Gel Batteries
- Thread starter rudolph_hart
- Start date
rudolph_hart
Active member
I will do as you suggest.
Interesting to learn that overcharging is so common. One of the selling points of the Adverc was that most standard alternator regulators (designed for automotive use, and having a large safety margin built in) allow a maximum of only 75% charge at any time. They claim to override this and allow much fuller charge, but by doing it in 'bursts' to prevent overcharge.
After I fitted the Adverc to the last boat, it was interesting to watch the voltage on the boat's instruments, while the regulator went through its cycles. During charge cycle, voltage was up in the mid 14-volt range, and dropped by 1 volt during the 'off' cycle.
The unit also had a thermistor which you located 'in the battery compartment' as a shut-off device if it detected high temp indicating 'battery boiling'. I'm not sure how effective it could be, as there must be a wide variety of shapes/sizes of battery comaprtments, with differring vetilation (i.e. cooling) levels.
Thanks to all for the feedback and opinions - it's all valuable, even if it's free!
Interesting to learn that overcharging is so common. One of the selling points of the Adverc was that most standard alternator regulators (designed for automotive use, and having a large safety margin built in) allow a maximum of only 75% charge at any time. They claim to override this and allow much fuller charge, but by doing it in 'bursts' to prevent overcharge.
After I fitted the Adverc to the last boat, it was interesting to watch the voltage on the boat's instruments, while the regulator went through its cycles. During charge cycle, voltage was up in the mid 14-volt range, and dropped by 1 volt during the 'off' cycle.
The unit also had a thermistor which you located 'in the battery compartment' as a shut-off device if it detected high temp indicating 'battery boiling'. I'm not sure how effective it could be, as there must be a wide variety of shapes/sizes of battery comaprtments, with differring vetilation (i.e. cooling) levels.
Thanks to all for the feedback and opinions - it's all valuable, even if it's free!
pvb
Well-known member
Adverc thermistor...
The thermistor at the battery end of the sensing wire in the Adverc wiring loom isn't a shut-off device, it allows the Adverc to adjust the charge voltage according to the ambient temperature. The max voltage is higher in cold conditions, and lower in warmer conditions. In winter, my Adverc will routinely charge at 14.8 or 14.9V. There's info on the Adverc site, including this graph:-
The thermistor at the battery end of the sensing wire in the Adverc wiring loom isn't a shut-off device, it allows the Adverc to adjust the charge voltage according to the ambient temperature. The max voltage is higher in cold conditions, and lower in warmer conditions. In winter, my Adverc will routinely charge at 14.8 or 14.9V. There's info on the Adverc site, including this graph:-
A
Anonymous
Guest
Sorry for the delayed reply; someone pulled the plug out of the WiFi system at Chichester Marina and when you complain everyone thinks that there must be a fault with your system, so does nothing....until the 50th person complains. One day, WiFi in marinas will be taken for granted just as water is today. Rant over /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
As pvb has said, the thermistor is intended to allow faster charging when battery temperature permits and should cut back when temperature is high due to high ambient (e.g. summer and hot engine room?). Overcharging is a very real issue but so is undercharging. You do need to let the batteries get up to 14.2 or so for a while to make sure that all the cells are fully charged. If they are not then when the battery is discharged one cell might become reverse-biased and that would ruin it. This process is called 'equalisation'. The point is that it shouldn't go on for long enough to cause more gassing than the batteries can cope with.
So coming back to your situation, if nothing has changed on the yacht and you haven't got any great plans to add power-hungry equipment, and have been happy for the last ten years, why change anything? Replace like for like. If it ain't broke, why fix it? It is only when you want to make a significant change to the system or you are unhappy with the existing performance that it is worth looking at alternatives.
As pvb has said, the thermistor is intended to allow faster charging when battery temperature permits and should cut back when temperature is high due to high ambient (e.g. summer and hot engine room?). Overcharging is a very real issue but so is undercharging. You do need to let the batteries get up to 14.2 or so for a while to make sure that all the cells are fully charged. If they are not then when the battery is discharged one cell might become reverse-biased and that would ruin it. This process is called 'equalisation'. The point is that it shouldn't go on for long enough to cause more gassing than the batteries can cope with.
So coming back to your situation, if nothing has changed on the yacht and you haven't got any great plans to add power-hungry equipment, and have been happy for the last ten years, why change anything? Replace like for like. If it ain't broke, why fix it? It is only when you want to make a significant change to the system or you are unhappy with the existing performance that it is worth looking at alternatives.
rudolph_hart
Active member
I sympathise with your wireless networking problems. Part of our LAN here is wireless because the building is quite old and difficult to wire elegantly in some areas. I got sick of the latency caused by its reduced bandwidth, and its propensity to go on strike for no apparent reason. I now have a wired link, with wireless for when I move around in the office.
Thank to you and pvb for all the advice.
I was only considering wet-cell because of cost, ease of sourcing and possible variety of extenal dimensions.
I remember the info on Adverc, as I researched the subject before I fitted one to my last boat, which had wet-cell, with good results. Incidentally, my last boat is now Chichester-based and is the subject of an article in the current YM.
The current set up does work, but I will most probably fit an Adverc.
Thank to you and pvb for all the advice.
I was only considering wet-cell because of cost, ease of sourcing and possible variety of extenal dimensions.
I remember the info on Adverc, as I researched the subject before I fitted one to my last boat, which had wet-cell, with good results. Incidentally, my last boat is now Chichester-based and is the subject of an article in the current YM.
The current set up does work, but I will most probably fit an Adverc.