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Battery Absorption
When do you choose to have your absorption rate for your batteries engaged?
For example, just going from “pole-to-to” would you place absorption on “0” vs. 2 or 3 hours? Is there some hourly criteria (1 or 2, etc.) that you used your batteries without them being charged via the coach, shore, or gen?
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11 Replies
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I leave my Bulk/Absorption time set to “0” as you are doing. If I don’t use the batteries, I just leave it that way and check the voltage every once and while to assure float is doing the job and showing around 26.6v. When taking a trip, if I use the Cruiseairs on inverter, I then change the setting to 2.5 hours and allow a Bulk/Absorption charge when again on shore power.
Works for me, you’re sure to hear other opinions, but it’s all about cycles on the Lifelines.
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My two previous coaches did not have inverters or chargers that allowed the customization of the charging protocol to the extent charging cycle times could be adjusted. So now that I have one that probably can be set to do anything I have never given it any thought other than to change my charge current to 10 amps because if I am not driving or at a power pole, I am running the generator.
My house batteries, even without a modified charge to try to extend their life have always given me a trouble free 5 years. I probably would do far more with the charging cycle if we dry camped without running the generator so my experience has to taken in context.
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So just sitting here on shore, my batts show 13.2 / 26.2. I believe I’ve seen them go up to 28.3, depending on the situation.
What’s the “fully charged” voltage the batts would have to fall below before you have to purchase new batts?
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That’s a trick question.
The voltages you show are bulk / absorbtion and float.
With not charging current going into the batteries and the batteries having lost their “surface” charge you likely will see somewhere around 12.8 volts. As batteries age the normal loads you impose on your batteries will deplete the batteries in less and less time.
If I go all night with no shore power or generator power to my coach my refrigerator and other normal loads will drop my battery voltage to around 25 (12.5) or maybe a little less volts. I have seen it as low as 24.4. (12.2). I will know my batteries are nearing their end of life when the voltage reaches the point when by batteries are very low in the morning, such as below 24 (12). At that point I will do an equalization charge. The batttery manufacturer likely has their instructions for such a charge. Usually that brings the batteries a little more life, but I know I have to start thinking about replacing them. So far five years of life has left me with batteries that can go all night and I will not have to have the generator start.
I haven’t pushed my battery life. Don’t need the grief.
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Those volts were in float. I can also go about 12 hours when dry camping …
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Your batteries have a lot of life left. But Tom needs the business to pay for the new house, so buy a set anyway.
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We just replaced the house batt’s (8), so I figured we bought a couple of bathroom tiles in his new McMansion. Geo.
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Has everyone noticed Tom is incredibly silent on how much dues we are collecting? He doesn’t want anyone to know that when he doubled the dues last year it enabled him to build a new house?
Just sayin……….
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You didn’t buy from me Geo, sniffle, sniffle, I’m hurt….
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I got ’em from Parliament…too old to put ’em myself. Geo. Ps. I’ll give you some tile.
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OK you’re redeemed..
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