Help with Sterling Charger

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Solstice

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May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Just installed a Sterling UP-40 and when I started it up yesterday I left it at the default setting and everything seemed fine. After 24 hours I went into custom mode to set the charge parameters for my batteries (4x6V Rolls wet cells).
The concern is thee charger went into absorption at 14.88 (batteries were fully charged) and stayed there. The charger shows 14.8 even though it’s set to 14.7. My Fluke shows 14.88 at the terminals. I waited for about 30 minutes hoping it would drop tp float but it stayed at 14.88. I shut down the charger and called Sterling. The tech is currently traveling in the UK and wants to skype tomorrow but in the meantime thought I would check to see if anyone has any input.
I am temp compensating and wondering if this could be why and everything is normal? I will turn the charger on tomorrow when I have more time to monitor...thoughts?
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,789
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Did you check the temp of the battery? I spoke with @mainesail when I installed my charger and he advised I disconnect the temp sensor at the charger during the winter. Cold sensor means the battery can take a higher charge is how I understand it.
Keep an eye on your fluid levels
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
13,438
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
When it was at 14.88 v what was the amperage? I believe the charger has an equalization function that would put out more volts at a low amperage. Is is possible that it was in the Conditioning/equalization phase and not in the Bulk phase?
 
S

Solstice

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May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Battery temp stayed cool. I’m aware of MS advice to disconnect battery temp sensor in winter. It was in the 60s today which is why I thought the temp sensor may have boosting voltage.
Amps were low, 3.5A. It was not in equalization mode as far as settings, but sure seemed to be acting that way....thanks for the suggestions though...hoping it’s not a bad unit out of the box
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

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Jan 25, 2011
2,439
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Your charger is temp compensating. I just bought the 60 and it was doing the same thing. At 60 deg, the voltage will be slightly higher. I think the baseline temp is in the mid seventies somewhere. Turn it on and leave it on and monitor the batts. Keep in mind Sterling does not use the bulk/absorption/float annotations. If the SOC is lower, it has to make it through the bulk and absorption phases which can take some time. Sorry, the names of the charge phases escapes me right now. But float is annotated as “ready”..
 
S

Solstice

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May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Mark Maulden said:
Your charger is temp compensating. I just bought the 60 and it was doing the same thing. At 60 deg, the voltage will be slightly higher. I think the baseline temp is in the mid seventies somewhere. Turn it on and leave it on and monitor the batts. Keep in mind Sterling does not use the bulk/absorption/float annotations. If the SOC is lower, it has to make it through the bulk and absorption phases which can take some time. Sorry, the names of the charge phases escapes me right now. But float is annotated as “ready”..
Click to expand
Thanks Mark,
That’s what my hope is. Interesting on the annotation as mine definitely is labeled as Fast Charge/Absorption/Float?
Your explanation does explain why my 100 SOC batteries went into absorption when I changed the charging profile...
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,722
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Solstice said:
Thanks Mark,
That’s what my hope is. Interesting on the annotation as mine definitely is labeled as Fast Charge/Absorption/Float?
Your explanation does explain why my 100 SOC batteries went into absorption when I changed the charging profile...
Click to expand
What was the amperage being delivered to the batteries......?

All chargers start in bulk then go to absorption then float. A charger has no way to know the SOC of your battery. If it boots up and speeds through bulk in seconds and then at 14.8V senses a low percentage of the power supply being used the absorption duration will be shortened (at least with the Sterling some just start an egg-timer). If bulk takes a long time then absorption will be extended.

Rolls suggests 15.0V for absorption charging, temp compensated, for "regular cycling or PSOC use"... For "infrequent use or UPS / battery back up systems" they suggest 14.7V.
 
S

Solstice

.
May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Maine Sail said:
What was the amperage being delivered to the batteries......?

All chargers start in bulk then go to absorption then float. A charger has no way to know the SOC of your battery. If it boots up and speeds through bulk in seconds and then at 14.8V senses a low percentage of the power supply being used the absorption duration will be shortened (at least with the Sterling some just start an egg-timer). If bulk takes a long time then absorption will be extended.

Rolls suggests 15.0V for absorption charging, temp compensated, for "regular cycling or PSOC use"... For "infrequent use or UPS / battery back up systems" they suggest 14.7V.
Click to expand
Thanks Maine,
Amperage was showing between 3.5 and 6A. Interesting as I was using the settings based on what the Rolls booklet that came with my batteries is asking for, which is 14.7/13.15 when Temp compensated and 15.48-16.2 for equalization....
It sounds like you believe my Sterling is operating correctly? I’m headed down now to retry and see what happens...as always thanks for your guidance!
 
S

Solstice

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May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Solstice said:
Thanks Maine,
Amperage was showing between 3.5 and 6A. Interesting as I was using the settings based on what the Rolls booklet that came with my batteries is asking for, which is 14.7/13.15 when Temp compensated and 15.48-16.2 for equalization....
It sounds like you believe my Sterling is operating correctly? I’m headed down now to retry and see what happens...as always thanks for your guidance!
Click to expand
The batteries are 2016 EHW-220 which looks like they’ve replaced with a 210, but should fall into 4000 series....will have to give them a call....
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,722
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Solstice said:
The batteries are 2016 EHW-220 which looks like they’ve replaced with a 210, but should fall into 4000 series....will have to give them a call....
Click to expand
Rolls just recently changed their charge guidance and were a bit late to the party. The entire industry has been late to catch onto what PSOC use does to deep cycle batteries. If not for the PV world, and the research done at Sandia National Labs, we'd still be charging deep cycle flooded lead acid batteries at 14.2V - 14.4V and getting 1-3 years out of them. US Battery changed and upped voltages first, then others like Trojan, and now finally Rolls. I find anywhere between 14.7V (bare minimum) and 15.0V makes a huge difference in FDC longevity in marine PSOC applications.
 
Hayden Watson

Hayden Watson

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Apr 5, 2009
3,211
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
Maine Sail said:
Rolls just recently changed their charge guidance and were a bit late to the party. The entire industry has been late to catch onto what PSOC use does to deep cycle batteries. If not for the PV world, and the research done at Sandia National Labs, we'd still be charging deep cycle flooded lead acid batteries at 14.2V - 14.4V and getting 1-3 years out of them. US Battery changed and upped voltages first, then others like Trojan, and now finally Rolls. I find anywhere between 14.7V (bare minimum) and 15.0V makes a huge difference in FDC longevity in marine PSOC applications.
Click to expand
Maine, does the same thing apply to Lifeline AGM's? Have they changed their charge voltage recommendations?
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,789
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I think Dyno maybe a bit behind the curve with that recommendation.

It has not changed for 20 years was the word I got while picking up my batteries at the plant in 2016.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,722
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
jssailem said:
I think Dyno maybe a bit behind the curve with that recommendation.

It has not changed for 20 years was the word I got while picking up my batteries at the plant in 2016.
Click to expand
Dyno is waaaaaaay behind the times.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,722
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Hayden Watson said:
Maine, does the same thing apply to Lifeline AGM's? Have they changed their charge voltage recommendations?
Click to expand
Lifeline is still 14.4V but this is with frequent EQ's. I have been charging Lifelines at 14.6V and have seen this extend life and require slightly less EQ's. Deep cycle flooded is what we are talking about here though. There are some AGM's that allow 14.7 - 14.8V but not Lifeline or Firefly & definitely not GEL.
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
13,438
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Three years ago, East Penn recommended these voltages for GC15s placed in
series/parallel to reach 12 v:

Bulk 14.6 volts
Absorption 14.4 volts
Float 13.5 volts

So I should probably bump up the Bulk charge voltage to what? 14.8? 15.0?
 
S

Solstice

.
May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Maine Sail said:
Rolls just recently changed their charge guidance and were a bit late to the party. The entire industry has been late to catch onto what PSOC use does to deep cycle batteries. If not for the PV world, and the research done at Sandia National Labs, we'd still be charging deep cycle flooded lead acid batteries at 14.2V - 14.4V and getting 1-3 years out of them. US Battery changed and upped voltages first, then others like Trojan, and now finally Rolls. I find anywhere between 14.7V (bare minimum) and 15.0V makes a huge difference in FDC longevity in marine PSOC applications.
Click to expand
Maine,
As always thanks for clearing this up. Today I fired up the charger and it went into fast mode and cranked out 40.2A for about 20 minutes and once the fan shut down I decided to try switching to the open flooded preset to see how it would react. Ran at 14.83 for about an hour then to float at 13.65. This is what I had hoped to see. I will let it run for 24 hours to observe then move to my custom settings for the Rolls using the numbers you shared (I do have a call into Rolls).
One additional question, I believe it is your preference that the CEC setting be changed to PS so the charger doesn’t drop into standby mode?
Thanks again....
 
S

Solstice

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May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
A follow up to this thread. I’ve been running my Sterling 40 all summer temp compensated at a custom setting of 14.8/13.3. The batteries consistently showed they were receiving 14.95/13.56 and I attributed this to the temp compensation.
However this weekend I disconnected the TC preparing for winter storage and I was surprised to see the same readings. I know I have a constant .1A draw from things like the battery monitor and panel lights but my question is shouldn’t the charger put out what it’s set to when removing TC?
Amps are 3 coming in while in bulk and go to zero at absorption. Just trying to understand the behavior and ensure I does have a faulty charger (purchased this year). I am running in PS mode..
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
13,438
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Double check your battery settings. This summer my ProNautic 50 (aka sterling) started acting up and not charging the house bank and when it did the numbers were way off. When crawled into the locker I saw that the setting had changed from custom to gel on battery 2. Nothing is connected to the battery 2 output. Once I changed the settings back all was fine.

I think that some weird random event occurred that caused the button to be pressed changing the setting. Another item on the to do list is to protect the button.
 
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