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From: kaha (no email)
Date: Wed Aug 25 1999 - 17:14:06 EDT
First off, thank you all for the response to a battery problem that Iam
spending way ...... too much time.
If we allow "Nigel Calder" to be the authority on
batteries,(Boatowners's Mechanical and Electrical Manual) Then, by using
the Hydrometer and a thermometer we can get a really good idea of the
state of charge.
Now with that said, while I was charging my bank of batteries I was
taking hydrometer readings in order to calibrate one of my monitoring
systems. (Amp-Hour+2 Meter tm)
It was during this procedure that I noticed when my charger went to
"Float" the reading on the back batteries was different then on the
front.
Front battery set: Specific gravity = 1.273
Voltage = 14.33
Charge % = 100%
Back battery set: Specific gravity = 1.225
Voltage = 13.34
Charge % = 72%
This would lead me to believe that the charging rate is different on
batteries connected in series/parallel. (Assuming that the Hydrometer is
reading correctly :)).
I do think that Don might have hit on something with connecting the
source in the middle.
The reason I have my batteries in the configuration that I do, is my
last configuration was (1) large bank Deep cycle (house) and a starting
battery(non-deep cycle). This worked out fairly well until I fried the
house battery due to an over zealous charger and a little inattention on
my part.
My reasoning on the new setup is I can use the second bank as a starting
battery and have the benefit of another house set.
At one time I set my system up similar to Jim's with a combiner (west
marine) and still have it some where. My problem was I could never see
what it was doing, and didn't trust it. (a little paranoia on my part).
Connecting a second alternator to my engine is not possible because of
it's size (40hp westebeke). I will be adding a wind generator at a later
date.
I don't have a problem charging the batteries (per sa) its the quality
of charging I'm concerned with. Once again thanks for the information
and thoughts.
Ken Ka'ahanui
On board "KIALUA"
CT-41
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