DC Solar trailer questions.

[Fullblast]

I just got the trailer a few days ago, so I'm still trying to figure it out and I can't find a downloadable manual online.

This trailer is a 2015 model.

The Kubota diesel has 500 hours on it.

It took over 8 hours with the generator to go from flat to 97% yesterday.

I then ran 1 light tower last night which is 480 watts total.

It took 8 hours for the 480 watt lights
to drain the batteries down to 25% as indicated on the sunny island inverter Soc.



For 2) 510 ah forklift batteries to run down 73% in 8 hours from running 480 watts,I'm assuming something has to be definitely wrong with the batteries.

* I just tested each cell with a multimeter and each one cell is 2.0 to 2.1 volts at 60% Soc.

I'm charging with the generator now to get to 100% capacity then will test each cell again.

*Now one of the cells in the middle of the battery is smoking really bad, so I shut the generator off. The batteries are at 60% Soc on the sunny island inverter. Also 2 more are smoking but nearly as bad as the first.

Do I need to get a hydrometer to see if these cells are messed up?

Does it sound like these batteries are shot or is there a possibility of finding the bad cells and replacing them? Maybe try using a desulfator?

[peakbagger]

I purchased a later version of your trailer, I have the American Tower version (white trailer) It was quite new as it never had the DC Solar logos applied and various components are dated 2019. I assume you are checking specific gravity of each cell after equalizing? I did not buy mine direct but the individual who bought 6 at the NH auction had one with a bad cell in the battery.If you have a bad cell its going to kill the rest of the battery quickly. He found a new cell and installed it but its not pretty. I added a desulphinator to the batteries. I have the so called operating and technical manual on my unit but it really is not that technical. I have seen descriptions that some were in warehouses while some were sitting in fields. My guess is the ones in warehouses would have been dead flat while the ones in the field might have been charging but expect the diesels did not run so its likely the batteries were not equalized. My guess is the memory card on the inverters has history on the operation but the card is only active with the inverter on line so you may just see how often the trailer was actually used or tested.

Note the inverter battery state of charge does not agree with the Midnight Solar charge controller. My charge controller has auto EQ disabled, so I enabled it and ran an equalizing charge until it was satisfied, the inverter after the EQ charge initially reported a 60% state of charge and then when I checked later if had gone up to 96%. Outback literature indicates that the inverter actively tests the charge state to assure that the battery is being maximized and adjusts state of charge

At some point I need to do a point to point check on the wiring can come up with schematics then figure out how the inverter and charge controller work with each other. Mine is going to get tied into my house and I will enable the inverter to draw power to equalize instead of the diesel plus I can export but too many projects right now. In the meantime I force and equalization via the charge controller every month or so with the diesel.

[Mike90250]

When you run FLA batteries flat, you take a lot of cycles out of them. You are going to have to be more careful and see how long they last. Who knows how they were treated before you got them.

[Fullblast]

I found the battery Soc on the inverter. Going to run tests once it's 100% to see how much juice the lights are drawing.

Does it usually take 6-8 hours to do an equalizing charge?

Is there a way to test if any of the cells are bad? I'm just curious and trying to see the percentage capacity % the batteris are really at.

They are Gnb industrial forklift batteries made in 2015. I'm assuming they should be 70-80% of their original capacity. Is it possible to get 10 or so more years out of them?

[Fullblast]

I have recently purchased a DC solar trailer, which came with 2) 510 ah@6 hour forklift batteries, a Kubota 11kw generator and 2600 watts of panel wired at 48v.

It also has the tower lights. I left the front tower light on 12 hours a few nights ago, and left one on again last night and it died in the middle of the night after about 5 hours.

I don't know if if the batteries were completely dead or not, but neither light would come on. I do not know if there is a switch that won't let the system run at a certain battery level or not.

So I've had the generator running for 5 hours already. I just stopped it to let the panels do the work.

Does it normally take this long to charge the batteries up if they get completely drained?

How can I tell if the batteries are fully charged?

I checked the water levels in 48 cells and they are all full.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.