Batteries

[banjorene]

I have four us2200xc6 volt batteries giving me 12 volts 450 amp hours
I'm trying to find the specs for all charge rates,max charge ,float,etc.
I have not been able to find it . Any help gets a big Thank You
Rene

[mike95490]

Google can't find that string [ us2200xc6 ]

So you should have a mgf name & model # on the batteries.

Rule of thumb, normal charge rate, about 10 % of rated AH, so 45A charger would likely be safe.

Our Host, wind-sun has a battery page http://store.solar-electric.com/batteries.html
and a deep cycle battery FAQ http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm that has some of the info in it, but really, the battery Mfg has the last say on the specs you seek.

The first thing , is what style of battery are they, Flooded (with fill caps on top) AGM, Gel, or what ?? They battery type does influence the voltages at different charging stages, if a sealed AGM battery was to be charged like a flooded cell, it would be destroyed in a few weeks.

[niel]

it would appear they have a high absorb voltage by the pdf here from the manufacturer. each 6v battery fully charged = 7.75v or more and for 2 in series or 12v systems it's 15.5v or more.
http://www.usbattery.com/usb_images/warr_chart_2008_a.pdf
they don't specify a float voltage and that you can email them for, but i'd suspect around 6.75-6.9v. multiply by 2 for 12v.
btw the ah 20hr capacity is 232ah for your battery so in parallel this creates 464ah.

[BB.]

From the US Battery Website:(typed manually from img file) (http://www.usbattery.com/usb_faqs.html)




C/10 charge current (20 Hour rate AH Capacity)
Charge until 2.583 per cell (7.75@6v, 15.50@12v)
Hold voltage for 2 to 4 hours then stop charging.
Charge time = 10 hours
Reduce charge voltage by 0.028 volts per cell for every 10F above 80F, increase voltage by same amount for every 10F below 80F.
Float: 2.17 volts per cell (with above temp adjustments--13.02 volts for floating a "12 volt" battery bank)

Link to home page (http://www.usbattery.com/usb_index.html) and to their download PDF page (http://www.usbattery.com/usb_pdfs.html) for other product information (including cycle life vs discharge chart).

Their sizing recommends multiply AH requirement by 2.4x... 2x (50% max discharge), +20% (for aging). Don't discharge below 1.200 specific gravity.

Typed in the information to make it easier to fine in Wind-Sun forum when searched.

-Bill

[banjorene]

Thanks everyone
Neil your correct on the amp hours I just like the number 450 I guess.

[niel]

banjorene,
you're welcome and you might want to double check with the manufacturer on these voltages as it goes from very high absorb to a bit low on float imho.
bb,
i missed that float voltage spec and that in general seems low to me. most controllers may have difficulty going that much of a spread between absorb and float as many are limited to up to 2v like blue sky or the xantrex c series that don't have the ability to go over 15v on absorb, but can float at 13v.

[BB.]

Niel,

Yea--every vendor seems to have its own spin on charging/maintenance...

Sounds like US Battery likes to charge "hard" (pretty much an equalization/stirring charge every cycle) and then float at just above the "full charge" level of the battery... Will use a bit of water when charging--but probably hardly anything when floating/storage... When the battery is "put back into service" after a winter's float--probably would not hurt to run a charge cycle through it first.

-Bill