6 weeks since a charge seems a long time . I would have thought you should be trickle charging contiuously at less than 1 amp to maintain the battery except when recharging after a run.
Chris S
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Matthew Geier <matthew@...> wrote:
>
> On 27/06/10 22:59, Capt. Mike wrote:
> >
> >
> > Matthew:
> >
> > Thanks for the report. I'm curious about the particulars. Like what
> > type of batteries? What voltage is your bank?
>
> 6 x Trojan T145s, giving me a 36v system.
>
> > Sounds like you could benefit from a solar panel for charging. I've
> > used primarily a solar panel and my wind generator during winter layup
> > and they kept my 210 amp AGM bank topped up the entire winter here in
> > the U.S.
>
> By specification I have a 260AH bank, but that's the C20 rating.
> Trojan give the batteries 215AH at C5 which more accurately reflects my
> usage.
>
> When I hooked up the charger yesterday, about 6 weeks since their last
> charge, the charger when straight to 30A charge current - I could hear
> the batteries bubbling, so the electrolyte was getting a good stirring.
> I went away and left it, I don't know how quickly the charger started
> backing off the current. Normally it only does 30a charge current for
> about 5 minutes, it drops back to 20A for the bulk of the charge cycle.
>
> Given my cost of utility power, the cost of a suitable solar panel and
> charge controller would probably take years to pay off - probably longer
> than the Trojan's will last!
> It is on my 'to do' list however, but I might actually get a full solar
> 'co-generation' set-up for my house and bled off some of the DC from the
> panels to do the bulk charging of the boat as well.
>
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