battery or charger problems - solved?

[Sailfree]

I have posted recently about what I first thought was charger problems as it was only showing 11.8V.

Thank you for those that took the time to respond and share their knowledge.

In addition I also contacted Victron regarding the charger and they suggested problem might be caused by sulphating of the batteries.

There was a noticable smell on boat that was getting worse but not rotten eggs of overcharging.

Looked up receipts and batteries supplied by Battery Megastore were July 2013. Original Varta batteries lasted 8yrs so thought its time to replace them.

Phoned around and discovered that battery mega store only deliver to UK and their French branch only deliver to France. It appears no major supplier delivers lead acid batteries across any borders!

Found a shop in Portugal that had 3 leisure Trojen batteries of correct size and the cranking battery and while expensive bit the bullet somewhat encouraged by an anxious boss that was concerned smell could be dangerous.

On removal the Battery Megastore budget Alphaline batteries had an indicator light. The cranking battery was indicating Green, for OK , as was 2 of the leisure batteries but one leisure battery was blank -faulty! Once removed I could see battery was swollen and had leaked. Obviously smell was sulphuric acid.

New batteries now fitted - I am €850 poorer and charging rate is up to 14.5V.

I assume battery sulphated up and trying to charge the battery bank caused it to overheat and the leakage of acid.

Was it sulphating up or just battery failure -touching of the plates? Any other explaination?

As boat resides mostly on a berth I assume its best to let batteries run down a bit and then recharge them for longevity. Anyone got any better advice?

We are currently living on the boat in a marina berth and only using batteries for lighting and the fridge should I just turn off charging overnight or say for 24hrs to maximise battery life.

Battery bank consists of 3 leisure batteries and 1 engine starter battery, all 125Ahr, charged by a Victron 50A omega charger.

 

[pvb]

Sounds like one battery developed a shorted cell and reduced the voltage the bank could attain. After 7 years use, that's not totally unexpected.

Your Victron charger should be OK left connected, it should just sit at float voltage most of the time.

 

[PaulRainbow]

My thoughts too, shorted cell.

Best leave the charger on, lead acid batteries don't need to be discharged/charged to extend their life, quite the opposite.

 

[Graham376]

My thoughts too, shorted cell.

Best leave the charger on, lead acid batteries don't need to be discharged/charged to extend their life, quite the opposite.

But, if the charger isn't working properly and not going to float, overcharging could kill them. If Sailfree's charging rate stays at 14.5v, there could be a problem.

 

[Sailfree]

But, if the charger isn't working properly and not going to float, overcharging could kill them. If Sailfree's charging rate stays at 14.5v, there could be a problem.

Yes its now 14.0V but new batteries only charged for 4hrs last night, switched off overnight (before advice on here) and switched on at 09.00 this morning. I assume new batteries are manufactured dry charged and then filled with diluted sulphuric acid before sale so may need an initial charge. Trojen are made in US surely not shipped wet! Trojen were slightly smaller than existing but seemed about 50% heavier!!

When I told battery company (v large factory unit - big industrial supplier) I was then leaving Nazare to come and buy them he did use the words "So you want me to prepare them - OK"!

How long at 14.0V do you think? I do hope its not another €800 to spend for a new charger!!

Edit - 14.0V not 14.5V

 

[Graham376]

Yes its now 14.0V but new batteries only charged for 4hrs last night, switched off overnight (before advice on here) and switched on at 09.00 this morning. I assume new batteries are manufactured dry charged and then filled with diluted sulphuric acid before sale so may need an initial charge. Trojen are made in US surely not shipped wet! Trojen were slightly smaller than existing but seemed about 50% heavier!!

When I told battery company (v large factory unit - big industrial supplier) I was then leaving Nazare to come and buy them he did use the words "So you want me to prepare them - OK"!

How long at 14.5V do you think? I do hope its not another €800 to spend for a new charger!!

Our solar regulator bangs in 14.82v which is what Trojan specify for bulk and absorption but then drops down to 13.5v float. I would expect your mains charger to float at roughly 13.8v once the batteries are fully charged in a day or so. New charger would be €800 ? Cheaper to install solar, we no longer have to use mains charger.

 

[pvb]

Yes its now 14.0V but new batteries only charged for 4hrs last night, switched off overnight (before advice on here) and switched on at 09.00 this morning. I assume new batteries are manufactured dry charged and then filled with diluted sulphuric acid before sale so may need an initial charge. Trojen are made in US surely not shipped wet! Trojen were slightly smaller than existing but seemed about 50% heavier!!

When I told battery company (v large factory unit - big industrial supplier) I was then leaving Nazare to come and buy them he did use the words "So you want me to prepare them - OK"!

How long at 14.0V do you think? I do hope its not another €800 to spend for a new charger!!

Edit - 14.0V not 14.5V

Don't worry too much about the charger right now. The fact that you're seeing the right sort of charge voltage indicates it's no doubt working OK. Leave it a while and see whether it drops to a float voltage in due course.

 

[vas]

just to add (I think nobody mentioned it) you HAVE to change the configuration of the charger from sealed to the (I assume) open LA that the Trojans are.
does your charger have dip switches or something, or is it BT? check it out. If BT, check with their s/w and upload latest firmware (if there is any!) had some serious changes in charging methodology from older firmware to the newer ones in a 30/1000 MPPT controller (resulting in slightly better performance of my T105RE and less water consumption!).
Like Graham, haven't connected to shore power for over a year now...

 

[Sailfree]

just to add (I think nobody mentioned it) you HAVE to change the configuration of the charger from sealed to the (I assume) open LA that the Trojans are.
does your charger have dip switches or something, or is it BT? check it out. If BT, check with their s/w and upload latest firmware (if there is any!) had some serious changes in charging methodology from older firmware to the newer ones in a 30/1000 MPPT controller (resulting in slightly better performance of my T105RE and less water consumption!).
Like Graham, haven't connected to shore power for over a year now...

I had cheap alphaline calcium sealed lead acid batteries before. Pleased they lasted 7yrs.

Not sure victron 50A outputs omega charger has any other settings.

 

[vas]

can you find your model on victronenergy site? on a 20sec search, I cannot find a charger called omega!
my 15yo Centaur does have dip switches.
IIRC, SLAs are charged in a more conservative way, don't want to boil them so to speak, whereas Trojans can take a beating!

 

[PaulRainbow]

But, if the charger isn't working properly and not going to float, overcharging could kill them. If Sailfree's charging rate stays at 14.5v, there could be a problem.

So you think he should cycle the batteries to make them last longer ?

 

[Graham376]

So you think he should cycle the batteries to make them last longer ?

No, where was that suggested?

 

[PaulRainbow]

No, where was that suggested?

Post #1

As boat resides mostly on a berth I assume its best to let batteries run down a bit and then recharge them for longevity. Anyone got any better advice?

We are currently living on the boat in a marina berth and only using batteries for lighting and the fridge should I just turn off charging overnight or say for 24hrs to maximise battery life.

That's why i suggested leaving the charger on, unless the OP has NiCad batteries.

 

[Sailfree]

Thanks for helpful replies.

Off boat at friends sharing their swimming pool this weekend. Lockdown easing in Portugal.

Before leaving boat switched off charger and batteries still showed 14V at control panel! Did not have time to see how it went over next few minutes. Control panel meter was accurate against a digital meter a few weeks ago in that they both recorded 11.8V.

Nuisance is accessing charger and one pair of batteries as they are under bed and bed is neatly made by wife on a 8" thick box spring mattress manufactured to fit contours of cabin. Then fitted Egyptian cotton sheets etc - you get the idea. Wife has to have everything super clean and neat - it has its disadvantages when trying to work!

Will report further next week but I assumed immediately I switched off charger the voltage would drop to about 12.8V.

 

[pvb]

Will report further next week but I assumed immediately I switched off charger the voltage would drop to about 12.8V.

Immediately after charging, a battery will show a higher than normal voltage, due to something called "surface charge". It will drop to normal battery voltage on its own, or when a load is briefly connected.

 

[Sailfree]

Correction.

Charger is a Victron Phoenix 50A. Dont know where I got Omega name from!!