Hi,
I have just replaced some [other brand] controllers with three shiny new Smart Solar controllers and a Venus GX (I already had a Victron 5kva MultiPlus). I have turned on DVCC mode and there is a Bluetooth temperature/voltage sensor feeding this info to the controllers.
I am struggling to understand the charge control process - can someone please explain it to me?
I was lead to believe that in this mode, all three controllers would operate together as one. With them all moving from bulk mode to asorb and then to float at the same time.
This is not what happens. They all seem to do their own thing. For example, for yesterday they each report...
Controller East
Bulk = 494min
Asorb = 19 min
Float = 297 min
Controller North
Bulk = 508min
Asorb = 205 min
Float = 99 min
Controller West
Bulk = 506min
Asorb = 194 min
Float = 109 min
In graphs showing the battery voltage, I would expect to very clearly see the three charging stages, this is not the case, the battery terminal voltage just seems to fluctuate between the programmed asorb voltage and the float voltage. I'm struggling to see how this can be a good thing for my poor battery bank. The battery manufacturer clearly states how the batteries should be charged, the voltages for each stage and the triggers for moving to the next stage. I have programmed both the MultiPlus and each of the Smart Solar controllers with these settings, but the result is a long way from what I expected to see.
Perhaps I'm missing something?
Hobohome - Australia