Our previous posts about solar bank maintenance have included the following subjects:
Solar Maintenance for Unattended Systems
Equalization Techniques for Solar Battery
Solar Battery Charge Controller Adjustments
Renewable Energy System Maintenance
Now, let’s address some important things to consider when replacing your solar bank in an existing system.
New Solar Battery Bank vs Old Solar Battery Bank
You will need to change your charge controller settings, as your bank ages. If you think about it, a new solar bank will react differently than an older bank. As your solar bank ages, its capacity will tend to decrease. The older it is, the more apparent this will be. As your solar bank aged, you probably found that you needed to increase your absorption voltage or time, in order to achieve a full charge. Even with the same daily draw. What used to be a 40% DoD might now be 50% DoD. As the DoD increases, the voltage and time on charge must increase.
New Solar Bank Charge Controller Settings
When replacing your solar bank, it’s best to start with some initial settings. We suggest the following to start:
| Voltage Setting | Volts/Cell VPC | 12 Volts | 24 Volts | 48 Volts |
| Daily Charge (Absorption) | 2.42 | 14.5 | 29.0 | 58.1 |
| Equalize | 2.58 | 15.5 | 31.0 | 61.9 |
| Float | 2.25 | 13.5 | 27.0 | 54.0 |
Remember, these are only starting points. With any new solar bank, you need to monitor hydrometer readings and true open-circuit voltage. Your goal is to fully charge your bank 4 hours prior to
use. Monitor the state of charge, especially during the first few weeks after installation. If you don’t see a full charge, you need to increase your absorption charge, voltage or both.
As always, American Battery Corporation is here to answer your questions or concerns. Give us a call or stop by – we love to solve problems. Remember, “We Sell Batteries – Knowledge and Service are Free”.