Charging different battery types

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  • Makaone
    Junior Member
    • Sep 2019
    • 4
    #1

    Charging different battery types

    Hi, I am new to the solar scene and just want some advise regarding controllers. I have installed a dual battery system in my boat. I have 1 AGM battery and 1 large marine battery.
    my question is prior to buying the AGM battery I had been using a PWM dual charging controller that worked perfect, but now I believe I need a MPPT controller for the AGM as the PWM can not be adjusted ie Float , charge voltages.

    can someone please provide advise on how I can charge 2 different types of batteries and what controller I would need.

    i have a 160w panel...

    many thanks in advance
    Tags: None
    • Mike90250
      Moderator
      • May 2009
      • 16020
      #2
      AGM and Marine batteries have different voltage specs, and CANNOT be paralleled without ruining at least one, which will then ruin the other. Takes about 2 months to toast them.

      You will need two totally different systems, 2 charge controllers, 2 inverters. May be simpler to exchange 1 of the batteries.
      Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
      || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
      || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

      solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
      gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment

        • Makaone
          Junior Member
          • Sep 2019
          • 4
          #3
          Thanks for the quick response and sorry for my late reply.

          Thankyou for clarification regarding the 2 batteries but I have a small fishing boat and I run a MT1200 Odessey AGM for all of the electrics and lighting. I just wanted to be able to have piece of mind topping up the secondary Marine battery..

          Could I use a VSR off the AGM battery to top up the second battery?
          I don’t have the room to set up a complete second solar setup.

            Comment

            • Mike90250
              Moderator
              • May 2009
              • 16020
              #4
              Originally posted by Makaone
              ....

              Could I use a VSR off the AGM battery to top up the second battery?
              I don’t have the room to set up a complete second solar setup.
              What is a VSR ?

              In a pinch, you could probably use a fwd biased diode between the batteries to drop half a volt to get the correct voltages. Size and heatsink is critical.

              Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
              || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
              || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

              solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
              gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                Comment

                • Makaone
                  Junior Member
                  • Sep 2019
                  • 4
                  #5
                  Hi, thanks again for your response. A VSR is a voltage sensing relay. Relay closes once voltage has reached 13.7V and opens once the charge drops below 12.7V. If I connect to AGM it will charge second battery. I guess I just need to place a diode in line to limit current to the correct voltage for the lead acid battery. What’s your thoughts?

                    Comment

                    • Mike90250
                      Moderator
                      • May 2009
                      • 16020
                      #6
                      Originally posted by Makaone
                      ....... I guess I just need to place a diode in line to limit current to the correct voltage for the lead acid battery. What’s your thoughts?
                      Diodes only limit current in the sense that a fuse limits current. When their limit is exceeded, they fry and need replacing. Without understanding electronics, you can run up quite a bill of replacing burnt parts as you learn. This is not something I can teach over the internet. Find a local tech who knows what they are doing. A suitable diode is about $5 and then another $10 for proper heatsinking.

                      Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                      || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                      || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                      solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                      gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                        Comment

                        • Makaone
                          Junior Member
                          • Sep 2019
                          • 4
                          #7
                          Thanks again for your response. You have convinced me that I’m better off getting 2 of the same batteries. I have disconnected the lead acid battery and will only be charging the single AGM battery with the solar. My question now is can you please help on the correct settings.

                          I have a 120w panel with a epsolar 10amp controller. My AGM battery is a 44ah odessey pC1200mt. What is the best settings to use on the controller. Can I use the sealed battery setting or do I need to set it via the user setting. If so what are the correct settings to use.

                          many thanks in advance.

                            Comment

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