Community Forums

liteship · 07-23-2011, 08:39 AM

Hi

Do you keep your unit plugged in at home all the time with the charger going? The reason I ask is that my Freedom 458 inverter charger is putting out 14v after the batteries are full(float). From past experience with these 6V batteries 13-13.5V is max otherwise you will cook the batteries. I have talked to Xantrax and they agree but going into the settings thru the remote panel will not reduce the Voltage . So after the battery's are fully charged I unplug the unit or turn of the charger. How do you manage your charging and what Float charge Volts are you getting when full?

liteship

bachler · 07-23-2011, 09:03 AM

As stated in a prior post ,After 9 years I changed my batteries. 3 x 30 HH; I buy my batteries direct from the manufacture, DYNO battery In Seattle. I have been through the plant many times. From what they tell me. Each cell has 2.4 volts in it. So each 6 volt battery (golf cart inc.) Has 7.2 volts when fully charged, A 12 volt battery ,has 14.4 when fully charged. and at that voltage it is not overcharged;;; Now for the benefit for some, the gages may,be calerbrated to show 12 volts.. That is NOT correct. The 12 volt battery charged WILL read 14.4 When properly/fully charged; Life is good..

Old Bounder · 07-23-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bachler

As stated in a prior post ,After 9 years I changed my batteries. 3 x 30 HH; I buy my batteries direct from the manufacture, DYNO battery In Seattle. I have been through the plant many times. From what they tell me. Each cell has 2.4 volts in it. So each 6 volt battery (golf cart inc.) Has 7.2 volts when fully charged, A 12 volt battery ,has 14.4 when fully charged. and at that voltage it is not overcharged;;; Now for the benefit for some, the gages may,be calerbrated to show 12 volts.. That is NOT correct. The 12 volt battery charged WILL read 14.4 When properly/fully charged; Life is good..

Your data is mostly correct, but your understanding of it is certainly not correct.

14.4 volts is, indeed, required to fully charge a 12v battery. The battery electrolyte needs to be "overcharged" to the point of gassing to be fully charged. The battery composition, construction and specific gravity of the electrolyte is DESIGNED such that it will maintain a fully charged voltage of approximately 12.6 after the surface charge is removed.

The surface charge (or "overcharge") will dissipate slowly, by it self, or quickly with a small load, once the charge voltage is removed.

Your gauges and meters ARE NOT calibrated to read 12v on a 14.4v battery.

ANY decent charger will reduce the voltage to <13.6 once a full charge is reached. Continuous 14.4 volts will boil away enough water to begin to ruin a battery in a few weeks.

My first real job was building 6V batteries in a Gould National Battery plant, so I, too, have "toured the factory".

bob109 · 07-23-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liteship

Hi

Do you keep your unit plugged in at home all the time with the charger going? The reason I ask is that my Freedom 458 inverter charger is putting out 14v after the batteries are full(float). From past experience with these 6V batteries 13-13.5V is max otherwise you will cook the batteries. I have talked to Xantrax and they agree but going into the settings thru the remote panel will not reduce the Voltage . So after the battery's are fully charged I unplug the unit or turn of the charger. How do you manage your charging and what Float charge Volts are you getting when full?

liteship

Here's the pdf file of the Owners Manual for the Freedom 458 Inverter/Charger. The file contains all the types and rates of charging which the 458 is capable of. Make sure you select the proper setting for the type of battery you are using i.e. wet cell , AGM etc. That function is performed on the front pannel of your Inverter.

http://www.xantrex.com/documents/Inv...-01_rev-2).pdf

bachler · 07-23-2011, 01:40 PM

The point I was trying To make ;; altho not described correctly;;; The manufacture. Has set it up for a spicific Voltage; THAT I will not state what it is, Because of all the Correctoin posters;; Some may not remember the time when you could Loosen the bolts turn the brush holders and increase your voltage up as high as 24 volts; On a 12 volt generator. AS the regulater only controled the amperage;; IT is only in resent years they installed a Voltage meater in most Vechiles; rather then the old amp gage; Now you can ask which is better. That also is up to the user; ;; Life is good , and I DO NOT DISEGREE WITH AND ONE.. I have a bit more stature then that ; life is still good

Gary RVRoamer · 07-24-2011, 11:04 AM

There are differences in the recommendations from major battery manufacturers.
Deka in their Battery Tech Ref says that float charge voltage should be 2.25-2.30v per cell, which is 13.5-13.8v. Charge voltage is 2.35v/cell, or 14.1v. They say AGMs can run a bit higher, up to 14.6v.

Trojan recommends a bit different, float charging at 13.2v for flooded cells and 13.5 for AGM. Charge voltage for flooded cells is 14.8v and AGMs at 13.8-14.4v.

My Xantrex RV2500 likes to do 14.4v for charging and 13.6v for float and my Trojan AGMs seem happy enough. I'll let you know in a couple years if their lifetime is affected (they are 3 years old now).