The batteries arrived today with the MPPT and have been installed. It was late in the day before I had finshed and initially the controller went to bulk then abs.
The first thing I did was to make a stainless steel backplate to fasten the controller to and use copper and plastic tubing to keep it off the wall, only a centimetere or so.
I have also connected the 1200w inverter, but there is no other loading.
Layout of supply and controllersMay 7th Battery voltage of the 2 x S6 145's in series was 12.76. The electrolyte was high in one cell so I distributed it amongst all six.
Cable from MPPT to batteries is approx AWG 8 or 8.4㎜² (50 amps)
Could do with
See https://www.altecautomotive.co.uk/25mm2--4-awg-automotive-cable-17000amp-2040watts-rated-various-colours-available-375-p.aspMay 9th Electrolyte levels are fine
May 13th Must use VE Direct USB to set up MPPT and equalise. ✓
June 17thHave fitted a fuse box to inverter output and wiring from there to a) 6A fuse to wiring for sockets to a double socket about the workbench, a double socket by the computer platform and wire to a further socket by the steps. b) 16A fuse for cable to external socket and c) Unfused to a 3 gang row above the electric work bench.
So for power to any 1) switch on inverter, 2) switch on fuse box.
I will not be making a spreadsheet of input and output for a while.
Yeap! have bought Rolls again, this time direct from Barden UK. They also supplied the Victron controller. I have bought 2 off Rolls S6 145 (250Ah @ 20Hr) and 1 off Rolls S12 27 (105Ah @ 20Hr)
A major factor in choice is weight. I only want around 30Kg to lift. The previous HT 31 was 27.5Kg.
The new S12 27, which is one size down from the S12 31 (Prev HT 31) weighs 24.5 kg and the S6 145 is 32KgDetails for S6 145
Had to make temporary handles to move them ??
Detail to see on battery specs :-: See Comment 1 for explanation of ADVANCED NAM
Rolls S6 145 – 6V Series 4000 Battery < £193.49 : 3 Years Warranty
Physical SpecificationsWeight: 32 kg ~ 70.5lbs | Length: 25.9 cm ~ 10.19″ | Width: 18.1 cm ~ 7.13″ | Height Inc. Term: 29 cm ~ 11.4″
Volts: 6 | BCI: GC2H | Cells: 3 | Plates/Cell: 17
Terminal Type DT
Included Hardware S/S Hex Cap Screw, Nut, Lock & Flat Washer
Size & Thread 5/16″-18 x 1-1/2″
Electrical Specifications
Cold Crank Amps (CCA) 0°F / -17°C 710 Marine Crank Amps (MCA) 32°F / 0°C 888 Reserve Capacity (RC @ 25A) 484 Minutes Reserve Capacity (RC @ 75A) 127 MinutesCharge Voltage Range 2.45-2.5 V/cell @ 25°C (77°F)
(7.35 to 7.5 for 6v battery or 14.7 to 15 for two in series)
Float Voltage 2.25 V/cell @ 25°C (77°F)
(6.75 for 6v battery 13,5 for two in series)Recommended Charge Current Capacity (String) 30 A
Maximum Charge Current (String) 50 A
Self-Discharge Rate 5%-10% per month at 25°C (77°F)Hour Rate Capacity : AMP Hour : Current / AMPs
@ 100 Hour Rate 320 AH 3.2 A | @ 72 Hour Rate 315 AH 4.38 A | @ 50 Hour Rate 298 AH 5.95 A
@ 20 Hour Rate 250 AH 12.5 A | @ 15 Hour Rate 238 AH 15.83 A |@ 10 Hour Rate 220 AH 22 A
@ 8 Hour Rate 215 AH 26.88 A | @ 5 Hour Rate 198 AH 39.5 A | @ 1 Hour Rate 100 AH 100 AAmphere hour capacity ratings based on specific gravity of 1.280.
Reduce capacities 5% for specific gravity of 1.265 and 10% for 1.250.To reduce voltage drop of 12v to the main cabin I an installing a 10mm2 ring-main, that is cable going in both directions around a room, from the fuse box, giving a sum of 20mm2 conductor for both negative and positive lines.
- I've bought the cable and 24 off 10mm x 6mm crimp terminals from
Torberry Connectors at cost of £102.55 inc P&P
The pink and grey surrounding the copper are the actual covering. The darker red and black is the transparent overlay, which you can see by the join.
10mm twined flexible cable.
I bought a Weller 40w soldering iron and although it can heat the crimps enough to melt solder it cools to quickly for the 10mm cable to settle in so i had to crimp too :(
10|6 crimp terminals - As I am going to run spurs from the ring-main I am using stand-alone post terminals to which I can fix multiple wires each. I have bought 6 red and 6 black from 12voltplanet.co.uk, hence the 36 lugs mentioned above. I will make boxes to house the terminals as I progress. Cost £57.47 inc P&P
6mm studded terminal posts - I am also replacing the main cables from the MPPT to the batteries and from the batteries to the fuse box with 16mm2 cable and for which I will use 16|8 crimps for the battery connections (4 off) and 1 off 16|6 for the fuse box
- To mange the heavy cable I have bought a wire cutter (£33.23) and cable stripper (£20.50) from Farnell
Bacho 10mm wire cutter and Knipex 7AWG cable stripper
Both arrived around midday 11th Nov but the Nipex stripper is all but useless. - Have ordered 16|8 and 16|5 crimp terminals and 2 each of 15A and 30A fuses from 12voltplanet, pity I didn't get it together for one order (P&P etc.)
- Ordered 4m of red and 3m of black16mm2 from Batteries and Solar, Plymouth
- I've bought the cable and 24 off 10mm x 6mm crimp terminals from