Equalising with Victron MPPT

[Dantp]

I am trying to get make my Victron Bluesolar MPPT's equalise my Batteries.
Previously I've just used shore power when stopped in a Marina but its been a while since I've been to one.
Using the Victron VE direct cable I can set my equalisation voltage and the frequency I want to equalise. I set this to every day to try and force it into equalisation mode the same or next day, when I could be onboard to monitor it.
My Batteries got to fully charged (smart gauge battery monitor) about 1pm and both my MPPTs went into float. This repeated the following day.
When I look with the connected laptop they don't show a period of time of equalisation. Just bulk, absorption and float.

Has anyone managed to get an equalisation cycle to run with a Victron MPPT?
How did you so it?
Am I doing something obvious wrong?
Thanks.

(400W of Solar connected with 2x 15/75 MPPTs).

 

[noelex]

The equalisation cycle does not show on the software. I think the equalisation time is just counted as “bulk”.

However, the maximium voltage will show if the equalisation voltage has been reached.

 

[Dantp]

Thanks Noelex. I'll plug back in and check my max voltage reached.

 

[vas]

Is it OK to equalize THAT often? I was told once a month at most.
600w solar, victron 30/100 mppt into 4xT105 in series

 

[noelex]

Yes once a month is typical, but it varies with the battery type and usage. Many battery types cannot be equalised at all.

if you have batteries that do not benifit from equalisation a good idea is to set the equalisation voltage the same as the absorption voltage. Select automatic equalisation to off. Then if you notice the solar controller has dropped to float too early for any particular cycle and you want a longer absorption time, if you initiate an “equalisation” cycle you have an easy way to start a further one hour of absorption time.

 

[Pasarell]

I have 200W of solar regulated by a Victron MPPT 100/30 controller. I control it with the Bluetooth app on my phone and equalise about once a month. With the settings menu you decide what equalisation voltage and can set it to happen automatically or manually. I do it manually but it does say equalisation voltage will only be held for a maximum of one hour.
Occasionally voltage will drop during equalisation or the voltage will not be reached, because of cloud cover or something and the regulator will go back to the normal bulk / absorption / float mode, but normally it just happens without any difficulty

 

[sailaboutvic]

Equalisation charge on my T125 is set at 16.2v , so the question is , don't you guys turn off everything while equalising ?
Is there not a charge that you could blow electronic?

 

[maxi77]

I am sure that back in my days in O boats we only equalised bout every months and preferably after a quarterly discharge when the battery was taken down to around fifty percent at a set rate. Doing an equaliser was a real pain because there was no smoking for hours and if you were at sea the only place you could smoke was on the bridge at the top of the fin, lots of volunteers for lookout duty in any weather

 

[Tim Good]

Equalisation charge on my T125 is set at 16.2v , so the question is , don't you guys turn off everything while equalising ?
Is there not a charge that you could blow electronic?

I do but I think most of my appliances can handle up to those voltages. But I do anyway just in case.

 

[Graham376]

Equalisation charge on my T125 is set at 16.2v , so the question is , don't you guys turn off everything while equalising ?
Is there not a charge that you could blow electronic?

I've never noticed voltage rising to equalisation level with 75/15 when aboard with loads on batteries, haven't tried instigating it manually. A previous 4 stage shore power charger's instructions stated all loads must be disconnected or equalisation wouldn't work due to current limiting during process.

 

[Tim Good]

Is it OK to equalize THAT often? I was told once a month at most.
600w solar, victron 30/100 mppt into 4xT105 in series

Trojan now state only to equalise when the S/G drops below a certain amount or you get cells differing by a significant amount. After taking that rule I only equalise about once every 6 months as they S/Gs on my T105s seem to just stay high. Also I've only had to top them up once in the last 8 months.

We live aboard and have 420w on a victron mppt..

 

[Mistroma]

Trojan now state only to equalise when the S/G drops below a certain amount or you get cells differing by a significant amount. After taking that rule I only equalise about once every 6 months as they S/Gs on my T105s seem to just stay high. Also I've only had to top them up once in the last 8 months.

We live aboard and have 420w on a victron mppt..

I actually found that a senior person in Trojan had advised monthly equalisation when they'd previously advised it should only be done when needed. I asked Trojan technical guys and they agreed that I should stick with the original advice. They said the comment was made by a VP and aimed at people who probably had no idea about battery state. Advice to equalise monthly would probably extend battery life in many cases. I was told to ignore that advice as I obviously looked after the batteries carefully.

I believe that Trojan's original advice was to carry out an equalisation charge only when fully charged batteries have low specific gravity, below 1.250 or difference of 0.030 in SG readings between cells.

My batteries have finally reached 0.030 difference after 7 years use without equalisation. However, that's across all batteries and 0.02 is the biggest difference within individual batteries. I'll probably carry out an equalisation cycle this year. I will need to disconnect every thing from the batteries to avoid chance of damage arising from the high voltage required.

I add approx. 35-50mls. every 6 weeks to bring the level back to the specified maximum. I use a dry dip to measure the level (i.e. distance from battery top to electrolyte level).

 

[cpedw]

I am sure that back in my days in O boats we only equalised bout every months and preferably after a quarterly discharge when the battery was taken down to around fifty percent at a set rate. Doing an equaliser was a real pain because there was no smoking for hours and if you were at sea the only place you could smoke was on the bridge at the top of the fin, lots of volunteers for lookout duty in any weather

Is O boat a submarine?

If so, is smoking allowed inside a submarine? It sounds a bit antisocial to me (an accusation that might be made against submarines too maybe).

Derek

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Most electronics will run from 9-32v or even 48v. I know that my VHF though will fail though if it gets 15v. So it's worth being careful.

 

[maxi77]

Is O boat a submarine?

If so, is smoking allowed inside a submarine? It sounds a bit antisocial to me (an accusation that might be made against submarines too maybe).

Derek

die to
Today it may be antisocial but back then it wasn't. If submarines are anti social why did so many UK submariners die to preserve our freedom