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Old 08-09-2021, 04:38 PM   #1
hemiallen
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First draw down-recharge Li, this look right?

3120 2021 Montana.

300Ah Battleborns, ran the fans, tv, etc and got them down to 68% as per my Victron smart shunt. Started the recharging using shore power through the PD4575 with Li charge setting. Batteries showed 13.22v static, power 27W, consumed 105.2Ah which matches the 68%. Max shown was 14.58V.

At recharge, charge voltage was 13.50 and ramped up to 13.61. I thought it should have been 14.4, like it showed when the initial setup was complete before draw down test. In 3 minutes it went up to 69% but was still 13.6v ( I tried to use the WIZARD button but it's disabled, I assume) and it was running 52.01A, and 618W ( not sure what that indicates). After a few jumps in percentage, which was about every 3 minutes, it still showed what I thought should have been 14.4v at 75A recharging, it still was 13.6v ~46-48A depending on where the recharging I logged down. After 3 hours I went back out and found the Shunt told me the batteries are 100% and lo and behold they are at 14.58V.


I of course called PD a few minutes after they closed for the day.

Anyone know why I didn't get full recharge voltage and Amps from the PD?

I also have I believe a transfer switch problem. My test was to be using my Honda 2000i generator, but it throws a red light for ground fault, and no recharging. I found it might be a grounding issue with the Genny, found how and ran a ground wire from the generator to the RV's battery bay ground screw for the leveling system bolted to the frame. Still has a ground fault.

Any help appreciated

Allen
 
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Old 08-09-2021, 05:42 PM   #2
Carl n Susan
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I can't help with the Li voltage level, but the "Open Ground" fault with a Honda (or any portable) generator is an known phenomenon. The surge protector expects a normal shore power supply which has a grounded plus leg. Portable gennies don't have this. You need to buy or build a "bonded neutral" plug to make the surge protector happy.

Here are a few previous discussions on this topic:
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=36921
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=84078
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=56406
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Old 08-09-2021, 06:44 PM   #3
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For the lithium batteries you can compare the voltage to the State of Charge (SOC). I made this table for my brand of lithium batteries. You can probably find the same table on BB website.
Sometimes you have to sync the Victron BMV-712 when it's at 100% soc based on the voltage.
With the Victron 100/30 MPPT solar charge controller, Sometimes you have to play with the settings, although the default lithium setting is fairly accurate.
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Old 08-09-2021, 07:31 PM   #4
hemiallen
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Thanks Carl. I used the male plug I had for grounding to the frame and followed Mike Sokol's image and made a grounding plug, now to label it to remember what it's for, lol. My wall checker plug confirmed the generator has an open ground and was happy when I used the new jumper plug.

Thanks Daryl

Surprised yours seems different than mine, but will make a chart like you did to help determine state of charge in case I can't get my phone to work. I do see the In Command says 14.7v when the Victron says 14.58!

Now to wait until PD opens to explain the 13.6v vs 14.4, and sub 75A charging.

Aaron at Battleborn confirmed they would like 14.4 to recharge them. Hoping it speeds up the recharging , 3 hrs is a lot for 30% discharge to fully recharged, I believe.

Allen
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Old 08-09-2021, 07:58 PM   #5
rames14
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Allen, I believe I figured about 4-5 hours from dead to full, so 30% in 3 hours is underperforming. Good luck with your discussion with PD.
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Old 08-11-2021, 01:21 PM   #6
hemiallen
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Still trying to determine why my 75A converter / charger is not giving 75A. After conversations with PD I located an extra factory connector to add another 4 gauge wire of the output. I ran it through the doorway directly to the positive of one battery. The shunt shows an increase from 46A to 53A charge rate, but still shunt and VOM show 13.6v. Now the kicker, at the converter I get 14.v volts, and the factory red 4 gauge at the convenience bay's battery disconnet it has 14.06v, and the output of the disconnect is 13.97, so the switch has little loss.

Next step is to run a separate 4 gauge from the disconnect to the battery and see if I can get closer to 14v at the batteries, and hopefully ~70A to recharge the batteries.

Getting closer to just buying a large A battery charger and call it good.

Allen
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Old 08-11-2021, 04:52 PM   #7
Daryles
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Getting 75A out of the converter....
That's a lot of current.
For my batteries the max charge rate is 65A and the batteries would have to be at or less than 10% charged. I've never let them get that low.
To get the rest of the 75A you would need to turn on a few more 12vdc draws.
The furnace pulls about 11A.
Water pump 7A.
Every light you have, on maybe 10A.
Hydraulic pump 94A
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Old 08-11-2021, 05:09 PM   #8
hemiallen
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Thanks

Clarification

The recharging is with everything in the coach off, just the entry light is on and drawing about an amp. This is just recharging the batteries, no load.


And I believe Battleborn says 50A per 100Ah battery is ok, so I think when I get the 4th I CAN run 200A for recharging, although the charger is another story, lol

If my drawdown boondocking plans exceed 68% and shutting everything off for recahrging, I hope I don't need to run the generator the 3 hours recharging this test shows I'll need.



Allen
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