Equalise Using Microcare MPPT.

[Dave]

Can anyone telll me how to perform an equalise charge with 2 x 60 amp microcare mppts?

I have a microcare 10kw inverter, 2 x 60 amp mppts and 24 Mte 25 1660 ah cells. 

On the roof I have 24 x 245 watt art solar panels   We are totally off the grid  

Edit. I have read the manual many times. 

Edited May 1, 2016 by Dave

[Mark]

My suggestion with limited knowledge of the Microcare...  are they not being equalised already? ie check the voltage of the bank and see the max voltage and when (if) this happens, and for how long... 

1. Set the Equ Charge on the MPPT's (same for both) based on battery specification. 

2. On a nice sunny day disconnect all loads so the Inverter can dedicate itself to get the batteries charged (and equalised).

3. Let it run... 1660ah is big so this may take some time...(hopefully the paenls can provide enough power).

Hope this helps.

 

Edit:  Since you have a nice cold few days coming to Hilton and hopefully some clear skies this should be a perfect time to get this done... panels will be super efficient (check they are clean as well).

[Dave]

Did not equalise for long and SG is only on 1,22. I am wondering whether it is over watering by my right hand man or sulphated cells caused by shallow charging. 

[Dave]

I think I will add another 12 panels and a 60 amp mppt. 

[Mark]

You can set the length of equalisation charge on the MPPT... what is it set to now?

[Dave]

Thanks Mark. 

The only setting seems to be auto to manual. Auto will start equalising if the mppt records 10,5 volts per 12 volt bank. 

I set it to manual and the mppts did an equalise charge for about an hour. 

I was wondering whether i could set either the inverter or mppt to a boost charge of 60 volts? I know that the amperage has to be kept low , 5% of battery amps. 

 

[Mark]

Sorry for the delay...

Before you add more kit why don't you:

• set the Boost Voltage to 15V (edited from 16) (Menu 9.2)

• set the Boost to Float time to 2 hours (Menu 9.3)

• and monitor when the Boost Voltage is close to 16V

The you will be in effect equalising the bank using the boost voltage setting (for Max 2 hrs) ... when you hear the batteries bubbling nicely then keep an eye for gassing and revert the Boost voltage to 14.5 when you feel its had enough.... Watch them carefully... you don't want to over charge/equalise!

I don't know the batteries or the MPPT well enough but Microcare should also be able to help.

Regards

Mark

LCD MPPT Manual - 21-01-2014 - Print.pdf

[Dave]

Thanks Mark. 

This afternoon i did exactly what you outlined above. The only difference being that I did the boost at 15 volts for about 2 hrs. I read some where that 15 volts was roght for those cells. The SG seems to be improving but still not right. I'm going to have words with FNB tomorrow morning. Hopefully I will have more clarity then. I will also phone microcare for more clarity on the equalising. I feel I need more panels because we put in a 20m lap pool with a 1,5kw pump. This and the pressure pump that i had to put in to get my gas geysers to run properly were unaccounted for in my calculations. 

[Mark]

Sounds good. Can to 60a mppts not handle to 25 panels. You could rethink the way the strings are configured..

Aslo maybe one string can face more west to catch more late pm sun...

I would have thought 120a of mopt is more than enough.

Sent from my SM-G800F using Tapatalk

Saying that 1660ah is BIG[emoji2]

[Mark]

Thanks Mark. 

This afternoon i did exactly what you outlined above. The only difference being that I did the boost at 15 volts for about 2 hrs. I read some where that 15 volts was roght for those cells. The SG seems to be improving but still not right. I'm going to have words with FNB tomorrow morning. Hopefully I will have more clarity then. I will also phone microcare for more clarity on the equalising. I feel I need more panels because we put in a 20m lap pool with a 1,5kw pump. This and the pressure pump that i had to put in to get my gas geysers to run properly were unaccounted for in my calculations. 

Can you measure each cell and also your soc. .. The victron bmv702 is an excellent investment to measure accurately...

What is the max amps you are getting from mppt X2. You will need over 50amp per mppt I guess.

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[Mark]

Is 15v the boost or equalisation voltage for the batteries...

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[Dave]

I have a microcare battery monitor. According to the monitor the system is 100% charged. According to the SG of the cells it is not charged. Once the battery was 100% charged I changed the boost to 15volts (or 60 across the whole bank). I was being cautious. After I have spoken to FNB and Microcare tomorrow I will have a better idea of how to proceed. 

Off topic - i have discovered how valuable a device that could turn on things like pool pumps and geysers at the appropriate time would be. 

[Dave]

Success! I spoke to FNB and MC today. The MPPTs have a function to do an equalising charge. 

I ran three cycles and the SG is rising. 

[Mark]

Nice... can you explain how they recommend doing this and how things are happening...

Thanks

[___]

I read this whole thread thinking something must have changed on the MC charge controller, but the one I had had two buttons on the top right. The one cycled through the various stats screens, while the other one changed the charge mode. Press it once and it drops into float. Press it again and it goes into equalise.

Is it still like that?

[Dave]

It's still like that. Nothing has changed. The manual completely fails to mention this. 5 minutes on the phone with microcare cleared everything up. Apparently I need to go on their two day training course. I'm doing the next best thing. I'm sending my factory electrician. I have no experience with any other solar equipment, but it seems to me that their stuff is good and their manuals are bad. On the good side though, their technical staff have infinite patience for a customer who can't even wire up a plug. 

First National Battery have promised to send me a technical manual. Apparently they do not normally give them out!

A friend of mine has just, in his words, blown up his battery bank through ignorance so I would rather be clueless and concerned than ignorant and blissfull.  My battery is up to 1.24 now so things are improving. 

Any tips on where to buy panels?

Are solar world panels worth the 2,5 times price tag?

[Mark]

Amazing... 2 day training course to equalise the batteries... I booked a course with them but they wouldn't accept me because I wasn't going to distribute their product or work for a company which did!

The manual needs a serious update... I don't see Plonksters mention of the charge button to swop modes anywhere!

[Guest]

Hold on. FNB wants to share a secret and Microcare does not want to share, unless you come for 2 days training, and then T&C apply?

Pray tell this is not happening.

Every controller I ever bought from Phocos, Morningstar and Victron over the years had detailed instructions on how to equalise batteries either automatically every X days or manually yourself, if you feel the need with all the related warnings of excessive voltages. And the battery suppliers, always more than willing to share information on equalizing.

@Richwost can you maybe contact your connection at Microcare and ask them the question re. equalizing?

[Chris Hobson]

4 hours ago, Dave said:

.........so I would rather be clueless and concerned than ignorant and blissful.

The concerned feeling rapidly leads to acquisition of knowledge. The purchase of the right batteries, safeguarding and maintenance of ones investment is where 70% of ones focus should lie. The focus of monitoring software should be what is happening to my batteries. I am guilty of also looking at production and efficiency etc but ultimately the batteries are the core of the system and potentially a very expensive component if you do not look after them.

 

2 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Hold on. FNB wants to share a secret and Microcare does not want to share, unless you come for 2 days training, and then T&C apply?

The installer is not going to keep coming back to tweak the system. It has to be operator driven. Information at the users fingertips should result less comebacks. If there are setting that the installer needs to set once then make them jumper settings or an inaccessible menu.

[___]

14 hours ago, Mark said:

I don't see Plonksters mention of the charge button to swop modes anywhere!

I would say that is an omission. The manual does contain detailed instructions on how to change just about any other setting, so I hardly think that manual equalisation is more dangerous than any of those other settings such that it has to be omitted from the manual and reserved for the training course. This sort of thing happens to manuals, I know, I've written a few README files in my life (and still had to answer questions from users) :-).

In my case, I think I pretty much figured it out on my own. I discovered the two buttons on the top, and started pressing them to see what they do. The End... :-)

[Dave]

The biggest problem is that i'm impatient and everyone was closed over the long weekend. Microcare are always very helpful on the phone. Their sales manager has told me that they are re writing the manuals. 

I have learnt a hell of a lot in the last few days. I have also decided to increase my system by 50% 

[DeepBass9]

On 03/05/2016 at 9:48 PM, plonkster said:

I read this whole thread thinking something must have changed on the MC charge controller, but the one I had had two buttons on the top right. The one cycled through the various stats screens, while the other one changed the charge mode. Press it once and it drops into float. Press it again and it goes into equalise.

Is it still like that?

Hmm, didnt know that, I'll give it a try. I usually equalise every 2 or 3 months using my inverter  and generator.

My mppt did detect an unbalanced state at one point and enter equalisation automatically.

[Jaco De Jongh]

Evening all. I also need some info about equalization charge and decided to add to this post instead of starting a new one.

For the guys that are use to equalization, do you mind giving me some kind of idea of what amps were drawn (when you started and maybe an hour or 2 later)

Please include your battery bank capacity, and the voltage you use on your specific bank.

1:I am trying to determine if there is any relationship between the different types of batteries.

2: I am trying to figure out more or less what current to expect should I attempt an equalization charge.

Thanks in advance