Frank B
Well-known member
I am running into all kinds of wildly different information on optimum charging voltages and curves for flooded cell GC-2 batteries.
Interstate has figures of 14.4 volts bulk, 15.3 for absorb, 13.4 for float, and 15.6 for equalize (for a pair in series).
Progressive Dynamics has settings on their Charge Wizard of 14.4, 13.6, 13.2, and 14.4 for the same steps.
The shore power PD converter is WAY low compared to what is being asked by a major battery manufacturer.
Solar controllers are often programmable, and with a high enough voltage solar array, one can program in the higher figures that Interstate is suggesting. And Interstate is not the only company suggesting the higher figures than what the reputable Progressive Dynamics converters offer.
So, who is right?
And, if that were not enough, unless you have a very long day, getting a bank of batteries up to 15.3 volts for the absorb stage with solar may be quite a trick.
I was surprised to find so little discussion of this topic in the forum, and such wildly differing information on the web. Can anyone make any sense of this? Or is it that it just doesn't matter that much?
Frank.
Interstate has figures of 14.4 volts bulk, 15.3 for absorb, 13.4 for float, and 15.6 for equalize (for a pair in series).
Progressive Dynamics has settings on their Charge Wizard of 14.4, 13.6, 13.2, and 14.4 for the same steps.
The shore power PD converter is WAY low compared to what is being asked by a major battery manufacturer.
Solar controllers are often programmable, and with a high enough voltage solar array, one can program in the higher figures that Interstate is suggesting. And Interstate is not the only company suggesting the higher figures than what the reputable Progressive Dynamics converters offer.
So, who is right?
And, if that were not enough, unless you have a very long day, getting a bank of batteries up to 15.3 volts for the absorb stage with solar may be quite a trick.
I was surprised to find so little discussion of this topic in the forum, and such wildly differing information on the web. Can anyone make any sense of this? Or is it that it just doesn't matter that much?
Frank.