System can't keep up after upgrades and reconfiguration

[syclonedriver]

On the two newer batteries - went through bulk, absorption and float, then manually equalized (one hour) - moved connections over to older batteries for more charging and let the two newer ones rest for a couple of hours.

6.7v on each battery
Tested SG on each cell, even trying your trick to stir up the water. All cells were basically 1.210 or just below that.

So now what? Add acid?

As a general rule you don't add acid. I know its been done, I looked for a tech advice on the subject at work and couldn't find it. I didn't however find an old glass bottle of acid concentrate.
At work we have some flooded batteries still in service that were manufactured 03/1982. You read the correctly 1982.

 

[Wellbuilt]

they don’t need to rest , you have to keep EQing
when a battery’s gets sulfated it will cycle thru the charging fast , then that is where the EQ starts knocking the sulfate off the plats .
Your charge is up a little you have to keep EQing go thru the regular charge again then eq as log as you can .
One hour is no where near long enough time .
I’m thinking 6 hours if you can , if you louse the sun just start over on eq in the morning .
Watch the temp the battery should be warm not hot 🥵.
6.7 is just Service charge 6.4 is full charge
Nooooooo don’t add acid .
You need to check the acid every few hours , at some point the sg will stop going up .
If it dosent go up at all in 2 or 3 hours you are done .
Look in side the cells you really need to get them fizzing .
Yo can rase you absorb voltage up to 12.9 temporary just check for heat .

 

[Wellbuilt]

Adding acid dosent really help any way the acid you started with is stuck on the plates if you can’t eq it back into the electrolyte the part of the plate that is covered is 💀 dead .
Your power to even charge 2 battery’s in minimal it will take time .
A 12 vote charger should really help your cause , you can charge them early then start eq when the sun comes up .

 

[Sgt Raven]

Adding acid dosent really help any way the acid you started with is stuck on the plates if you can’t eq it back into the electrolyte the part of the plate that is covered is 💀 dead .
Your power to even charge 2 battery’s in minimal it will take time .
A 12 volt charger should really help your cause , you can charge them early then start eq when the sun comes up .

If he stays somewhere with shore power or has a generator, most RVs have a built in 12V charger.

 

[dixonge]

If he stays somewhere with shore power or has a generator, most RVs have a built in 12V charger.

See post #37
Post in thread 'System can't keep up after upgrades and reconfiguration'
https://diysolarforum.com/threads/s...pgrades-and-reconfiguration.27743/post-332817

 

[dixonge]

cloudy day - so non good equalizing today. Basically I'm going to end up spending $200 for an RV park and a charger, just to diagnose the state of the batteries. Could be for nothing. FML

 

[Wellbuilt]

Cloudy is ok try to equalizer
the Equalization takes place with raised voltage but it doesn’t need a lot of amps so it might work
rave gave me a idea , if you could run a jumper between the house bank and the off grid solar bank .
You could charge that way .
Even if it’s 25’ away a 12g extension can put some power in the batteries.
Just keep your eye on it .
I don’t know if I would drop 200buck to stay some where , that’s half way to a new bank .
I find it hard to believe some one in your group dosent have a charger on hand
Just plug it into you generator ?

 

[syclonedriver]

cloudy day - so non good equalizing today. Basically I'm going to end up spending $200 for an RV park and a charger, just to diagnose the state of the batteries. Could be for nothing. FML

Run the generator already! Your neighbors will understand or they can "just get over it".

People in the boating world complain about generators all the time. 0700 in the morning isn't the right time, 0900 is better. Give them a heads-up. Make them breakfast or something to ease their pain, but run the generator already!

PS If you added too much water to the batteries the SG will be low.

 

[Wellbuilt]

Maybe you could take the battery’s back to sams club and tell them they died , ask them to try to charge them ?
They can hook the battery’s up charge them to full and test them .
Then you will know what you have .

 

[Wellbuilt]

If money’s tight
The RV golf cart guys are all ways swaping out good battery’s for new at sams club .
i bet you could fish around in there return pile and find 4 usable batteries .
Most of the dime battery die one or two at a time the other 6 or 4 are still good 😊
my sams has a pile of battery’s out side on pallets there are lots af GC battery’s there

 

[syclonedriver]

Look in to a Blue Seas automatic charging relay. This will allow you to charge with the vehicle alternator, generator or shore power.

Notice how many charge sources the following have.
1. My home has 3.
2. MY 5th wheel had 4.
3. My boat has 3.
4. The telephone offices that I maintain have 2.

 

[dixonge]

Run the generator already! Your neighbors will understand or they can "just get over it".

There is no connection from the generator to the battery bank. I could run it all day but it wouldn't help.

PS If you added too much water to the batteries the SG will be low.

I filled them up to the bottom of the fill neck, allowing enough room for gases to still come up through the slot.

 

[time2roll]

There is no connection from the generator to the battery bank. I could run it all day but it wouldn't help.

Simple battery charger to connect if needed could really help in a difficult situation.

 

[dixonge]

I find it hard to believe some one in your group dosent have a charger on hand
Just plug it into you generator ?

A couple of people may, need to ask around. But still couldn't plug it into the generator. No plugs on it! (it's an onboard generator from the factory) - but could run genny and plug into an outdoor AC outlet.

 

[dixonge]

If money’s tight

it's not, really. We retired early in large part due to frugalness. Hard to turn it off once you get here, though...

 

[syclonedriver]

There is no connection from the generator to the battery bank. I could run it all day but it wouldn't help.

I filled them up to the bottom of the fill neck, allowing enough room for gases to still come up through the slot.

I understand that you don't currently have a connection from the charger to second bank, but you need to solve that. There are many good ACRs available. You have two other distinct charge sources that you continue to ignore. Redundancy is key.

 

[dixonge]

I understand that you don't currently have a connection from the charger to second bank, but you need to solve that. There are many good ACRs available. You have two other distinct charge sources that you continue to ignore. Redundancy is key.

I definitely lack redundancy! I also tend to learn by bashing my own head into a wall vs. learning from others LOL

My only concern w/ ACRs is having three phases that the deep cycle batteries need.

 

[dixonge]

A fellow boondocker (w/ several years experience RV-ing, internationally) gives his batteries a boost by connecting a charger to his car battery on one end and his battery bank on the other, then idling the car for a couple of hours. I'm having trouble finding a device like this.

 

[Wellbuilt]

There is no connection from the generator to the battery bank. I could run it all day but it wouldn't help.

I filled them up to the bottom of the fill neck, allowing enough room for gases to still come up through the slot.

Filling them to the slot is perfect ,👍 you may not have enough power to mix the electrolyte .
Are the battery’s fizzing when you are charging ?
Do they get a little warm .

 

[Wellbuilt]

A couple of people may, need to ask around. But still couldn't plug it into the generator. No plugs on it! (it's an onboard generator from the factory) - but could run genny and plug into an outdoor AC outlet.

Yes that would be a big help .
Most car chargers will just burn out charging off grid battery’s .