question

axisential avatar image
axisential asked

Easysolar 3000 - battery equalisation

We have an Easysolar 3000/24/70 hooked up to 1000W of panels and 300Ah of AGM batteries@ 24V. Have been running this full time for 18 months. Have never run an equalisation cycle in this time, and have a few questions:

1. Is equalisation necessary with AGM?

2. Can the equalisation cycle run from solar, and can the system continue to be used while it's in progress?

3. Will it happily deal with 2x 12V batteries in parallel?

4. How long does the cycle take, and what does it actually do?


Thanks in advance!

EasySolar All-in-One
2 |3000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

1 Answer
Alexandra avatar image
Alexandra answered ·

AGM batteries don't normally need an equalization. But most of battery manufacturers such as Discover specifically say not to. You should check with the manufacturers of your batteries.

Equalizing lead acid batteries is a process designed to de-sulfate the battery plates by carrying out a controlled overcharge. Battery plates tend to build up a sulfate coating over time which then hinders the chemical action between the electrolyte and the plate. By equalizing the battery the outer layer of the plate, including the sulfate coating, is blown off, allowing all the surface area of the plates to interact with the electrolyte. It also causes the electrolyte to bubble and in wet cell batteries this mixes up the acid and distributes it evenly throughout the cell. this bubbling of the electrolyte is the reason why AGM (dry out prematurely) or gel (get small bubbles along the plate preventing chemical reaction) dont normally get equalized. Again check with the manufacturer.

Equalization can run off solar no problem. The Victron MPPTs have the settings for it and for scheduling it automatically. Length of equalization can be set but is determined by battery temperature and system load as well.

1 comment
2 |3000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

Alexandra avatar image Alexandra ♦ commented ·

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Book-Energy-Unlimited-EN.pdf

chapter 2 talks about batteries more in depth if you are interested in knowing more.

0 Likes 0 ·