I am super anal about my batteries. I have a 48v 325ah flooded battery bank (Trojan L16RE-As). These batteries are entering their fifth year of service. They have never been below 77% SOC and generally never go below 82% SOC in the winter and 90% SOC in the summer. Being a vacation place they are generally floating at 100% and when we are there they get charged to 100% every day. Equipment is Conext XW5548 with MPPT60 charge controller.
On this last trip I had HughesNet internet installed and put in security cameras and a WIFI thermostat for our gas stove. So I made the decision to leave the inverter on so I could power the router, cameras and stove thermostat. We left two days ago and we have charged to 100% both days (I put one of the cameras facing my Bogart battery monitor which is how I know I'm at 100%).
The problem is the batteries are drawing down to 90% SOC overnight. I though they would only draw to 95% SOC or less since there are no significant loads on the batteries. I think it's the cold weather causing this with reduced capacity (temp in the garage where bank is located is at 46 degrees but might go as low as 37 degrees or colder if we get a prolonged cold snap). The short days aren't helping either.
I think I made a mistake by setting my Absorb voltage to 56.4v and float voltage to 52.8v. I set them to the low end of Trojan specs to reduce water loss. I'm regretting this decision but don't have the ability to make changes remotely.
Now I'm worried about the batteries getting stuck in a partial state of charge for a prolonged amount of time. I won't be up there for another 62 days.
What are the collective thoughts from the experts here about how long it takes a partial SOC to permanently damage batteries? In 62 days they will get an equalization charge using the generator.
I have also decided to buy the new Conext Gateway which will allow me to make changes remotely.
Our place is 1,200 miles away so an unplanned trip is quite the undertaking especially this time of year.
So please talk me off the ledge.
On this last trip I had HughesNet internet installed and put in security cameras and a WIFI thermostat for our gas stove. So I made the decision to leave the inverter on so I could power the router, cameras and stove thermostat. We left two days ago and we have charged to 100% both days (I put one of the cameras facing my Bogart battery monitor which is how I know I'm at 100%).
The problem is the batteries are drawing down to 90% SOC overnight. I though they would only draw to 95% SOC or less since there are no significant loads on the batteries. I think it's the cold weather causing this with reduced capacity (temp in the garage where bank is located is at 46 degrees but might go as low as 37 degrees or colder if we get a prolonged cold snap). The short days aren't helping either.
I think I made a mistake by setting my Absorb voltage to 56.4v and float voltage to 52.8v. I set them to the low end of Trojan specs to reduce water loss. I'm regretting this decision but don't have the ability to make changes remotely.
Now I'm worried about the batteries getting stuck in a partial state of charge for a prolonged amount of time. I won't be up there for another 62 days.
What are the collective thoughts from the experts here about how long it takes a partial SOC to permanently damage batteries? In 62 days they will get an equalization charge using the generator.
I have also decided to buy the new Conext Gateway which will allow me to make changes remotely.
Our place is 1,200 miles away so an unplanned trip is quite the undertaking especially this time of year.
So please talk me off the ledge.
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