₦airaland Forum

adrusa:
Flooded batteries need to be equalized occasionally. I have had a set for about 6 years now, Trojan 6V in 48V configuration. Whenever I noticed a dip in the way my voltage holds up, I knew that it is time to do manual equalization. If your inverter and charge controller can not equalize, then you are in trouble.

Thanks for this info. How do you know an inverter that does equalization?

earthrealm:
5 led bulbs, unless they are about 60w each on a all 1.5kva inverter should not cause such a huge voltage drop.

Do the following and tell us.
1. Get a hydrometer and test the specific gravity of each cell in the battery, you should own a hydrometer since you went flooded battery route.do this test when the batts are charged fully.

2. Use a voltmeter to test the output voltage of the inverter, during normal charging, before battery gets full

Good day. thanks for the advise on hydrometer, will get one tomorrow.

When charging, I used my Clamp to check, it reads 12amps (i.e what my inverter is sending to the batteries). When I started charging this morning, it moved from 24.8V to 25.8V and moved to 26.3V after 2hrs30 minutes (still charging). So I think like 1V is added when charging.

During my search online, I read about sulfation. And I did the following, ran the battery for 8 hours (5 led bulbs ) and reduced the acid level to the marked points (Guess Luminous just filled to the brim without checking the max point).

Sorry, not familiar with how to use voltmeter to check battery charging capacity. The voltmeter records I post are from the installed voltmeter beside the batteries (bought this just to monitor).

pointstores:
Chech ur load

When it get to 24.2 does battery deplete fast

It was very stable at 24.2V overnight with the 5 bulbs. When I switched off the bulbs and inverter, it went upto 24.8 gradually.

Good day all. I recently got two 220AH Luminous NRGT batteries (Tall Tubular) and my inverter indicates the batteries are full. When measured with voltmeter without load they jointly read 25.6V.

But when I put load on the inverter, and put on like 5 led bulbs, the volmeter immediately drops to 24.4V. I'm surprised in the sudden drop in voltage.

Is this normal or there is something wrong with the batteries.

Inverter is Luminous Hybrid also bought newly

Good day all. I recently got two 220AH Luminous NRGT batteries (Tall Tubular) and my inverter indicates the batteries are full. When measured with voltmeter without load they jointly read 25.6V.

But when I put load on the inverter, and put on like 5 led bulbs, the volmeter immediately drops to 24.4V. I'm surprised in the sudden drop in voltage.

Is this normal or there is something wrong with the batteries.

PS. Inverter is Luminous 1.5kva Hybrid

Holmes07:
Bro get a charge controller, the charging capacity allotted to those inverter for solar modules isn't so big.
You can contact me to get the installation done for you.

You mean the charger controller sends more solar modules than the Luminous Solar Inverter system? Please help clarify.

Holmes07:
If it's still under warranty, get it back to simba.

Yes. Taking it to them over the weekend. Thanks.

Holmes07:
Hold on bro is that battery sitting on the bare floor?

No. There's a plank under the batteries.

Good day all,

Please I am trying to upgrade to Solar system. I currently have a 1.5kva transformer inverter (see pix below), and was told I will need Charger controller, solar panels etc.

I also came across Luminous solar inverter (picture attached). So, I want to know if I should just buy this solar inverter or buy charger controller for my current transformer inverter. Which is better option irrespective of cost implication please.

PS: Batteries are Luminous 200AH 12V

Good day all,

Please I am trying to upgrade to Solar system. I currently have a 1.5kva transformer inverter (see pix below), and was told I will need Charger controller, solar panels etc.

I also came across Luminous solar inverter (picture attached). So, I want to know if I should just buy this solar inverter or buy charger controller for my current transformer inverter. Which is better option irrespective of cost implication please.

PS: Batteries are Luminous 200AH 12V

dollarnaira:
Your ba3 probably not breathing well through the 3 tiny holes on it prevented by the inverter.
Reposition the inverter pls and observe or place d inverter on two solid objects to allow for proper ventilation from underneath.

Try dis, charge and observe.

Thank you.

mank1234:
Yes.
Reason: the one at 10.5V is already fully drained and would not be fully charged when your charging source is saying battery is full.

Oh. Very valid point.

I think it's best I take them to all these technicians to help charge them separately, so the batteries can read samething. Or do you think my inverter can correct this anomaly?

mank1234:
Charge it fully, measure voltage of each battery immediately inverter stops charging.
Disconnect charging source, and put on your normal load, measure the voltage again.
If there's a huge drop of voltage of one battery, it means one cell is dead. Else it could be you just need to balance the batteries.

Thanks, will do this. But must they be fully charged before doing this test?

dollarnaira:
Pls which of d two?

The one the inverter is sitting on. That's the one that reads 10.5V while the other reads 12.2V.

omotoda:
The inverter is your problem. These pure sine wave Indian inverters (1.5kva)are fixed with max charging current if 15amps max which is grossly inefficient to charge 2 units of 200 ah batteries fully especially if public power is erratic in your area.


If you are going to change both batteries ,I suggest you add solar panels if you will still maintain the inverter.

The two batteries do get full within 6-8hrs using the inverter.

dollarnaira:
If u dont run a 24v system and not on pure sine wave inverter, get a 12v inverter to run each batteries alternatively. If u keep d weak one, it will eventually sulphate over time. So run both independently and save some cash for now. But DID U BUY BOTH BATTERIES SAME TIME SAME PRODUCT? WERE THEY NEW FROM ONSET? Battery cost o.

I have a 1.5Kva 24V inverter (Treshold). Pure Sine Wave HUPS was written on it. See picture below.

The batteries (Luminous) were bought new same time, 10 months ago from Simba in Surulere, Lagos.

mank1234:
One cell is likely dead or shorted in the lower voltage battery.

Likely cause:
- charging or discharging regularly at more than 60A.
- overcharging or overdischarging
- recycled battery

The inverter system shows an indicator when fully charged and beeps if battery gets low. Since I bought it, it has only beeped like 3 times, and I switchoff immediately. So, it can't overcharge or overdischarge.

Please how can one be certain if it's dead cell or it was shorted?

cell7:
I don't think they are of same age... it's better to buy batteries with production dates or serial number written on them. With that in mind you can buy batteries of same production batch with same life span.

The serial numbers are written on them.

One ends with 2661 and another 3005.

The 3005 is the one reading 10.5V

omotoda:
What is the brand and capacity of your inverter?

Brand of Inverter is Treshold, 1.5Kva (Transformer Inverter)

cell7:
Are the batteries the same make? Do they have same production date?

Yes, they are same make (Luminous), and bought same date at Simba in Surulere, 10 months ago.

Production date is not written on them though.

ceaser:
I feel you should get acquainted with more of the common things you'll come across as a DIY solar enthusiast so as to make the experience easier and sweeter. Battery connection methods is one of those.

You batteries reading different voltages apart is what can be called "batteries imbalance" and it can present in both parallel or series connections. It has disadvantage which is that the battery with the lower voltage is likely bad, hopefully salvageable, and ultimately the bad battery will bring down the good one with it so that the two batteries eventually get bad.

Refer to the attached picture for a diagrammatic representation of battery connections.

Don't forget to visit that link posted earlier on. It will also be good for you go to thru the pages, at least skimming thru 'em if you don't have the luxury of time. It will help you to get grasp of the subject matter especially questions about the battery connection methods and problems that may arise therefrom.

Many thanks for this. I do read lots of fora (Quora, Nairaland etc.) to get more knowledge, just that dissenting views and comments do confuse more.

Kindly see below pix of my connection. I gues it's series going by the diagram you shared. Many thanks.

I will go to the thread you advised to seek more clarification. God bless.

My main issue is why one battery is draining faster than the other?

tetralogyfallot:
its cos its discharging faster than the other battery. The other battery is reading 12.2v. Simple analogy is 2 boys of the same age are running 1km race, one of the boys got exhausted @ just half the journey while the other one still got strength to continue the journey. who is stronger? If u insist d 2 of them must continue the journey d stronger one probably have to carry the weak one and by doing so he will also get exhausted n week. Hope u get it?

You gave the best analogy. God bless.

Please what's the solution to this please? Change the weak battery or change both at once?

Please help on this situation.

I have two 200AH battery, and I observed that when it shows low battery, one battery will be reading 10.5V and another 12.2V. They were both charged fully.

My concern is why is the inverter not drawing consumption evenly from both batteries. Thank you.

ceaser:
First you didn't state how the two batteries are connected - In series or in Parallel.

For more comprehensive responses from solar power enthusiasts visit this naira land thread:

https://www.nairaland.com/390522/solar-energy-complement-fta/827

Thanks for this. Please I don't know the difference between Series and Parallel connection. Hiw does this affect the battery reading please?

tetralogyfallot:
the one reading 10.5v is week disconnect them if not the other one 2 will b weekened by the week one.

Please what made you conclude the battery is weak? 10.5V means the battery is fully discharged, I think.

Please help on this situation.

I have two 200AH battery, and I observed that when it shows low battery, one battery will be reading 10.5V and another 12.2V.

My concern is why is the inverter not drawing consumption evenly from both batteries. Thank you.

Please help on this situation.

I have two 200AH battery, and I observed that when it shows low battery, one battery will be reading 10.5V and another 12.2V.

My concern is why is the inverter not drawing consumption evenly from both batteries. Thank you.

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