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Topic ClosedLeaving Battery on Solar Controller
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Grant177 View Drop Down
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Joined: 15 Mar 2020
Location: Edmonton, AB
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Posts: 65 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Leaving Battery on Solar Controller
    Posted: 30 Mar 2020 at 9:03pm
I've done a lot of looking around, but I cannot seem to find a specific answer....is it OK to leave a flooded lead acid on a solar controller for a longer period of time?

Example, can I put the battery in my trailer in a storage yard, and just let the controller keep it topped up?  It's a decent, 4 stage, MPPT, but I just can't seem to find the answer.

Grant
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Mar 2020 at 9:17pm
Yes. The Solar Controller will (if properly programmed), act as a float charger for FLA batteries. In the case of LiFePO4 batteries, float mode is not used.
StephenH
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Grant177 View Drop Down
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Joined: 15 Mar 2020
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Posts: 65 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Mar 2020 at 10:20pm
Thanks.  It does have a specific setting for FLA so that is what it is on at the moment.  It is not sealed, so I am not sure how often or the need to check electrolyte levels, but I'll check often until I get a feel for it...
Grant
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2020 at 6:53am
You’re on the exact right track. To maintain full charge and assure electrolyte mixing in a flooded battery the controller has to produce some hydrogen gas in the cells, so water will be consumed. Exactly how much will depend on the controller, the battery temp, and how sunny it is. So check the water level often, like every couple of weeks, until you know, and then check again when the season changes. Also, if your controller has terminals for battery temperature compensation you might get a temp probe for it and implement that feature, if you haven’t already.
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geewizard View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 Apr 2017
Location: Spokane
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Posts: 347 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2020 at 7:52am
I leave my 50 W solar panel connected to my batteries all the time when not camping.  I have a Morningstar MPPT controller and two group 27 batteries.  I've been doing this for two years without any issues.
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Colt View Drop Down
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Posts: 383 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2020 at 11:28am
I'm doing exactly that with a 25 watt panel and a Battery Tender charge controller. 


John
'16 R-Pod 180
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