Inverter/House Bank Question

[bobk]

I have a 2.5 KW Victron Inverter/Charger (2006) and a house bank of 6 Workaholic golf cart batteries, also 2006. I checked the bank with a hydrometer and topped up the water in September and and all looked good, but on the trip south I noticed the charge function seemed to be faster and then this morning, the battery bank dropped low enough to shut down the inverter after 7.5 hours overnight. The only things on were the refrigerator freezer and the under counter refrig. This used to be able to go 10 hours easy.

Am I loosing the batteries, or is there possibly an inverter issue? Suggestions?

Bobk
Chateau de Mer
1981 48MY
lying Slade Creek, NC

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The plates are getting sulfated up. It's time for an equalize charge.

 

[Pascal]

At 5 years your batteries are probably getting there... Equalizing may help but 5 years is usually what i get

I have a 16 battery bank here on the 70 footer i run which I installed in may 08. A important as age, they have been deep cycled (to 50/60%) over 500 times and we de getting about 20/25% less autonomy although it's always hard to compare since there are many factors due to the number of things they run (refrigeration settings, nr of electomics on, lights...)

 

[bobk]

Thanks Guys. The one down side to the Victron is you need to hook a lap top to it to do something like equalize and then the instructions are not clear. But I'll give it a shot. I'd rather wait until I'm back home before changing the batteries.

Bobk

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Bob,
If you have a manual charger that you can hook up, you could equalize with that. You'll just need a hydrometer to monitor the charge level.

 

[bobk]

Bob,
If you have a manual charger that you can hook up, you could equalize with that. You'll just need a hydrometer to monitor the charge level.

Good thought. I only have the original equipment charger and a simple small one for the dink battery which probably not suitable. But I can borrow a bigger one once I get back to Port St. Lucie.

Bobk

 

[Tim Powell]

Good thought. I only have the original equipment charger and a simple small one for the dink battery which probably not suitable. But I can borrow a bigger one once I get back to Port St. Lucie.

Bobk

Bob
If i read your first post correctely you have 6 golf cart batteries . I belive they are 6 volts each that means you have 36 volts that is what the golf carts use. Find or borrow a golf cart charger that will cure the charge problen usually one around most mariners. They are plug ins just take the plug off. tim

 

[bobk]

Bob
If i read your first post correctely you have 6 golf cart batteries . I belive they are 6 volts each that means you have 36 volts that is what the golf carts use. Find or borrow a golf cart charger that will cure the charge problen usually one around most mariners. They are plug ins just take the plug off. tim

Tim, My set up is wired to provide 12 volts so need a good 12 V charger unless I can figure out the Victron.

Bobk

 

[Boatnut]

Bob
If i read your first post correctely you have 6 golf cart batteries . I belive they are 6 volts each that means you have 36 volts that is what the golf carts use. Find or borrow a golf cart charger that will cure the charge problen usually one around most mariners. They are plug ins just take the plug off. tim

If you are going to use a golf cart charger be politite to your neighbors, and yourself. Automobile chargers golf cart chargers and the like are not isolated, severe zinc loss may occur. Many boaters trying to save money use such chargers and are the cause of many stray current problems. IN most good marinas the use of such chargers is not allowed.

 

[bobk]

If you are going to use a golf cart charger be politite to your neighbors, and yourself. Automobile chargers golf cart chargers and the like are not isolated, severe zinc loss may occur. Many boaters trying to save money use such chargers and are the cause of many stray current problems. IN most good marinas the use of such chargers is not allowed.

Is this an issue if the house bank is disconnected from the boat wiring while charging?

Bobk

 

[Boatnut]

Is this an issue if the house bank is disconnected from the boat wiring while charging?

Bobk

It won't be a problem, just be sure to disconnect both the positive and the negative, problem is a lot of peole tend to not do this or figure the heck with it, and just reconnect and leave the charger there.

 

[Tim Powell]

If you are going to use a golf cart charger be politite to your neighbors, and yourself. Automobile chargers golf cart chargers and the like are not isolated, severe zinc loss may occur. Many boaters trying to save money use such chargers and are the cause of many stray current problems. IN most good marinas the use of such chargers is not allowed.

I thought he was talking a one time charge in a scrape cituation. I certainly did not mean full time or replace with (please note i said borrow) TIM

 

[bobk]

Guys, I'm a bit red faced. It turns out the Victron inverter/charger does an equalization automatically once a week. I have seen the thing go from float to absorption on occasion with out realizing it was equalizing.

But on further checking, I found one cell in each of two of the six golf cart batteries was low on water (low as in just at the top of the plates). I'm back at home base now and re-checked and again found two low cells. Now, trying to remain the cheap champ (at least vs. Walt P) any ideas on how to fix the two batteries? About 50 years ago while a poor grad student with two kids I had a car battery go bad and I drained it, washed out the cell with a strong blast from a garden hose and re-filled with the electrolite. The battery was only a couple of years old, but lasted a couple more years. Has anyone tried this recently? Again, these are a bit over five years old.

Bobk
Chateau de Mer
Lying Port St. Lucie

PS, these batteries are about 50% more expensive now than when I bought them.

 

[GJH]

Once a week sounds a little frequent, especially if you are not using them much. Once every month or two, maybe, if getting discharged/recharged regularly. May explain the cells getting low.

 

[magnawake]

Good thread. Keep us posted. I'm fixin to install an inverter and I need to learn all I can bout batteries. Bobk, glad yall made it back safe. Sorry I missed you in Southport. Maybe next time. Next year I plan on heading South. Who know's, maybe work at little at St. Lucie Nuclear Plant, then go to the Bahamas. I know we have some people waiting in Stuart for a weather window. It seems like a great place to lay up.

 

[Pascal]

Are you sure it equalizes every week? Usually before equalizing you re supposed to top off the cells and leave the caps off because of the gazing.

"Float to absorption " is not the same as equalization.

 

[bobk]

Are you sure it equalizes every week? Usually before equalizing you re supposed to top off the cells and leave the caps off because of the gazing.

"Float to absorption " is not the same as equalization.

Pascal, that's what I found in the on-line owners manual. I'm still searching for my hard copy. They show the voltage being pushed up to something higher than float, but I don't recall the value.

Bobk

 

[fissioneng]

Pascal, that's what I found in the on-line owners manual. I'm still searching for my hard copy. They show the voltage being pushed up to something higher than float, but I don't recall the value.

I think what you're reading about is what Victron calls "repetitive absorption" during periods of low usage. I have seen where Victron calls that "equalization" in their literature, but it really isn't, IMO. Equalization is usually at 16 volts or so, the Victron mode only goes up to 15 volts. Perhaps your model doesn't have that feature.

Not sure what model you have, but as far as I know, if you have the feature, you need to intentionally force it into equalization mode like most chargers. That is because you should disconnect all the loads first, since it raises the voltage higher than some devices can tolerate. Lots of H gas during this mode and it will also set off your CO monitors if you have them.

If you have questions, I would call Chris Richmond at their US HQ in Maine or the dealer you bought it from.