Shorepower charger - voltage fluctuations

webcraft

webcraft

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Normally our shorepower charger produces a voltage reading of around 13.2V to 13.6V, but recently it has been jumping up to 14.6V and staying there for a while before dropping back down to 13.something.

Should I worry?

- W
 
That depends on the make and model of the shore power charger. Does it have a charging profile built in?

This is a Victron Charging algorithm:

1. Bulk

The battery is charged at maximum charge current until the voltage increases to the configured absorption voltage.
The bulk stage duration is dependent on the battery’s level of discharge, the battery capacity and the charge current.
Once the bulk stage is complete, the battery will be approximately 80% charged (or >95% for Li-ion batteries) and may be
returned into service if required.

2. Absorption

The battery is charged at the configured absorption voltage, with the charge current slowly decreasing as the battery
approaches full charge.

The absorption stage duration is adaptive and intelligently varied depending on the battery’s level of discharge – this is
determined from the duration of the bulk charge stage.

The absorption stage duration can vary between a minimum of 30 minutes, up to a maximum limit of 8 hours (or as
configured) for a deeply discharged battery.

3. Recondition

The battery voltage is attempted to be increased to the configured recondition voltage, while the charger output current is
regulated to 8% of the nominal charge current (for example - 1.2A maximum for a 15A charger).

Recondition is an optional charge stage for lead acid batteries and not recommended for regular/cyclic use - use only if
required, as unnecessary or overuse will reduce battery life due to excessive gassing.

The higher charge voltage during recondition stage can partially recover/reverse battery degradation due to sulfation,
typically caused by inadequate charging or if the battery is left in a deeply discharged state for an extended period (if
performed in time).

The recondition stage may also be applied to flooded batteries occasionally to equalise individual cell voltages and prevent
acid stratification.

Recondition stage is terminated as soon as the battery voltage increases to the configured recondition voltage or after a
maximum duration of 1 hour (or as configured).

Note that in certain conditions it is possible for the recondition state to end before the configured recondition voltage is
achieved, such as when the charger is simultaneously powering loads, if the battery was not fully charged before recondition
stage commenced, if the recondition duration is too short (set to less than one hour) or if the charger output current is
insufficient in proportion to the capacity of the battery/battery bank.

4. Float

The battery voltage is maintained at the configured float voltage to prevent discharge.

Once float stage is commenced the battery is fully charged and ready for use.

The float stage duration is also adaptive and varied between 4 to 8 hours depending on the duration of the absorption charge
stage, at which point the charger determines the battery to be in storage stage.

5. Storage

The battery voltage is maintained at the configured storage voltage, which is slightly reduced compared to the float voltage to
minimise gassing and extend battery life whilst the battery is unused and on continuous charge.
 
Sandy said:
That depends on the make and model of the shore power charger. Does it have a charging profile built in?

This is a Victron Charging algorithm:

1. Bulk

The battery is charged at maximum charge current until the voltage increases to the configured absorption voltage.
The bulk stage duration is dependent on the battery’s level of discharge, the battery capacity and the charge current.
Once the bulk stage is complete, the battery will be approximately 80% charged (or >95% for Li-ion batteries) and may be
returned into service if required.

2. Absorption

The battery is charged at the configured absorption voltage, with the charge current slowly decreasing as the battery
approaches full charge.

The absorption stage duration is adaptive and intelligently varied depending on the battery’s level of discharge – this is
determined from the duration of the bulk charge stage.

The absorption stage duration can vary between a minimum of 30 minutes, up to a maximum limit of 8 hours (or as
configured) for a deeply discharged battery.

3. Recondition

The battery voltage is attempted to be increased to the configured recondition voltage, while the charger output current is
regulated to 8% of the nominal charge current (for example - 1.2A maximum for a 15A charger).

Recondition is an optional charge stage for lead acid batteries and not recommended for regular/cyclic use - use only if
required, as unnecessary or overuse will reduce battery life due to excessive gassing.

The higher charge voltage during recondition stage can partially recover/reverse battery degradation due to sulfation,
typically caused by inadequate charging or if the battery is left in a deeply discharged state for an extended period (if
performed in time).

The recondition stage may also be applied to flooded batteries occasionally to equalise individual cell voltages and prevent
acid stratification.

Recondition stage is terminated as soon as the battery voltage increases to the configured recondition voltage or after a
maximum duration of 1 hour (or as configured).

Note that in certain conditions it is possible for the recondition state to end before the configured recondition voltage is
achieved, such as when the charger is simultaneously powering loads, if the battery was not fully charged before recondition
stage commenced, if the recondition duration is too short (set to less than one hour) or if the charger output current is
insufficient in proportion to the capacity of the battery/battery bank.

4. Float

The battery voltage is maintained at the configured float voltage to prevent discharge.

Once float stage is commenced the battery is fully charged and ready for use.

The float stage duration is also adaptive and varied between 4 to 8 hours depending on the duration of the absorption charge
stage, at which point the charger determines the battery to be in storage stage.

5. Storage

The battery voltage is maintained at the configured storage voltage, which is slightly reduced compared to the float voltage to
minimise gassing and extend battery life whilst the battery is unused and on continuous charge.
Click to expand...
As said. Some info. on charger make, model, types of battery what settings etc. would help. Just saying "My battery charger does XYZ" is meaningless.
Sorry, you are not alone, common practice on here to post:- "My whatsit doesn't work. Help" Some of us are electricians, not magicians :unsure: :ROFLMAO:
 
Someone told me today that whenever the charger stsrts up it puts out 14.6V for a few minutes then drops to 13.6.

Maybe micro-interruptions in the shore supply?

— W
 
webcraft said:
Someone told me today that whenever the charger stsrts up it puts out 14.6V for a few minutes then drops to 13.6.

Maybe micro-interruptions in the shore supply?

— W
Click to expand...
That sounds reasonable, The start up I mean. The charger will give a high (Bulk) voltage until the terminal voltage rises to a set level. The lower the charge state of the battery the longer this time will be, and vice versa. I doubt that any fluctuations in the shore supply would have much effect unless quite large and for a considerable period. The internal electronics of the charger should iron these out.
That's what I think anyway :unsure:
 
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