battery charging question, specs on crown cr-225 battery

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the way the mx-60 outback charge controller is configured,
does bulk charging up to 14.40 volts, absorbtion charging
for 2 hours at 14.40 volts, then float at 13.40 volts.

when i asked crown about this, they stated to change the float
to 13.50 volts; here is what the crown rep sent me:

are you saying that after the absorption mode is achieved, should be
bringing the batteries
up to 15.7 volts on every full recharge?, interesting, have never read
this before.
my charge controller drops to float after the absorption mode is done.

Voltage limiting batteries to 14.4 will not allow them to gas or fully
charge. Electrolyte stratification will surely begin to happen. As an
absolute minimum the battery voltage needs to get up to 15.5 volts to
fully charge.

does anyone have a comment on this?
can the mx60 be configured to do this, such as setting
equalization to every day?

 

[wmbjk]

the way the mx-60 outback charge controller is configured,
does bulk charging up to 14.40 volts, absorbtion charging
for 2 hours at 14.40 volts, then float at 13.40 volts.

The defaults are easily changed.

when i asked crown about this, they stated to change the float
to 13.50 volts;

Sounds reasonable.

here is what the crown rep sent me:

are you saying that after the absorption mode is achieved, should be
bringing the batteries
up to 15.7 volts on every full recharge?, interesting, have never read
this before.
my charge controller drops to float after the absorption mode is done.

Voltage limiting batteries to 14.4 will not allow them to gas or fully
charge. Electrolyte stratification will surely begin to happen. As an
absolute minimum the battery voltage needs to get up to 15.5 volts to
fully charge.

Any battery I've ever seen gasses pretty well at 2.4V per cell.

does anyone have a comment on this?
can the mx60 be configured to do this, such as setting
equalization to every day?

Yes, the MX60 can be set to equalize at 1 day intervals. But I think
you need to talk to a different Crown rep before deviating so far from
normal practice. Their web site seems to advise a weekly equalization.
Charging voltage limits are given as 2.5 to 2.7V per cell, "dependent
upon the type of charging equipment used". It also says
***************
"if a high charging rate is continued after the battery has been
brought to its gassing voltage, the gassing becomes excessive, and
abnormally larger amounts of hydrogen and oxygen gases are produced.
The best indication of excessive gassing is a very noticeable
“bubbling” action of the electrolyte and high electrolyte
temperature."
*******************
I expect that if you were to set absorption voltage at 2.7V per cell,
the result would meet the above definition of excessive gassing.

If you can't get a better answer from Crown, then you might adjust the
MX60 defaults up a little at a time if you think you need to,
carefully checking the results as you go.

You might also post to the MX60 user forum here
http://www.outbackpower.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=9

In this thread
http://www.outbackpower.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=531&highlight=crown
another Crown 225 owner discusses his absorption setting of 14.6V.

Wayne