Equalizing batterys and equalizers

[jjrbus]

My manual for a Trace Dr 3624 says to remove all DC loads befor equalizing batterys.  Is a Vanner equalizer a DC load?

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi jjrbus,

Your trace has a built in equalizer so, you should not need the vanner on this battery bank.

But, Yes, it's a load on the batteries only when charging.

Nick-

[larryh]

Nick with all due respect when charging it would not be a load on the batteries. The reason they say to remove all loads is because of the high voltages put into the batteries to try to desulfate the plates in the batteries. So I would say to unhook the batteries completely from the bus except for the trace when equalizing the batteries.

I take it he must be running some twelve volt batteries off from the 24 volt system to run 12 volt fixtures etc.

Just my 2 cents worth

LarryH

[DrivingMissLazy]

The equalizing voltage is typically over 15 volts, or 30 volts for a 24 volt system. You definitely do not want this high a voltage applied to some of your electronics.
Richard

[FloridaCliff]

Hey jjrbus,

In the strictest sense of the word your Vanner itself is a load, albeit a very small load.

The devices hooked to the output of the Vanner are the real load they are talking about.

I would consider a disconnect on the output of the Vanner to remove any potential loads.

But remember the Vanner requires that the ground on the unit ALWAYS be removed first.

Cliff

[jjrbus]

Yes I am drawing 12 volts off a 24 volt system and useing the Vanner to equalize the battery bank. Vanner makes several different mdels of equalizers, the one I have a 65-60 model which does not require that the neg ground be removed first. I find it hard to belive that a product that is designed to be installed in a motorhome, marine or off grid system needs to be disconnected to equalize charge the battery bank! However the manual makes no mention of this nor do the wireing diagrams show disconnects for this pupose. Except for a negative ground disconnect, which does not apply to my model. I willl try to call Vanner monday to get an answer. Why cant anything be easy?

[FloridaCliff]

jjrbus,

Let me restate my statement.

You only have to disconnect the ground first if you are removing the +24, +12 or ground off of the Vanner.

A disconnect is good to have on any loads.

Your Trace just doesn''t want you to have a dc load operating during its equalizing, no need to disconnect the Vanner that I see.

My Vanner is operational whether the generator or battery charger is in use with No ill effects.  YMMV

Cliff

[jjrbus]

Hey Cliff, thanks for the input. The manual I have says if you have a family 1 or 2 equalizer you have to disconnect the ground first. With a family 3 or 4 the sequence is not an issue. I'm 99.9% sure you are right about the equalizer not being a load so no reason to disconnect. But with Murphy being a bus nut, I would like to be 100% sure. Are you doing eqalizing chargeing with your inverter?

[FloridaCliff]

jjrbus,

No I am not using an inverter to do the equalizing.

I have a seperate 24vdc charger for the house batts that also does the equalizing.

I can parallell the start batterys if I activate a solenoid that I put into to let the coach DC gen charge everything when the engine is on.

I have just one Vanner and the BIG print(on the unit) said to disconnect ground first.

This stuff is too expensive not to be 100% sure.

Best of luck

Cliff

[gumpy]

The Vanner 65-60 has an input range of 18-32 volts, and puts out 1/2 that range as it's output, or 9-16 volts.

Typical 24 volt battery equalizing will use a voltage between 30 and 32 volts. While this won't be a problem for the
Vanner, and the Trace really won't care if the Vanner is connected, it could very well cause a problem for some of your
12 volt stuff that's connected to the system because it will see a voltage of 15-16 volts.

If you decide not to disconnect the Vanner, I would suggest at least turning off the 12 volt supply to your coach when
equalizing your batteries. You should have a disconnect on it anyway.

craig