250Ah 12 v gel battery charging. Need help

**Brnsingh** · 12-08-2021, 03:51 PM

I am thinking of using absorption at 28.8 and float at 27.6 .
Because of shipping. FLA was not available at the Ah needed.
I am stuck with GeL

**Bala** · 12-08-2021, 04:15 PM

I have sealed batteries and the manufacturers specs gives a voltage at which they start gassing, my set point is just below that.

**Mike90250** · 12-09-2021, 02:00 AM

Do they have golf carts in the Caribbean? Those often have 6v, 200ah batteries. Golf centers may be able to get batteries ( FLA or AGM ) for you.

**Brnsingh** · 12-09-2021, 06:15 AM

Yes, 6V golf cart batteries are on back order. Covid has created a shipping nightmare..and the cost now is beyond belief.
On an island ,"beggars can't be chosers". I have to take whats availabe at present. Yr expertise is greatly appreciated in deciding set pts for these Gel batteries.

Since the charge and float voltage would be lowered..should I remove all load on the battery while charging?

**Brnsingh** · 12-09-2021, 07:44 AM

I have 2 views after some reading.

1. Set Bulk/ absorb/ float all at 28.2

2. Or set absorb at 28.2 and float at 27

Help please.

**Bala** · 12-09-2021, 07:17 PM

All I can say is keep your Max V under gassing.

if you don't have battery monitoring I would do so. I recently fitted monitoring and it makes life much easier as i get a soc reading. I know what I have used overnight and if I have put it back in day.

With the morning star controller I put on with the new batteries a few years ago it rarely goes into float so the monitor let's me know where I'm at.

**Brnsingh** · 12-09-2021, 07:40 PM

Yes I have a battery monitor. Not sure about whats the Max V to prevent under gassing.
The recommended charge range is 14.1 to 14.4 v .
I am currently using 28.2 o my 24v bank. I have selected the lower value.
I have now set bulk= absorb = float to 28.2 v. My bank is only 4 days old.
So far I see resting as 25.9 with full load on.
It ends resting prior to sunrise at 25.4 v

Because I have no experience with Gel...
Its all that was available..wanted you guys real world experience. Though not t best choice of battery.

**Bala** · 12-09-2021, 09:09 PM

By following manufacturers specs you should be under gassing. I set mine at what the supplier told me and I could hear them bubbling. I checked the specs and found they were to high so dropped them to below MaxV recommended by manufacturer.

By using your monitor you can tell if you are replacing what you use. If not you have room to go higher.

**Brnsingh** · 12-09-2021, 09:15 PM

Thank you. May I ask..what were yr settings then and now.

**Bala** · 12-09-2021, 10:08 PM

I'm not home to check but I think I was told 29v and I could hear them bubbling. Reading through the manufacturers spec I found it stated must be below 29v?

I think I'm now at 28.8v

I will be home in 2 or 3 days I will check it out.

**Bala** · 12-09-2021, 10:51 PM

I found a data sheet online. I have BAE batteries. It states that the gassing V is 2.4 V per cell, so 28.8.

Im thinking now I am at 28.4.

**Brnsingh** · 12-09-2021, 10:52 PM

Thank you so much..
I am assuming that yr battery bank also consist of Gel batteries.

**Bala** · 12-09-2021, 11:28 PM

These are what I have. 2v cells approx 600ah @ 24v

BAE USA OPzV-2V Cell - BAE Batteries USA

https://www.baebatteriesusa.com/opzv-2v-cell/

250Ah 12 v gel battery charging. Need help

250Ah 12 v gel battery charging. Need help

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