doing this the voltage drops a minimal amount overnight.

I won't run furnace until just before I get out of bed, it was ~51F in LR this morning, which doesn't bother me. Outside temps were 35F, if it gets much colder I'll have to turn on my system heat, consisting of a 300 watt and 225 watt of pad heaters, so I'll have higher power consumption to keep basement warm.


Thanks for the response, always good to learn new things.

The battery manufacturer has spec sheets on the battery for voltages, charging and PUKERT, temperature and other items. I would check that first.

My next best recommendation is to go to Lithium. Lead Acid technology is 180 years old or more. Prices on lithium have dropped below lead acid and it's the only way to go. Lead is Dead! I have connections on the best deals on lithium.