Prosine 2.0 will not go to float

Hi Hayden,
I don't see how swapping connections a bit, as suggested would change anything. Is this a new behavior, or has it been this way?

We have Blue Sky 2000e older (lower current) version of 3000i. And old Heart Inverter/Charger (now Xantrex) with old Link 2000 Controller. All charge sources are connected to battery plus (all batteries connected in parallel). All charge sources include: Heart Freedom 2000, BlueSky 200e, KISS wind, and Balmar 150A Alternator (with Link voltage regulator). We can be plugged in, with solar on, and both chargers will go to float voltage when fully charged. Same if running on engine, with solar on. Wind generator has no controller - just manual on/off. If wind is on, while sailing (motor off), it confuses the Blue Sky and solar cuts back it's charging. (Blue Sky thinks battery voltage is fine and does not need charge).
For negative connections, all loads connect to 500A current shunt, and current shunt goes to battery negative - all connected in parallel.

As for not going to float - could Xantrex be OK, but solar charger be too high and not cutting back? I don't recall Blue Sky algorithms, but if controller thinks the batteries are accepting a lot of current (charge going to batteries), it may not cut back. And if so, the solar would keep voltage up. On our Link System, battery acceptance (at 14.5 volts or so) must be lower than 6 Amps to go to float. I set the current to 1% of 600Ahr capacity (6 x Gp27) (or maybe I set it to 2% - don't recall) I'd have to read Blue Sky manual to review their rules for cutting back.

Our Link System can measure load on battery, as well as output from alternator and/or charger. By subtracting the load currents from the total charge current, the Link System knows how much is going to the battery. So it's fairly smart.

The Blue Sky system is totally independent, and has to figure out by itself.
I''l check their manuals for the 3000i and see if I find any hints that could cause this.

More later - - Drew

Hi Hayden,
I did some reading on your manuals for the BlueSky and the Xantrex. Of note - both have extensive and complex setup procedures. If not set correctly, it could cause problems.

On BlueSky, the default settings look reasonable for Island Spirit. But if the settings got gronked, and Float got turned off, (possible to set it this way) the voltage would stay at 14.25v, rather then 13.8 (or whatever float is set to). Setup looks rather painful, but doable. Would be good to review and make sure it's set the way you want.

On Prosine2.0, the Xantrex User manual shows default values that might mess things up for you. There is no provision to measure load current. It only measures the output of the charger. The default settings are for a 200Ahr system (2 batteries). And seems to only go to float if/when charge current drops below 1% of C - ie: 2Amps. On the other hand, it should time out after 8hrs, then go to float. Might take some more study on that for me. Looks like it would go back to Acceptance, if the charge current (including load) came back high again.
At least if looks that way to me.

If it really works the way I described, then sitting at the dock, with fridge turned on, or any other load greater then 2 Amps - it could keep going back to 14.25 volts for 8 hrs, whenever a load kicked in - - fridge, bilge pump, or ??

Good luck finding the cause, and checking things out. Definitely review setup for both BlueSky and Xantrex to make sure they still have settings that you wanted.

Fair Winds,
Drew

Hi Hayden,
I’m not an engineer, and Drew certainly seems to have a better bead on this topic than I can hope to. The one small, but maybe useful, contribution I can make is to note that all DC charging devices should be attached to the same battery. I have two banks of solar panels fused separately but mastered by a Blue Sky 3000i (the tech support people were incredible in helping me get setup and finding the least expensive source as well! Highest recommendations.) and a wind generator. The charger and inverter are separate, but the inverter is attached to the same battery as well. As I’m writing, I realize I can’t say where the charger is attached. Sorry. But the one battery principle is pretty important, I’m told. Can’t evaluate it as an EE.

See you on the 4th. In Delaware City now and making my way south. Looking forward to finally pressing flesh and thanking you in person for all your help!
Steve