New to charging

[gdotts]

I am new to the solar experience. I have 4 (new) -100Ah 12v Feence batteries that I have hooked up to make 24v -200Ah system to charge my 2-300W panels. I had equalized all 4 before I put them together. I had them sitting for 6 months due to a medical problem ....
Charge today: Starting at 8am 26.30V...... my high was at 2pm and 3pm 27.43V....... but it went down to 26.86 at 4pm. Should I have cut off the panels at 3pm at its high and started using my inverter to use up my battery bank?
Thank you!

 

[robbob2112]

You need an active equalizer on each string. It should do at least 10amps. Otherwise the string batteries will drift apart and usage and charging will be problematic if you use more than 80% or less than 20%. Even then you will need to take them apart and put them in parallel for a while to equalize them. The equalizer on each string avoids that problem.

For charging from panels the SCC should cut off the charge when they are full.

 

[gdotts]

You need an active equalizer on each string. It should do at least 10amps. Otherwise the string batteries will drift apart and usage and charging will be problematic if you use more than 80% or less than 20%. Even then you will need to take them apart and put them in parallel for a while to equalize them. The equalizer on each string avoids that problem.

For charging from panels the SCC should cut off the charge when they are full.

Where do I find an active equalizer?

 

[robbob2112]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDF6BQG6

 

[gdotts]

Do I still need to equalize with my Lifepo4 lithium batteries???

 

[robbob2112]

Yes... if you string LFP batteries in series then charge/discharge them they will drift apart because of different internal impedance. Over time the voltage imbalance will get worse with the result of charging cutting off early and discharging stopping before they are empty.