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electrical:12v:battery_monitor [2020/04/16 00:01]
frater_secessus [Battery monitors] |
electrical:12v:battery_monitor [2020/04/16 00:03]
frater_secessus [how they work] |
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| - you tell the monitor the battery's [[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|capacity]], usually in Ah and printed right on the battery. Remember that lead batteries are typically only used to about 50% of their rated capacity. You'll either be making that mental adjustment when you configure the meter or when you read it later. Battery capacity will also degrade over time, requiring the capacity setting to be adjusted periodically.((every 6 months? 12 months?)) | - you tell the monitor the battery's [[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|capacity]], usually in Ah and printed right on the battery. Remember that lead batteries are typically only used to about 50% of their rated capacity. You'll either be making that mental adjustment when you configure the meter or when you read it later. Battery capacity will also degrade over time, requiring the capacity setting to be adjusted periodically.((every 6 months? 12 months?)) |
| - you tell the monitor the voltage at which the battery is presumed to be at [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|100% State of Charge]]. For lead this will be something like 12.7v; check your [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|battery manufacturer's technical info]] for this value. | - you tell the monitor the voltage at which the battery is presumed to be at [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|100% State of Charge]]. For lead this will be something like 12.7v, and for LiFePO4 it will be something like 13.8v -- check your [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|battery manufacturer's technical info]] for this value. |
| - the monitor will watch for your system to hit **the configured 100% state of charge voltage**, then | - the monitor will watch for your system to hit **the configured 100% state of charge voltage**, at which it assumes your bank is "full". Then, |
| - **counts Amps/Watts in and out while below that voltage**, thereby calculating the percentage of capacity used and percentage remaining. This is an imperfect science with lead batteries because 100% SoC is only reliable after a //complete// charge, and because different discharge rates will change the effective capacity. Think of the monitor as general guidance for lead batteries rather than gospel. Lithium banks will align more closely with what the monitor shows. | - when your system drops below that voltage **it counts Amps/Watts in and out**, thereby calculating the percentage of capacity used and percentage remaining. This is an imperfect science with lead batteries because 100% SoC is only reliable after a //complete// charge, and because different discharge rates will change the effective capacity. Think of the monitor as general guidance for lead batteries rather than gospel. Lithium banks will align more closely with what the monitor shows. |
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| Note: [[electrical:solar:status|Watching amps trail off]] at the end of lead Absorption (endAmps) will also tell you when the bank is [[electrical:12v:charging|fully charged]]. The battery manufacturer will specify something like [[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|C/200]] or C/100 as a sign Absorption is complete. | Note: [[electrical:solar:status|Watching amps trail off]] at the end of lead Absorption (endAmps) will also tell you when the bank is [[electrical:12v:charging|fully charged]]. The battery manufacturer will specify something like [[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|C/200]] or C/100 as a sign Absorption is complete. |
