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Topic: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries (Read 997 times) previous topic - next topic

Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

I've a few questions about the Heart inverter/charger. One of the manuals that I downloaded from this site-- states that if you have the remote panel (as I do above the entrance door), that the switch on the inverter itself should always be left off. True?

Second -- do I have to reconfigure any settings on the unit now that I have fitted all AGM batteries (chassis and House) -- (all gel-cells were in there before).

I did take a volt meter to check voltage at all of the batteries -- with the generator running and the boost switch on. It was 14.02 volts.

Thanks,

Michael
Michael
1995 U300SE CAT 3176B Build # 4612 ("Marvin")

Re: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

Reply #1 –
For the first question the answer is yes leave it turned off at the inverter and then your remote panel will control the inverter.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

Reply #2 –
Second yes you will have to reset the charging voltage. Gel cells charge at a lower voltage setting than wet or glass mat batteries. Not sure exactly what the setting is for AGM's but I think it it much closer to wet cells.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Roland Begin –
Gel cells charge at a lower voltage setting than wet or glass mat batteries. Not sure exactly what the setting is for AGM's but I think it it much closer to wet cells.

That's a question that's been asked before.  I recall Aubrey Lee (from FT) recommending the wet/flooded cell setting for AGMs.  When I posed the question to the Xantrex folks in 2007 (when we switched from gel to AGM) and gave them the charging recommendations/spec sheet for our batteries, they said to use the Gel setting. 


Our Xantrex Prosine 2.5 manual shows the following voltages (it doesn't have a "AGM" setting)

                                    Absorption / Float Voltage (Volts)

                            Cold                  Warm                    Hot
Flooded            14.8 / 13.9          14.4 / 13.5          14.0 / 13.1
Gel                    14.6 / 14.2          14.4 / 13.8          13.8 / 13.4


Cold, usually below 50 °F / 10 °C
Warm, usually 50–80 °F / 10–27 °C
Hot, usually above 80 °F / 27 °C

The Trojan 8D AGMs we have in our coach have the following charging voltage info from the datasheet

Daily Charge
14.1 – 14.7
Float
13.5

CHARGING TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION
.028 VPC for every 10°F (5.55°C) above or below 77°F (25°C) (add .028 VPC for every 10°F (5.55°C) below 77°F and subtract .028 VPC for every 10°C above 77°F).

For the first 5 years of these AGM batteries' life, we left the Prosine on "gel".  While at the GV, when the question was asked of Aubrey again, we changed it to "flooded".  We very rarely boondock or run off the inverter, so I have no useful observations on what, if any, difference it's made/making.

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

Reply #4 –
My Xantrex 2.5 also has no AGM setting so I set it at wet. The solar charging is custom set by AMSOLAR for AGM and most of the year they are charged by solar. I will see what that setting is in the morning and post if anyone is interested.
John
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

Reply #5 –
Just found this interesting graphic from The West Advisor: Battery Charging

Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

Reply #6 –
Doesn't all this become irrelevent when the engine is running and alternator is force feeding a set voltage?
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

Reply #8 –
Chuck,

Alternator charge goes through the .5v drop at the isolator, charging house batteries at about 14.1v.  Adjustable voltage regulators can be installed in the alternator to permit fine tuning output voltage.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

Reply #9 –
Chuck:
You didn't mention what kind of coach batteries you currently have installed but, I would set your engine alternator no higher than the float voltage of your batteries so as not to overcharge them when driving.
I have my engine alternator set at 13.5  measured at the coach batteries after the isolator as I am running gel batteries.  I could have set it at 13.8 but erred on the safety side just in case.  I have seen some coaches charging at over 14 volts and that would not be good for me to my way of thinking.  My batteries get charged by solar everyday so mostly they have a perfect charging regimen.
Regards,
JON TWORK KB8RSA
Full Time RVer (10+ Years) & Dedicated Boondocker
Retired, Unemployed, Homeless Transients
1996 Foretravel U270-36 w/24' Timberwolf Trailer
I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my remaining obligations.
Welcome to WeRV2 (Under Construction)
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The Second Amendment is in place in case they ignore the others.
 

Re: Heart Interface, Inverter and Batteries

Reply #10 –
Chuck,

I just fitted all AGM's for both the chassis and house. I'll check into tweaking settings if necessary -- after talking to the place I bought all of them from.

Thanks for all the info. So much to learn...
Michael
1995 U300SE CAT 3176B Build # 4612 ("Marvin")