My batteries are not reaching 100% because my charging solar controller and charger are prematurely go into float mode.
In November 2023, switched to all Victron BMV 712, 30A blue smart charger and Smart solar controller when I installed 4, Lifeline, AGM, 6v batteries. I selected optiion 2 on the solar controller and didn’t dial in the settings specific to Lifeline batteries.
They have been working well, but when I returned to my boat after 18 month absence, I thought it was a good idea to synchronize them for accuracy.When batteries reached 100% and the amps in, reached ), I pushed the synchronize button.I also used the “expert” mode on the BMV and Smart Solar to reset the settings specific to my batteries, Thats when the fun started.
For the last 3 days, my Smart Solar controller has gone into Float Mode at around 10 AM when the state of charge was between 80 and 86% state of charge and amps in, slowed to 1.5 to 4 amps instead of charging normally at 17amps. If I can I will upoad screen shots of my BMV and Smart Solar controller that I took at 8AM this morning.
If anyone can help, it would be most appreciated!!!
Please note that the last 4 'DAYS" on the chart were actually one day because I turned off and then on the solar controller because it went to float mode at only 84%. According to Lifeline, these are the correct settings. Here are the settings screen shots. Please note that the option II chose “Clear” for the “Battery State of Charge at Reset”. I don’t know if that is correct, there is conflicting advice on that setting.
When adjusted the Peukert value from 1.25 to 1.12, my state of charge dropped from 91% to 82%. Not sure of the exact figures but it was lowered by around 10.
I have tried charging with my genterator and my AC Smart Blue 30A charger. The AC charger also goes into Abosorb and then Float before the batteries are fully charged. The AC charger does increase the amount of amps going into the batteries to around 6. When I try starting the engine and charging with the alternator, it only charges at around 14A instead of 35A.
Thank you so much for your help
Generally, No, the solar charger can be left running. Just make sure that both chargers have the same voltage settings for Absorption and Float voltages.
On the Solar charger these are set to Max of 6 hrs, and adaptive. The 6 hour setting is ok, you can try changing the adaptive to see if you get always 6 hours…(I’ve not done this for some time, so not sure what the options are.)
On the shunt, the reset SOC should be in the 90 - 100% range. Not sure what Clear does.
