I have to admit that in the 2 yrs that my boat has been in commission, I
haven't been able to fully complete an Equalization charge.

When ever I set the charger/inverter to Equalization Charge it never
gives me any indication that it completes this function. I always
assumed this was because of the main bank size (~800ah) and the chargers
max output of 110 amps..

Now, I finally completed the installation of my 100 amp alternator and
my AutoMacII charge controller. In reviewing the charging and
Equalization procedure for this unit, I understand that the battery bank
should be full charged BEFORE the Equalization phase.

I haven't tried this with the Alternator charge controller because I
seldom charge this way long enough to reach a full charge state.
However, I did get the main bank to a full charge state with the
Charger/Inverter today but now when I press the Equalization button I
get a HI Batt. light and the unit switches back to Float Charge.

So I guess my question would be, do you Equalize after or before FULL
Charge????

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I've never seen any docs that say one way or another. I'll take
a look at my copy of Handbook Of Batteries to see what it says.
I always
equalized mine starting from a full charge with good results. I've also
never had a charger that could determine when equalization is
complete. Normally, 4 hours is sufficient and my StatPower
charger would cut out after 4 hours just to make sure the
batteries were not destroyed.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Steve" wrote in message
...
I have to admit that in the 2 yrs that my boat has been in commission, I
haven't been able to fully complete an Equalization charge.

When ever I set the charger/inverter to Equalization Charge it never
gives me any indication that it completes this function. I always
assumed this was because of the main bank size (~800ah) and the chargers
max output of 110 amps..

Now, I finally completed the installation of my 100 amp alternator and
my AutoMacII charge controller. In reviewing the charging and
Equalization procedure for this unit, I understand that the battery bank
should be full charged BEFORE the Equalization phase.

I haven't tried this with the Alternator charge controller because I
seldom charge this way long enough to reach a full charge state.
However, I did get the main bank to a full charge state with the
Charger/Inverter today but now when I press the Equalization button I
get a HI Batt. light and the unit switches back to Float Charge.

So I guess my question would be, do you Equalize after or before FULL
Charge????

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I believe my Xantrex charger manual indicates you equalize when the
batteries are fully charged. With my charger I think it stays at
equalization voltage until you switch back. Also think they recommend 4
hours maximum equalization charge. (All from poor memory though. Will check
manual).

You might try running from batteries for an hour to drain off surface charge
and then see if your charger will go into Equalization mode.

Are you back from a sailing vacation? Haven't seen your posts for a while.

"Steve" wrote in message
...
I have to admit that in the 2 yrs that my boat has been in commission, I
haven't been able to fully complete an Equalization charge.

When ever I set the charger/inverter to Equalization Charge it never
gives me any indication that it completes this function. I always
assumed this was because of the main bank size (~800ah) and the chargers
max output of 110 amps..

Now, I finally completed the installation of my 100 amp alternator and
my AutoMacII charge controller. In reviewing the charging and
Equalization procedure for this unit, I understand that the battery bank
should be full charged BEFORE the Equalization phase.

I haven't tried this with the Alternator charge controller because I
seldom charge this way long enough to reach a full charge state.
However, I did get the main bank to a full charge state with the
Charger/Inverter today but now when I press the Equalization button I
get a HI Batt. light and the unit switches back to Float Charge.

So I guess my question would be, do you Equalize after or before FULL
Charge????

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Yes, I'm just wrapping up my summer cruise of Puget Sound. I head back
to my Host Boat moorage at Hood Canal on Monday. That's a three day
light only) trip even though I'm only 6 miles away by land.

Back to the Topic:
I resolve the problems and answered most of my own question.

I determined that I had HI Resistance connection on the Plus battery
terminal and a voltage sense wire was loose and false HI BATT condition.

After resolving this, I was able to complete the bulk and absorption
phase, overnite. This morning I set the equalization cyle for 2 hrs or
when the voltage reaches the 'PreSet'. In slightly less than 2 hrs the
automatic control switched back to float/absorption.

In all this learning process, I have been making notes of calibration
setting for future reference.


My Inverter/Charger is the Exide 2000 Platinum with semi automatic 110
amp charger. Since Exide now claims to be out of the inverter business,
I hold my anytime I suspect something is wrong. However, even after one
major DC cabe/terminal melt down and a few hot cable events, I have
found problem lies in their "Wimpy 5/16" terminals which are not up to
the torque or stress load for the recommended "doubled" (2 per terminal)
1 GA cables.

I have replaced the burned out negative termimal with a 3/8" bolt and
phenalic insulator (instead of plastic). When I get back to the dock I
will replace the Positive one.

This unit is surprisingly easy to work on, with most circuit fearly
straught forward. However, so far my problems have been mostly
mechanical/electrical and haven't involved the elex control area.


Steve
s/v Good Intentions


Gordon Wedman wrote:
I believe my Xantrex charger manual indicates you equalize when the
batteries are fully charged. With my charger I think it stays at
equalization voltage until you switch back. Also think they recommend 4
hours maximum equalization charge. (All from poor memory though. Will check
manual).

You might try running from batteries for an hour to drain off surface charge
and then see if your charger will go into Equalization mode.

Are you back from a sailing vacation? Haven't seen your posts for a while.

"Steve" wrote in message
...

I have to admit that in the 2 yrs that my boat has been in commission, I
haven't been able to fully complete an Equalization charge.

When ever I set the charger/inverter to Equalization Charge it never
gives me any indication that it completes this function. I always
assumed this was because of the main bank size (~800ah) and the chargers
max output of 110 amps..

Now, I finally completed the installation of my 100 amp alternator and
my AutoMacII charge controller. In reviewing the charging and
Equalization procedure for this unit, I understand that the battery bank
should be full charged BEFORE the Equalization phase.

I haven't tried this with the Alternator charge controller because I
seldom charge this way long enough to reach a full charge state.
However, I did get the main bank to a full charge state with the
Charger/Inverter today but now when I press the Equalization button I
get a HI Batt. light and the unit switches back to Float Charge.

So I guess my question would be, do you Equalize after or before FULL
Charge????

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Sounds like the Exide charger is as crappy as their batteries.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Yes, I'm just wrapping up my summer cruise of Puget Sound. I head back
to my Host Boat moorage at Hood Canal on Monday. That's a three day
light only) trip even though I'm only 6 miles away by land.

Back to the Topic:
I resolve the problems and answered most of my own question.

I determined that I had HI Resistance connection on the Plus battery
terminal and a voltage sense wire was loose and false HI BATT condition.

After resolving this, I was able to complete the bulk and absorption
phase, overnite. This morning I set the equalization cyle for 2 hrs or
when the voltage reaches the 'PreSet'. In slightly less than 2 hrs the
automatic control switched back to float/absorption.

In all this learning process, I have been making notes of calibration
setting for future reference.


My Inverter/Charger is the Exide 2000 Platinum with semi automatic 110
amp charger. Since Exide now claims to be out of the inverter business,
I hold my anytime I suspect something is wrong. However, even after one
major DC cabe/terminal melt down and a few hot cable events, I have
found problem lies in their "Wimpy 5/16" terminals which are not up to
the torque or stress load for the recommended "doubled" (2 per terminal)
1 GA cables.

I have replaced the burned out negative termimal with a 3/8" bolt and
phenalic insulator (instead of plastic). When I get back to the dock I
will replace the Positive one.

This unit is surprisingly easy to work on, with most circuit fearly
straught forward. However, so far my problems have been mostly
mechanical/electrical and haven't involved the elex control area.


Steve
s/v Good Intentions


Gordon Wedman wrote:
I believe my Xantrex charger manual indicates you equalize when the
batteries are fully charged. With my charger I think it stays at
equalization voltage until you switch back. Also think they recommend 4
hours maximum equalization charge. (All from poor memory though. Will
check
manual).

You might try running from batteries for an hour to drain off surface
charge
and then see if your charger will go into Equalization mode.

Are you back from a sailing vacation? Haven't seen your posts for a
while.

"Steve" wrote in message
...

I have to admit that in the 2 yrs that my boat has been in commission, I
haven't been able to fully complete an Equalization charge.

When ever I set the charger/inverter to Equalization Charge it never
gives me any indication that it completes this function. I always
assumed this was because of the main bank size (~800ah) and the chargers
max output of 110 amps..

Now, I finally completed the installation of my 100 amp alternator and
my AutoMacII charge controller. In reviewing the charging and
Equalization procedure for this unit, I understand that the battery bank
should be full charged BEFORE the Equalization phase.

I haven't tried this with the Alternator charge controller because I
seldom charge this way long enough to reach a full charge state.
However, I did get the main bank to a full charge state with the
Charger/Inverter today but now when I press the Equalization button I
get a HI Batt. light and the unit switches back to Float Charge.

So I guess my question would be, do you Equalize after or before FULL
Charge????

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Hi Steve
Hope the cruise was a good one. The weather has certainly been
co-operating.

Nice that it turned out to be nothing more than bad connections. I've found
that even with tight connections a film of corrosion can prevent a good
connection so I now spray all my connections with "Boeshield T9" which I
think is basically wax in a solvent.

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Yes, I'm just wrapping up my summer cruise of Puget Sound. I head back
to my Host Boat moorage at Hood Canal on Monday. That's a three day
light only) trip even though I'm only 6 miles away by land.

Back to the Topic:
I resolve the problems and answered most of my own question.

I determined that I had HI Resistance connection on the Plus battery
terminal and a voltage sense wire was loose and false HI BATT condition.

After resolving this, I was able to complete the bulk and absorption
phase, overnite. This morning I set the equalization cyle for 2 hrs or
when the voltage reaches the 'PreSet'. In slightly less than 2 hrs the
automatic control switched back to float/absorption.

In all this learning process, I have been making notes of calibration
setting for future reference.


My Inverter/Charger is the Exide 2000 Platinum with semi automatic 110
amp charger. Since Exide now claims to be out of the inverter business,
I hold my anytime I suspect something is wrong. However, even after one
major DC cabe/terminal melt down and a few hot cable events, I have
found problem lies in their "Wimpy 5/16" terminals which are not up to
the torque or stress load for the recommended "doubled" (2 per terminal)
1 GA cables.

I have replaced the burned out negative termimal with a 3/8" bolt and
phenalic insulator (instead of plastic). When I get back to the dock I
will replace the Positive one.

This unit is surprisingly easy to work on, with most circuit fearly
straught forward. However, so far my problems have been mostly
mechanical/electrical and haven't involved the elex control area.


Steve
s/v Good Intentions


Gordon Wedman wrote:
I believe my Xantrex charger manual indicates you equalize when the
batteries are fully charged. With my charger I think it stays at
equalization voltage until you switch back. Also think they recommend 4
hours maximum equalization charge. (All from poor memory though. Will
check
manual).

You might try running from batteries for an hour to drain off surface
charge
and then see if your charger will go into Equalization mode.

Are you back from a sailing vacation? Haven't seen your posts for a
while.

"Steve" wrote in message
...

I have to admit that in the 2 yrs that my boat has been in commission, I
haven't been able to fully complete an Equalization charge.

When ever I set the charger/inverter to Equalization Charge it never
gives me any indication that it completes this function. I always
assumed this was because of the main bank size (~800ah) and the chargers
max output of 110 amps..

Now, I finally completed the installation of my 100 amp alternator and
my AutoMacII charge controller. In reviewing the charging and
Equalization procedure for this unit, I understand that the battery bank
should be full charged BEFORE the Equalization phase.

I haven't tried this with the Alternator charge controller because I
seldom charge this way long enough to reach a full charge state.
However, I did get the main bank to a full charge state with the
Charger/Inverter today but now when I press the Equalization button I
get a HI Batt. light and the unit switches back to Float Charge.

So I guess my question would be, do you Equalize after or before FULL
Charge????

Steve
s/v Good Intentions