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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Sun Aug 01 2004 - 10:10:00 EDT
You say your Trojan T105s are floating at 1.370 or 1.380; I assume you mean
13.70 or 13.80 volts. Unless ambient temperature of the batteries is 50 or 60
degrees F, that is too high. As evidenced by the amount of water you are adding
(and given the fact that it is summer!), I suspect that the batteries'
temperature is higher. If you turn off the charger, you will be cycling the
batteries at the dock. They have a limited number of cycles in them (admittedly a lot
in the case of T-105s), so why waste them dockside? The batteries will live
longer and be much happier at the correct float voltage.
Batteries should charge (bulk and acceptance modes) and then float (on either
shore power or the alternator) at voltages determined by (1) their type and
(2) their temperature. There are various sources and opinions but here is one:
at 70 degrees F, my Xantrex "Incharge" regulator manual dated 3/4/97 says that
lead acid batteries like the T-105s should charge at 14.4 and float at 13.5.
At 80 dF, it is 14.2/13.3 and at 90 dF, 14.0/13.1. This regulator allows
adjustment of acceptance voltage, float voltage and time in the acceptance mode
(before switching to float). It does not have a temperature sensor.
The Link 1000 meter's 44 page manual dated 1/13/97 for an older model
(software version A-23) has the same voltages as above. In this particular version of
Link, the variables you set in the meter to get those voltages are (1) F10,
battery type, which is "1" for lead acid and (2) F03, ambient battery
temperature, in 10 dF increments.
I also have a newer Link 1000 where its 66 page manual dated July 2003
(software version A-31) no longer shows a table of voltages (I guess they figure
that you really don't need to know) but again the variables you would set are (1)
F10, battery type, which, in this software version, is "0" for lead acid and
(2) F03, ambient battery temperature. There is a provision (F16) for
temperature sensing of the batteries. Assumedly, those variables get you the proper
voltages. If they don't, you can "tweak" the variables, but this is for "experts"
only.
It is quite possible that the regulator should have one setting (batteries
may be in a hot engine room dictating a 90 or 100 dF setting for the regulator)
and the charger a different setting (an ambient temperature of 70 or 80 dF at
the dock with shore power driving the charger and no engine(s) running to
generate heat).
So ... given your battery type and the battery temperatures WHEN THEY ARE
BEING CHARGED, set the regulator and the Link in accordance with the manual that
is the correct manual for your version of regulator or Link. On boats I train
on or deliver, I always go through the entire setup procedure for the Link
meter to ensure a previous owner has not specified an incorrect variable. Also, I
always recommend that 50% be set as the "low battery discharge floor" (F09)
so that you get the red flashing light at 50-59% of capacity remaining rather
than at the default setting of 0-20% of capacity remaining. By then (0-20%)
it's too late! Remember the rule: discharge to 50%, recharge to 85%.
Capt. Gary Corn and Capt. Gail Eades
"Captains On Call"
Custom Tailored Training For Boaters, Systems Instruction, Deliveries
(941)518-3445
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