Voltage Sensitive Relay in Over Winter Battery Maintenance Setup?

[CaptainBob]

I'm going to install a solar panel and regulator to keep my 3 200Ah batteries healthy for the winter.

There is currently a VSR (voltage sensitive relay) in the system between two of the batteries.

Am thinking I can simply connect one of the two battery bank outputs from the charge regulator to the single battery, and the other to the terminals on the primary of the two VSR connected batteries.

Assuming the voltage is kept up nice and high I think the VSR will be ON the whole time. But am wondering about the current it will draw in the ON position. Can't seem to find a datasheet on it.

Over night when the solar panel is producing nothing the voltage will dip perhaps and trip out the relay, then it'll trip back in the next day when the sun comes up.

Better to simply, for the winter, re-wire the batteries direct to each other and take the VSR out of the circuit?

 

[SvenglishTommy]

Better to simply, for the winter, re-wire the batteries direct to each other and take the VSR out of the circuit?

I would, keeps things much simpler.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Normally most people connect a solar panel only to their 'house' batteries as the 'engine' battery will be re-charged rapidly by the alternator via the VSR. However, over winter layup, you want to keep all your batteries topped up so I would connect direct to all the batteries and take the VSR out of circuit. The VSR does draw a small amount of current (10mA) at all times and will use some of the power provided by the solar panel. Don't forget to restore to VSR operation before re-launch though!
See FAQs for current draw http://www.bepmarine.com/home-mainmenu-8/productcategory-59/710-125a-voltage-sensitive-relay

 

[CaptainBob]

Thanks for that. Seems it draws 10ma in "disengaged" mode. So it'll be somewhat more than that in "engaged" mode when the relay is energised.

Will take your advice and disconnect it for the winter.

Cheers.

 

[sailinglegend420]

There is a big problem with VSRs and solar panels which means they can continually cycle on and off. Large current VSRs will take a more than just milliamaps to energize and the solar panel may not be able to maintain the voltage to keep the VSR on.

The answer is either to turn off the VSR and fit a 5watt solar panel just for the starter, or turn on the VSR in manual mode so that the two batteries are permanently connected, with no current needed to energize the VSR. This is the emergency parallel position.

 

[sailorman]

I'm going to install a solar panel and regulator to keep my 3 200Ah batteries healthy for the winter.

There is currently a VSR (voltage sensitive relay) in the system between two of the batteries.

Am thinking I can simply connect one of the two battery bank outputs from the charge regulator to the single battery, and the other to the terminals on the primary of the two VSR connected batteries.

Assuming the voltage is kept up nice and high I think the VSR will be ON the whole time. But am wondering about the current it will draw in the ON position. Can't seem to find a datasheet on it.

Over night when the solar panel is producing nothing the voltage will dip perhaps and trip out the relay, then it'll trip back in the next day when the sun comes up.

Better to simply, for the winter, re-wire the batteries direct to each other and take the VSR out of the circuit?

i have a Victron Cyrix fitted & it senses both banks so no matter which bank is being charged when optimum the Cyrix will pull-in the other bank.
i have an Areogen fitted to the domestic bank

 

[davidej]

I dont know about you lot but we have our solar panel connected to the battery side of the circuit breakers, so that it will charge even when we leave the boat with the breakers in open position. Thus the VSR never comes into it.

As someone else suggested, it is normally only connected to house battery. However, we have a jump lead to use if the motor battery needs a charge

 

[mcframe]

The answer is either to turn off the VSR and fit a 5watt solar panel just for the starter, or turn on the VSR in manual mode so that the two batteries are permanently connected, with no current needed to energize the VSR. This is the emergency parallel position.

I like that plan (20W solar, 2*85Ah house + Odyssey PC925 start) - getting charge into *all* batteries is probably more important in winter than keeping start batt full.
(As long as there is /nothing/ drawing current, assuming no mains power.)

I guess it would be a good idea to switch it back to normal a week or so before the season starts if full engine batt is required for re-commisioning.

 

[sailorman]

I dont know about you lot but we have our solar panel connected to the battery side of the circuit breakers, so that it will charge even when we leave the boat with the breakers in open position. Thus the VSR never comes into it.

As someone else suggested, it is normally only connected to house battery. However, we have a jump lead to use if the motor battery needs a charge

check-out the Victron Cyrix
http://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Manual-ENNL-Cyrix 100.pdf

 

[Barry Jones]

If your VSR is wired in the conventional place (i.e. replacing where the split charge relay normally goes), then if you leave the battery isolator switches off, then the batteries will be isolated from the VSR.

I would wire the output of the solar charge controller to the domestic bank through a fuse and put a temporary link across to the starter battery to make one large bank. Make sure your panel is big enough to keep all charged in winter light.

I would also remove any direct connections (e.g.fuse) from the starter battery to alternator to remove chance of leakage.

I'm going to install a solar panel and regulator to keep my 3 200Ah batteries healthy for the winter.

There is currently a VSR (voltage sensitive relay) in the system between two of the batteries.

Am thinking I can simply connect one of the two battery bank outputs from the charge regulator to the single battery, and the other to the terminals on the primary of the two VSR connected batteries.

Assuming the voltage is kept up nice and high I think the VSR will be ON the whole time. But am wondering about the current it will draw in the ON position. Can't seem to find a datasheet on it.

Over night when the solar panel is producing nothing the voltage will dip perhaps and trip out the relay, then it'll trip back in the next day when the sun comes up.

Better to simply, for the winter, re-wire the batteries direct to each other and take the VSR out of the circuit?