I removed the cover from my Macquarie Retreat 4 days ago after it had been on for 9 months, the Finscan panel displayed the word STARTING straight away, the van has been stood in bright sunlight for 4 days and still has no power , there is no 240 v power where the van is stored, the word STARTING has now disappeared from the screen. Have I ruined the batteries by leaving them unused for so long?
Whenarewethere said
11:11 PM Dec 22, 2020
They won't be quite as good as they were but should be ok. What voltage are they?
Jaahn said
01:32 PM Dec 23, 2020
Hi imner, It does not sound good. If they were mine I would take the batteries out and get them charged, checked and tested at a battery place. What sort of batteries and what solar controller do you have ? The problem with a fancy control panel is they have a small continuous power draw and if that is left for a long time it will flatten the batteries to 0 volts. A solar controller will do that also. You really need a unit which will disconnect the batteries at a safe low voltage if all else fails. Some better solar controllers will do this if wired correctly. Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 23rd of December 2020 03:42:24 PM
Ram Man said
08:24 PM Dec 30, 2020
Hi Imner,
Batteries that are flat the Solar controller isn't going to start off because no current from the Batteries and the controller doesn't know the (Batteries) are connected , but the answer is disconnect the Solar Control from the Panels + wire.
Remove batteries and take them home throw them on a charge and Bob's your Uncle, AMG Batteries don't like being 100% discharged so you have shorten their life by covering up the Solar Panels.
Connect the Batteries 1st then reconnect the Solar Control + lead from the Panels to the Control Unit.
If they are had it, invest in some Lithium Batteries you can drain them 99% without stuffing a shorten life, just check that your Solar Controller is compatible with Lithium Batteries.
Here's the advantage if current system is 2 x 105 AGM Batteries you only need to buy 1x Lithium Battery of equal or slightly greater amperage and the weight is about 3rd roughly.
However read the instructions relevant to the Solar Controller prior to disconnecting anything even if you don't follow them.
Whenarewethere said
09:03 PM Dec 30, 2020
Lead acid batteries have no problems been drained 100%. I have had it happen numerous times in UPS (uninterruptible power supply) & the batteries have lasted for years.
The issue is these batteries were discharged well below 11.8v so more than 100% discharge.
Ram Man said
08:28 AM Dec 31, 2020
Sorry but your wrong they do, everytime you go over 50% of the available amperage drawn, the number of cycles they can be recharged.
(This depends on what cycle life you want out of your brand new battery. BV AGM deep cycle series offer approximately 250 cycles @ 100% DOD (depth of discharge), 500 cycles @ 50% DOD and 1250 cycles @ 30% DOD. The sweet spot is probably around 80% DOD.)
www.batteryvalue.com.au FAQ
-- Edited by Ram Man on Thursday 31st of December 2020 08:30:16 AM
Whenarewethere said
08:55 AM Dec 31, 2020
& if one goes down 100% every now & then it is irrelevant.
Let's say 12 times a year over 5 years.
That is 60 times, that's the purpose of 100% discharge.
In 5 years one is replacing the batteries anyway.
Ram Man said
10:32 AM Dec 31, 2020
So our friend doesn't tell us how old his batteries are or type, so we're making assumptions about issues outlined.
I offered a reasonable solution and some advise should the batteries be dead, but in answer to your comments let me say.
AGM batteries only discharge at the rate of up to 3% per month. Even after 12 months sitting idle they can recharge and go back into full service without any major damage. At this rate of discharge our friend would have 50% discharge and the Solar controller should recognise that and start charging but alas not, It may need to be reset also. Should he have standard deep cycle battery if treated the same way will destroy itself, it will no longer hold a good charge.
At 5 Years replacing a 140Ah 12V of good quality is $750.00 x 2 so $1500.00 that's $300 a year your allowing for batteries, my two Full River 105Ah Batteries are stamped 2009 but they are American, going strong.
Whenarewethere said
12:05 PM Dec 31, 2020
I replace my car & other batteries every 4 years. Just not worth any inconvenience.
LeighW said
04:18 PM Jan 20, 2021
Ram Man wrote:
Sorry but your wrong they do, everytime you go over 50% of the available amperage drawn, the number of cycles they can be recharged.
(This depends on what cycle life you want out of your brand new battery. BV AGM deep cycle series offer approximately 250 cycles @ 100% DOD (depth of discharge), 500 cycles @ 50% DOD and 1250 cycles @ 30% DOD. The sweet spot is probably around 80% DOD.)
www.batteryvalue.com.au FAQ
250X100 =25000Ah in a lifetime
500X50 = 25000Ah in a lifetime
1250X30 =37500Ah in a lifetime
From the figures you gave discharging to 50% or 0% gives the same throughput ie battery delivered the same Ah for its lifetime, calculations based on 100Ah battery.
-- Edited by Ram Man on Thursday 31st of December 2020 08:30:16 AM
They won't be quite as good as they were but should be ok. What voltage are they?
Hi imner,
It does not sound good. If they were mine I would take the batteries out and get them charged, checked and tested at a battery place.
What sort of batteries and what solar controller do you have ?
The problem with a fancy control panel is they have a small continuous power draw and if that is left for a long time it will flatten the batteries to 0 volts. A solar controller will do that also. You really need a unit which will disconnect the batteries at a safe low voltage if all else fails. Some better solar controllers will do this if wired correctly.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 23rd of December 2020 03:42:24 PM
Batteries that are flat the Solar controller isn't going to start off because no current from the Batteries and the controller doesn't know the (Batteries) are connected , but the answer is disconnect the Solar Control from the Panels + wire.
Remove batteries and take them home throw them on a charge and Bob's your Uncle, AMG Batteries don't like being 100% discharged so you have shorten their life by covering up the Solar Panels.
Connect the Batteries 1st then reconnect the Solar Control + lead from the Panels to the Control Unit.
If they are had it, invest in some Lithium Batteries you can drain them 99% without stuffing a shorten life, just check that your Solar Controller is compatible with Lithium Batteries.
Here's the advantage if current system is 2 x 105 AGM Batteries you only need to buy 1x Lithium Battery of equal or slightly greater amperage and the weight is about 3rd roughly.
However read the instructions relevant to the Solar Controller prior to disconnecting anything even if you don't follow them.
Lead acid batteries have no problems been drained 100%. I have had it happen numerous times in UPS (uninterruptible power supply) & the batteries have lasted for years.
The issue is these batteries were discharged well below 11.8v so more than 100% discharge.
Sorry but your wrong they do, everytime you go over 50% of the available amperage drawn, the number of cycles they can be recharged.
(This depends on what cycle life you want out of your brand new battery. BV AGM deep cycle series offer approximately 250 cycles @ 100% DOD (depth of discharge), 500 cycles @ 50% DOD and 1250 cycles @ 30% DOD. The sweet spot is probably around 80% DOD.)
www.batteryvalue.com.au FAQ
-- Edited by Ram Man on Thursday 31st of December 2020 08:30:16 AM
& if one goes down 100% every now & then it is irrelevant.
Let's say 12 times a year over 5 years.
That is 60 times, that's the purpose of 100% discharge.
In 5 years one is replacing the batteries anyway.
So our friend doesn't tell us how old his batteries are or type, so we're making assumptions about issues outlined.
I offered a reasonable solution and some advise should the batteries be dead, but in answer to your comments let me say.
AGM batteries only discharge at the rate of up to 3% per month. Even after 12 months sitting idle they can recharge and go back into full service without any major damage. At this rate of discharge our friend would have 50% discharge and the Solar controller should recognise that and start charging but alas not, It may need to be reset also. Should he have standard deep cycle battery if treated the same way will destroy itself, it will no longer hold a good charge.
At 5 Years replacing a 140Ah 12V of good quality is $750.00 x 2 so $1500.00 that's $300 a year your allowing for batteries, my two Full River 105Ah Batteries are stamped 2009 but they are American, going strong.
I replace my car & other batteries every 4 years. Just not worth any inconvenience.