House Battery Equilization
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:53 am
Hi All. Can you tell I am going stir crazy since I am recovering from my recent hospitalization/Gall Bladder surgery?
For years I have been reading about the need to equalize lead acid batteries periodically The process is described in the attached PDF. Basically it is a controlled overcharge (15.5-16 volts) of the house batteries. Many battery manufactures recommend equalizing at least once a year.
I have tried equalizing my batteries over the years but was never successful. The solar controller would not provide sufficient voltage and the Trace inverter would shut off after a few minutes.
The subject has become pretty important since my house batteries took a heck of a hit while the bus was parked at my BIL house without power during Pat's hospitalization late last year (bad UTV accident - 5 surgeries!). BTW, we are a little tired of hospitals
So, I have taken my "idle" time to research the best method that will allow me to correctly perform the process. I will be using this power supply: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SW ... UTF8&psc=1. This power supply will allow me to have complete control over the process.
I will disconnect my house bank (4 sets of 2 golf cart battteries in series) from the bus system so that nothing will see the high charge voltage. I will then separate each set of the paired golf cart batteries so that I have 4 sets of 12 volt batteries. Each will be equalized independently.
If you have performend this process, let us know your method
For years I have been reading about the need to equalize lead acid batteries periodically The process is described in the attached PDF. Basically it is a controlled overcharge (15.5-16 volts) of the house batteries. Many battery manufactures recommend equalizing at least once a year.
I have tried equalizing my batteries over the years but was never successful. The solar controller would not provide sufficient voltage and the Trace inverter would shut off after a few minutes.
The subject has become pretty important since my house batteries took a heck of a hit while the bus was parked at my BIL house without power during Pat's hospitalization late last year (bad UTV accident - 5 surgeries!). BTW, we are a little tired of hospitals
So, I have taken my "idle" time to research the best method that will allow me to correctly perform the process. I will be using this power supply: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SW ... UTF8&psc=1. This power supply will allow me to have complete control over the process.
I will disconnect my house bank (4 sets of 2 golf cart battteries in series) from the bus system so that nothing will see the high charge voltage. I will then separate each set of the paired golf cart batteries so that I have 4 sets of 12 volt batteries. Each will be equalized independently.
If you have performend this process, let us know your method