rherten
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2020
- Messages
- 29
- Vessel Name
- Emelyn
- Vessel Make
- North Pacific 36
I've been trying to solve an issue with my Xantrex battery monitor for over a year.
In a nutshell the battery monitor gradually reads less than 100% full when the boat is on shore power for a while. For example I can leave the boat plugged in to shore power for days and it might get up to 95% but not 100% (Let's say -20Ah). I can surmise the batteries are topped up by checking the voltage and seeing that there are no more amps flowing in, so I'll reset to 100% and observe. Over time it will start indicating less than 100% again, or I'll go for a trip and plug in afterwards to see the monitor indicate under 100% when full. Over time if I don't re-set to 100% it will decrease more. Maybe down to 92% after another week and down to 88% after that, etc. All the time I'm pretty sure the batteries are full, judging my how long I am plugged in and looking at voltage and charge rate.
A bit more background - it was working fine on my previous house batteries (firefly AGM's) until I had them replace with Victron AGM's. 6 batteries in the bank, 12V, approx 750 Ah capacity. That seems to be what triggered the issue - I had no problem with the monitor before then. I had the Victron batteries installed by a reputable marine electrical contractor but they are unable to determine the problem and eventually told me it was likely the monitor. I went and replaced my Xantrex Link Pro monitor myself with a brand new Xantrex Link Lite and am experiencing exactly the same issue! At this point I'm out of ideas. The electrical contractor is charging me top dollar for every call back and not really solving the issue and I've been through the system as best I can with my monitor, checking connections, checking the shunt is wired properly, etc. I contacted Xantrex earlier on in the process and they cast doubt on the batteries, but I don't think that's the issue as I had the electrical contractor out since then to check.
I've experienced similar issues when charging with the shore power charger or with alternators from the engine.
Any ideas would be much appreciated!
In a nutshell the battery monitor gradually reads less than 100% full when the boat is on shore power for a while. For example I can leave the boat plugged in to shore power for days and it might get up to 95% but not 100% (Let's say -20Ah). I can surmise the batteries are topped up by checking the voltage and seeing that there are no more amps flowing in, so I'll reset to 100% and observe. Over time it will start indicating less than 100% again, or I'll go for a trip and plug in afterwards to see the monitor indicate under 100% when full. Over time if I don't re-set to 100% it will decrease more. Maybe down to 92% after another week and down to 88% after that, etc. All the time I'm pretty sure the batteries are full, judging my how long I am plugged in and looking at voltage and charge rate.
A bit more background - it was working fine on my previous house batteries (firefly AGM's) until I had them replace with Victron AGM's. 6 batteries in the bank, 12V, approx 750 Ah capacity. That seems to be what triggered the issue - I had no problem with the monitor before then. I had the Victron batteries installed by a reputable marine electrical contractor but they are unable to determine the problem and eventually told me it was likely the monitor. I went and replaced my Xantrex Link Pro monitor myself with a brand new Xantrex Link Lite and am experiencing exactly the same issue! At this point I'm out of ideas. The electrical contractor is charging me top dollar for every call back and not really solving the issue and I've been through the system as best I can with my monitor, checking connections, checking the shunt is wired properly, etc. I contacted Xantrex earlier on in the process and they cast doubt on the batteries, but I don't think that's the issue as I had the electrical contractor out since then to check.
I've experienced similar issues when charging with the shore power charger or with alternators from the engine.
Any ideas would be much appreciated!