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21
MANUALLY SELECTING THE CHARGED
BATTERY PARAMETERS
DISCUSSION: HOW THE LINK 2000 USES THESE VALUES
The LINK 2000 allows the setup of specific charged parameters. The factory
default values have been carefully chosen to work on most systems, including constant
voltage and multiple step charging systems. The factory Charged Parameters are 13.2 volts
and 4 amps (2% of the default battery capacity of 200 Ah). This means when the battery
is above 13.2 volts and the current falls below 4 amps, for five minutes, the LINK
2000 considers the battery full.
The LINK 2000 learns the Charge Efficiency Factor (CEF) of the battery based on
the Charged Parameters. A CEF of greater than 100% is not allowed. To trigger a
recalculation of the CEF, the battery must be discharged at least 10% of declared capacity.
After this discharge, at least 100% of the energy (kWh) removed must be returned, and both
the Charged Voltage and Charged Current % parameters must be met for five minutes for
a recalculation of the CEF to occur. Amp hours consumed are automatically reset to
zero after a recalculation of the CEF. The new CEF is used during the next recharge
cycle to determine the rate that the meter counts back up toward zero.
The battery must go through several cycles for the meter to learn the CEF.
It will take several (at least six) cycles for the displayed CEF to reflect the actual CEF of
the battery.
SHOULD YOU CHANGE THE CHARGED PARAMETERS?
Please consider changing only the battery capacity unless your system falls into one
of the following categories:
1) Battery chemistry other than lead acid.
If you are using NiCad or other types of batteries you should change your Charged
Parameters to the factory specification. NiCad systems would normally use 15.5 to 15.7
as the Charged Voltage. The Charged Current % can probably stay at 2% of declared battery
capacity.
2) Charging normally ends before the current drops below 2% of battery capacity.
If the charging system is shut down before the charging current drops below 2%,
the factory Charged Current % will have to be changed. Examples might include large solar
arrays with controllers that shut off the array at a particular voltage and turn it back on at
a lower voltage, or engine-driven alternator or AC generators running large inverter/chargers
that are normally shut down before the charging current falls below 2% of capacity.
Remember, if charging is normally terminated when the current is a higher percentage
of battery capacity, the battery is probably not being thoroughly charged. If the meter
accumulates negative amp hours, it is letting you know that you must periodically remove
them by a complete charge or that you are not meeting the charged parameters.