Sol ark 15k charging issues

[jdeanj]

Hey all, new to this and my 1st post.

I’m completely off grid in Canada running a 20kW generator to charge and 9kW of solar panels. I’ve installed 2 x 15kW Sol Ark inverters in parallel and have also installed Narada pb-C VLRA battery bank x 3 in parallel , 2v 600aH x 24. So 48v 1800aH total.


I’ve ran this system in the summer using batt V setting with no real issues. During this winter I’ve had to adjust set points so often due to loads and temp fluctuations that I’ve switched to batt%. I’m trying to get it to operate at 100% charge and drain to 70% then turn on generator to recharge back to 100%. It will only charge to 98% and will continue to drain to 70% and generator will start charging.

However the voltages will drop every charge cycle by a .2v or so. My float is 53.9v. My absorption and equalization is 55.2. My battery empty is 43v. The system has dropped from 72% to 0% then it will charge batteries back up to 56.8v. Runs good for a few days and then drops off again from 72% to 0%, and volt drops by about .2v/charge cycle and repeats this cycle.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jdeanj]

Reference my settings, battery specs and related info

 

[LydMekk]

I find using % is not very exact.
Prefer using voltage for my part.
Always works.

 

[jdeanj]

I find using % is not very exact.
Prefer using voltage for my part.
Always works.

Thx for the reply. I used voltage in the summer it works well. This winter has been a pain to deal with, settings keep needing adjusting to account for load fluctuations. This system is for an off grid resort of sorts. Loads depend on temp as more turns on. Avg. 6000w to spikes of up to 13kW-15kW short duration. So I switched to percentage of left me not have to change settings everyday. Just can't get it to charge to 100% or 55.2. keeps dropping off, then drops to 0% does a full charge and good again for a few days.

 

[Oldphile]

The Sol-Ark doesn't charge to 100% from a generator.

d. From generator; the batteries will charge from a generator until the battery bank accepts 5% of its rated capacity in
Amperes (A). This is equivalent to around 95% state of charge (SOC ).

 

[jdeanj]

The Sol-Ark doesn't charge to 100% from a generator.

d. From generator; the batteries will charge from a generator until the battery bank accepts 5% of its rated capacity in
Amperes (A). This is equivalent to around 95% state of charge (SOC ).

Thanks, I've read this as well. It would be great if you could just get it to operate from 100% to 70% and charge. Any ways I'll keep trying. Do you think maybe getting the absorption and equalization from 55.2 to something higher to accommodate the 95% issue I'm having?

 

[Oldphile]

I have no knowledge of battery charge settings, since I don't currently have batteries. That is soon to be rectified.

I noticed in your screenshots comments from people with LiFeP04 batteries. I wouldn't think those to be relevant since you have lead acid batteries.

 

[myles]

I believe the reason they do this is because the current drops off when approaching full, so you'd be wasting fuel from your generator not running at optimal loading.

Smart in my opinion, if your trying to get it to hit float so you can balance cells or something, run a separate charger from the generator directly