tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576670202526573146.post8918882453298832622..comments2024-02-24T16:51:25.849+00:00Comments on Erin Mae: Electrical conundrumsMartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08084401790316697529noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576670202526573146.post-84414731923143274232013-10-23T17:44:14.758+01:002013-10-23T17:44:14.758+01:00Thanks for your comment, Keith. I've seen the ...Thanks for your comment, Keith. I've seen the Smartgauge before. Though I think if I were going to spend money on something extra, I'd probably go for the remote for my new Sterling AB charger, which seems to offer a whole heap of diagnostics for about that price.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08084401790316697529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576670202526573146.post-27932902430347046862013-10-19T21:12:03.329+01:002013-10-19T21:12:03.329+01:00Hello Martin
Just found this blog.
I suspect the...Hello Martin<br /><br />Just found this blog.<br /><br />I suspect the fact that you have been under charging has had an effect on your batteries and they are now sulphated.<br /><br />The batteries were originally 440 amp hours but suspect that they are a lot less than that now.<br /><br />How do you monitor your batteries? (rhetorical)<br /><br />A voltage reading to give an indication of SOC (state of charge) should be taken when the batteries have been rested, that is not charged or discharged for a number of hours, almost impossible on a narrowboat, if every thing is turned off over night then the reading taken, it will give an indication.<br /><br />If the batteries are at 12.2v (50%SOC) then to get them to 100% SOC will take many, many hours, depending on the size of the charger/alternator.<br /><br />Your alternator, needs to be spinning at a minimum of 3,000 rpm, that is 1,000rpm on the engine if your pulley ratios are correct.<br /><br />At that speed it will probably only be actually giving 50% of its stated amps.<br /><br />The batteries control the alternator output, when they are 'flat' they will take all the alternator can give but this reduces as the batteries become charged.<br /><br />Batteries can be charged very quickly from 50% SOC to about 90, 95% SOC but to get that last 10, 5% will take as long again plus a bit.<br /><br />Two sites for you to have a peruse of:<br /><br />http://www.batteryfaq.org/<br /><br />http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/technical1.html<br /><br />The 'Smartgauge' is the simplest method to monitor your batteries, just two wires to the batteries. Costs in the region of £170<br /><br />I have no connection with any of the above links just a happy user of the Smartgauge.Keithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576670202526573146.post-9696875771656007492013-10-12T18:58:48.703+01:002013-10-12T18:58:48.703+01:00Thanks for the info, Mo. My Daewoo is supposed to ...Thanks for the info, Mo. My Daewoo is supposed to do better than that, but I see that the Inlander and Shoreline 12 volt fridges are rated at between 0.8 and 1.5 amps. I must investigate the price of a shunt / meter – I much prefer to take expensive decisions on the basis of hard data rather than supposition!Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08084401790316697529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576670202526573146.post-6155521459401769592013-10-12T08:13:16.650+01:002013-10-12T08:13:16.650+01:00An inline shunt and meter on the battery positive ...An inline shunt and meter on the battery positive feed removes all doubt, it gives amps in and amps out of the batteries so you can see just what that fridge is doing.<br />Our Beco mains fridge takes 10amps for 13 mins every hour. That's where the juice is going.<br />What's more, the batteries deliver far less in cold weather, 25% less by my reckoning so winter always looks bad when monitoring battery condition.<br />Mo - Balmaha.Mohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06589358384320752821noreply@blogger.com