Need help reseting system for new house batteries

[Phil H / Chicago]

OK guys, I just replaced all six 6 volt house batteries with new ones that have a 232 Ah capacity each. It had 6 volt batteries that I took out, but I don't know anything about them except they were shot. I have the Heart 2500 Source manager and Link 1000. As I read the very confusing (to me) manual it suggest I reset the system and then enter the proper Ah capacity for the new batteries. The factory default is 200 and now that the batteries I am using are 232, what number do I use? I am getting confused about the concept of taking the two 6 volt batteries and doubling the value. So do I take 232 x 2 = 464? Or since I have six total batteries do I take the 232 x 3 = 696? This is all about as clear as mud to me.

I know since  the factory default setting is 200 then 232 is not off by much but guess I should do it correctly right? 

Thanks, Phil

[Hartley]

Uh...

If each 6 volt battery is 232 ah and you have two in series then the total ah would be 1/2 of the 232 @ 12 volts.

I have 8 ea 6 volt Batteries @ 232ah in FOUR groups of 2

so each group would be 116 ah X the number of groups, In my case
it would be 4 groups X 116 ah for total of: 464ah total for the bank.

I guess the difference would be if you old batteries were rated at 200ah
and the new ones rated at 232 ah. the actual difference would be 64 ah
greater @ 6 volts or 32 ah greater @ 12 volts.

You could probably leave the default settings which would probably just
come out at a little extra reserve power for later. If your programming was set for a higher charge/discharge rate and you went lower on battery capacity then I would worry about the settings. This way you are fairly safe.

Dave.....

Dave'd and Confused.....

[DrivingMissLazy]

In my opinion you have a total battery bank capacity of 12 volts @ 232 x 3 = 696 amps. That is assuming you have three sets of two batteries connected in series for a 12 volt system.

Richard

[gmbusguy1]

I agree with Dave, 232 ah in series= half or 116 ah

Chris

[DrivingMissLazy]

Why do you feel the amp hour capacity should decrease just because the batteries are connected in series?

One battery is rated for 232 amps at 6 volts. Each battery is good for 1392 watts. 6 volts times 232 amps = 1392 watts.

Connect two in series and they are good for 2784 watts. 12 volts times 232 amps = 2784 Watts. exactly double the wattage available.

Richard

[Phil H / Chicago]

I way I was understanding it is I have three sets of two 6 volt tied together in series making three 12 volt batteries rated at 232. It is a 12 volt system. That's the reason I was thinking I would take 232 x 3 = 696

Phil

[Hartley]

Why do you feel the amp hour capacity should decrease just because the batteries are connected in series?

One battery is rated for 232 amps at 6 volts. Each battery is good for 1392 watts. 6 volts times 232 amps = 1392 watts.

Connect two in series and they are good for 2784 watts. 12 volts times 232 amps = 2784 Watts. exactly double the wattage available.

Richard

What? 

Series is additive on voltage, divisive on current. Twice the voltage reduces the total current available. The wattage theroetically stays the same as a single 12 volt battery.

6 + 6 = 12

232@6v+232@6v= 232@12volts. ( aka 116 per battery while in series )

I know it doesn't make sense to many but that is how it works....

[H3Jim]

Amp hours requires a voltage to go with it to be meaningful.  Its not just 232 amp hours, its 232 amp hours at 6 volts.  Put them in series, and you have 12 volts, still the same 232 amp hours, but at 12 volts.  You have 3 sets of these 12 volt pairs, and these are connected in paralell, so in this case you get to add the amp hours.

So its three sets of 232 amp hours at 12 volts, for a total if 696 amp hours at 12 volts.


I have a similar case, but I  used 12 volts batteries, and I have 6 of them.  Each of my batteries is 200 amp hours at 12 volts, and I have 3 sets. I wired 3 sets of 2 for my 24 volt system.  I have 600 amp hours capacity at 24 volts.  I get to use 300 amp hours at 24 volts before I start to toast my batteries.  (50%)

[pvcces]

Phil, you should set your amp hour capacity at 700 on the Link.

I don't know why Dave wants to do the division, but he's mistaken in this case.

If you look at the examples in your manual, you will be able to figure it out.

Enjoy your new house bank.

Tom Caffrey

[Sojourner]

Amen H3Jim and DrivingMissLazy!

Phil H....you have it correct in your second post.

Memorize the following in your mind.

1) Ampere in series will remain the same.

2) Ampere in parallel will multiply by number of batteries.

3) Voltage in series will multiply by number of batteries.

4) Voltage in parallel will remain the same.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[gmbusguy1]

Here's an Idea to solve this problem. Call Heart and ask their Tech to answer the question?

please let those of us that think we are correct know what the manufacture has to say

Chris

[Eagle]

Call 1-800-670-0707 or 1-253-858-8481

[DrivingMissLazy]

I have to believe that Dr. Dave and GMbusguy1 went to a different electrical/electronic school than I did. I would also have to believe that ideas such as theirs could have caused them a lot of problems in the past. LOL

Richard

[H3Jim]

so GMBusguy and Dave, what did the mfg have to say? 

I am very confindent of the answer, not because I "figured it" out, nor because its my opinion, but because of the work I did with Dick Wright and my Trace inverter when I installed my system.

[gmbusguy1]

the answer is 464 ah

gotta run

chris