• 05|May

    Morning Low :: ≥ 12.63 | < 12.63 | < 12.39 | < 12.03     Yield :: ≥ 900 | ≥ 540 | ≥ 230 | ≥ 100 | ≤ 90

    Morning Low is the voltage before any charge or use, if I'm up, else it is the lower value of max and min.

    Yield is the power used including power via the inverter. ~  I  Indicates Inverter Use (Fridge + +)


    26th May : ML V=12.81⇖Y=870Wh   I 
    25th May : ML V=12.70⇖Y=710Wh   I 
    24th May : ML V=12.70⇖Y=600Wh   I 
    23rd May : ML V=12.74⇖Y=550Wh   I 
    22nd May: ML V=12.84⇖Y=60Wh Low yield as the battery is near capacity and little daytime load.
    21st May : ML V=12.74⇖Y=760Wh   I 
    20th May : ML V=12.74⇖Y=750Wh   I 
    19th May : ML V=12.77⇖Y=330Wh   I 
    18th May : ML V=12.71⇖Y=820Wh   I 
    17th May : ML V=12.75⇖Y=770Wh   I 
    16th May : ML V=12.76⇖Y=370Wh   I 
    15th May : ML V=12.72⇖Y=860Wh   I 
    14th May : ML V=12.78⇖Y=810Wh   I 
    13th May : ML V=12.59⇖Y=620Wh   I  Install invoked equalisation at 15.94v with a max 4.8A for 4 hours
    12th May The Rolls S12 27 specific gravity just before installation around sunset was:
    1: 1.260 | 2: 1.265 | 3: 1.250 | 4: 1.250 | 5: 1.245 | 6: 1.250



    Yield :: ≥ 610 | ≤ 600 | ≤ 450 | ≤ 320 | ≤ 190 | ≤ 90   P : Power Tools | F : Fridge


    12th May : ML V=12.59⇖Y=960Wh  F
    Have swapped battery from Gavin's 41Ah to the new Rolls S12 27 so will be setting a new MPPT profile. 22Kw have been yeilded to the 41Ah since ???

    11th May : ML V=12.63⇖Y=790Wh  F
    10th May : ML V=12.67⇖Y=440Wh  F
    9th May ::: ML V=12.72⇖Y=700Wh  F

    8th May ::: ML V=12.83⇖Y=390Wh Inverter downgraded from Victron 1200w > SkyTronic 300w so no more power tool usage.  F

    7th May ::: ML V=12.59⇖Y=590Wh   ML 12.59 ?? The only reason I can think of is that the battery only went to float very late as I had the inverter on all day. This means that the ABS/FLT settings do not readily bring it to 100%  P  F   Also controller was reset later in the day as I disconnected to remove the inverter.

    6th May ::: ML V=12.60⇖Y=770Wh   ML 12.60 ??  F
    5th May ::: ML V=12.63⇖Y=200Wh
    4th May ::: ML V=12.67⇖Y=540Wh  F
    3rd May ::: ML V=12.67⇖Y=200Wh
    2nd May :: ML V=12.74⇖Y=500Wh  F
    1st May ::: ML V=12.63⇖Y=290Wh

  • Sofware Updates

    Victron Direct

    V5.25 26th May 2020 :: Firmware 1.50
    V5.24 23rd May 2020 :: Firmware 1.50
    V5.23 22nd May 2020 :: Firmware 1.50
    V5.22 19th May 2020 :: Firmware 1.50
    V5.21 18th May 2020 :: Firmware 1.50
    V5.19 6th April 2020 :: Firmware 1.46 ？ Download but no updated version numbers ？
    V5.19 20th February 2020 :: Firmware 1.46
    V5.18 16th February 2020 :: Firmware 1.46
    V5.17 5th February 2020 :: Firmware 1.46
    V5.15 22nd December 2019 :: Firmware 1.46
    Update downloaded but no change
    V5.15 13th December 2019 :: Firmware 1.46
    V5.13 5th November 2019 :: Firmware 1.46
    V5.13 30th October 2019 :: Firmware 1.42
    V5.9 15th September 2019 :: Firmware 1.42
    V5.9 11th September 2019 :: Firmware 1.39
    V5.8 18th July 2019 :: Firmware 1.39
    V5.7 9th May 2019 :: Firmware 1.39 :: Manual download and install successful.
    V5.7 8th May 2019 :: Firmware 1.39 :: Download failed as a file could not be extracted from the zip
    V5.6 7th May 2019 :: Firmware 1.39
    V5.5 2nd May 2019 :: Firmware 1.39

    V5.4 9th March 2019 :: Firmware 1.39
    V5.3 12th February 2019 :: Firmware 1.39
    V5.2 on 9th January 2019 :: Firmware 1.37

    V5.1 on 5th July 2018:: Firmware 1.37
    V4.8 on 5th July 2018

  • New Inverter

    Managed to retrieve an old extension lead to run a 4" angle grinder, but at 710watts the inverter cut out after 1/10th second so I'm researching inverters that will do 1Kw

    Looks like a Victron may be good especially as maybe 'Made in India'
    http://www.windandsun.co.uk/products/Inverters/Victron-Inverters/Victron-Inverters :: windandsun.co.uk/ . . . /Victron-Inverters

    VP-12/1200 Victron Phoenix 1200VA, 12V in, UK Outlet £334.32+VAT=/=£400
    Const 1000W Peak 2400W
    image of old design

    https://calstock.org.uk/media/blogs/elf/docs/vp12~1200.pdf vp12~1200 :: Manual and Data
    https://calstock.org.uk/media/blogs/elf/docs/vp12~1200_dim.pdf ::vp12~1200 : Dimensions

  • Hydrometers

    Update: May 23rd 2020
    I broke the glass containers on both the hydrometers mentioned below and have bought a premium claibrated (0.002) sg @ some £54. A Durite model 472 It has a range of 1.22 to 1.3 so the scale will also be larger than the previous buys.

    I have ended up buying two hydrometers. I first called Plymouth Battery Centre who informed me they had a glass model at £19 which I thought was a bit expensive so when I went to town I thought I'd look around before I took the mile or more walk to Prince Rock.

    The Toolshed could get a glass model for £5 and the car shop next door had the same model for £2.99, which I bought. When I went to the Plymouth Battery Centre to buy some red and black covered multi-core cable I decided to buy the hydrometer they had anyway, which cost £14.50 eventually.

    The better model from Plymouth battery Centre is the one on the left, although you cannot see the coloured scale. It is supplied by Gordon Equipments under the name DURITE model 0-070-00 ; range 1.15 to 1.40; accuracy 0.01. All parts are individually replaceable.

    The difference in readings is notable.

    Concerns regarding the cheapo

    1. The float diameter is much smaller than the container diameter so the readings are at an angle.
    2. On the side of the container the float rests, the surface tension of the acid draws the liquid further up the side of both, giving a distorted view.
    3. The scale is on the small side so not so easy to read.
    4. And of course there's the idea that the calibration is off.

  • Plymouth Battery Centre CRAP!

    Unit 349-354, Faraday Mill Trade Park | 8:00am-6:00pm
    https://www.plymouthbattery.co.uk/ 01752 227637

    **Some notes on this business.**

    I have spoken to two people mostly, Richard and Marc. My first contact with Richard seemed ok and they agreed to test the capacity of a couple of batteries. When I took two in I met with Mark who explained they would test the batteries by discharging and then charging and discharging to see what the capacity is after a full charge. This was late on a Friday. On Sunday I had a missed call to say the batteries were badly sulfated and what did I want to do about it. When I called back I spoke to Richard who didn't have exact details. I was bit put out by this and even more so once I understood he is the son of the guy I used to deal with when it was a small unit some 30 years ago.

    Read more »

  • Victron MPPT 150|60

    For the workshop. 3 x REC 250w input in series to 250Ah 12v Rolls S6 145

    Low temperature cut-off

    This setting is available when a VE.Smart network is set-up and the battery temperature is available (e.g. by for example using a Smart Battery Sense or a Smart BMV with the optional temperature sensor). It can be used to disable charging at low temperatures as required by Lithium batteries.

    For Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries this setting is preset at 5 degrees Celsius, for the other battery types it is disabled. When creating a user defined battery the cut-off temperature level can be adjusted manually.

    See the VE.Smart Network manual for details on what devices are capable of transmitting temperature.
    Manual Equalization - Start now

    Selecting 'Start now' on 'Manual equalisation' allows manual initiation of an Equalization cycle. To allow the charger to equalize the battery properly use the manual equalize option only during absorption and float periods, and when there is sufficient sunlight. Current and voltage limits are identical to the automatic equalize function. The duration of the equalisation cycle is limited to a maximum of 1 hour when triggered manually. Manual equalization can be stopped at any time by selecting 'Stop Equalize'.