batteries again

[petulantchild]

I have a sailing boat with a 24 volt system. Recently my batteries have begun charging at 30 volts. On the alternator, through a regulator, on shore power through the charger and by the generator through the charger. They are gel batteries, supposed to charge at 14.4 volts for 12 volt and 28.8 at 24. The battery bank is 4 years old and well cared for. I live full time on the boat so the batteries are well used but never over discharged. If it was just the alternator or charger I would look there but since it is all forms of charging I am stumped. I don't want to replace the batteries because they are expensive and I am cheap. They hold their charge and work as they should. What have I done wrong?? Please give me the benefit of your wisdom.

Thanks

 

[halcyon]

I have a sailing boat with a 24 volt system. Recently my batteries have begun charging at 30 volts. On the alternator, through a regulator, on shore power through the charger and by the generator through the charger. They are gel batteries, supposed to charge at 14.4 volts for 12 volt and 28.8 at 24. The battery bank is 4 years old and well cared for. I live full time on the boat so the batteries are well used but never over discharged. If it was just the alternator or charger I would look there but since it is all forms of charging I am stumped. I don't want to replace the batteries because they are expensive and I am cheap. They hold their charge and work as they should. What have I done wrong?? Please give me the benefit of your wisdom.

Thanks

How are you measuring the voltage ?

The battery will not increase the voltage, maximum voltage is set by the charge source regulator, sounds like a earth problem.

You may have to do the add a bit of wire to the multimeter probe job.

Brian

 

[VicS]

Voltmeter reading incorrectly.
Flat battery if you are using a digital multimeter perhaps

 

[petulantchild]

Thanks, I'm using a Mastervolt battery meter which has been quite good so far, 5 years without a worry. I'll go round and check all the connections and see if that helps.

 

[syfuga]

Battery conundrum

I'd suspect your measurement too. If all the charge sources are showing the same. ]

You are doing very well if you have got 4 years out of a Gel battery bank and living aboard, unless of course you spend your time hooked up to shore power.

 

[petulantchild]

I rarely use shore power so the batteries are doing all the work. I have been round and tightened a couple of connections, not loose but not tight. Still the same issue. Mastervolt say it's wrong but can't say why. I am 1,000 nm away from their nearest agent so I'm still stuck. I will try and borrow another multimeter and see if they correspond.
For now, Thanks all.

 

[halcyon]

I rarely use shore power so the batteries are doing all the work. I have been round and tightened a couple of connections, not loose but not tight. Still the same issue. Mastervolt say it's wrong but can't say why. I am 1,000 nm away from their nearest agent so I'm still stuck. I will try and borrow another multimeter and see if they correspond.
For now, Thanks all.

When you check the battery voltage, measure on the battery terminal, not the battery clamp, it could be the clamp / terminal joint that is the fault.

Brian