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Victron Monitor when to recharge?

July 18, 2020, 08:23:32 am

I installed a Victron monitor a while back .I have 2 8D batteries for the house. Each 245 amps with a total of 490.
When I set the monitor upI used 50% discharge which gives me 245 available amps in the monitor setting. I am dry camping using propane and running my fans . Battery monitor shows 81% At what % should I Recharge ?

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Re: Victron Monitor when to recharge?

Reply #1 – July 18, 2020, 08:59:37 am

Stump the generally accepted idea is 50% but more cycles will be obtained if you recharge at a higher percentage of remaining amps, and less if you recharge at less than 50%. Also remember that with lead acid tech the last 10 to 20% will take more time to put in. I would cycle between 60 to 80% for longevity and less fuel used.
Also would think about solar if your dry camping.

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Re: Victron Monitor when to recharge?

Reply #2 – July 18, 2020, 09:24:41 am

Thank you.  Yes I am researching solar. I thought I'd try to get a feel for how many watts I'd need based on my usage. When the time comes to replace the 8D I am planning on going to 6v sets.
But for now ll run what I brung!

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Re: Victron Monitor when to recharge?

Reply #3 – July 18, 2020, 10:33:52 am

Stump, I would reset the BMV to the full capacity of the battery set next time you are sure it is fully charged, that may take 24 hrs on a charger.  At 50% State of Charge (SOC) you will be at a resting voltage of about 12.2 volts.  Recharge at no less than 50% SOC and charge until it gets to 100%.  Charging to less than that will eventually reduce capacity.  Battery cycles will double or more if you stay between 75% and 100% SOC.

Increasing battery capacity is always a good plan.

Figuring out how much power you use at different times of the year is a good first step for a solar plan.  Most LP refrigerator coaches will use about 2000 watts a day.  Coaches with residential refrigerators will use 3000 - 3400 watts. Every coach and user is different.

Watts on the roof  x  8 hrs of sun  x  25% overall efficiency will give you a pretty good average daily production number.  It will be 1/2 of that in the dead of winter and 2-3 times that on those few perfect summer days.  To average about 2000 watts per day you will need about 1000 watts on the roof.

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