Plea for "Edge-O-Cation" [RE-wrenches]

[Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection]

<x-flowed>Baran,
Another possibility is low peak-to-peak voltage out of the generator. 
Since the transformer in the 2424 is actually doing it's thing based 
on peak-to-peak, it's critical. Grid is 164, most gennys run about 
155 or so under load. I've seen p to p as low as 140. If that were 
the case in your scenario, you would pass no current at all when the 
battery voltage was around 28 and damn little if it were much over 
26.5.
The Onan 6500 has a pretty good rep, but you could have one with a 
faulty regulator. Also check the p to p coming out of the T240 into 
the 2424. Might be flat topping you somehow.
bob-O

>This is a Plea for "Edge-O-Cation" (edge-o-caution?) on an existing 
>set-up that has been nothing but trouble for both the owner and 
>myself, the father of the bastard child of an alternative energy 
>system that I have the dubious distinction of designing .
>
>The appearances: The generator starts, the inverter (a DR2424) flips 
>into its "charge" mode, and the batteries begin to take from 50 to 
>60 Amps at 24 VDC as evidenced by both a Tri-Metric and Fluke 36 
>True RMS.
>
>Now the fun begins. The batteries begin to quickly drop their 
>charging capacity over the first hour or so until they are receiving 
>one or less amps! Needless to say, the voltage can not possibly get 
>high enough to fill the batteries, and the GenMate runs the 
>generator as it has been instructed The only way, in fact, to read 
>good with a hydrometer is to run the batteries through an "equalize" 
>cycle. If this is not done, the batteries don't charge. The 
>batteries arrived new two months ago, stratified, and were revived 
>after several "equalization" cycles. While I may not have a great 
>deal of faith in the GenMate, it can not keep the batteries from 
>charging. The Onan 6500 runs the pumps when a cycle begins, and 
>feeds into a T240 (240 to 120 VAC) balancing transformer before 
>going into the DR2424. The eight L-16 HC's are grouped into two 24 
>VDC banks, each one receiving half of the indicated charge current. 
>The system works mathematically, in the sense of current conversion 
>from the batteries to the house, plus or minus efficiencies. IOW, 10 
>Amps @ 120 VAC via the Fluke RMS meter looks close to -50 Amps @ 24 
>VDC on the Tri-Metric.
>
>The question: What's happening?!? Why do "new" batteries only charge 
>to full (re: hydrometer) when they are equalized. All settings on 
>the DR are as they should be. Any insight will be appreciated.
>
>Namaste, Baran Galocy DBA HelioElectric

- - - - - - -
To send a message:
 RE-wrenches at topica.com

The archive of previous messages: 
 http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette:
 http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

To unsubscribe send a message to: 
 RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

To check out the other RE-Wrench participants:
 www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine: 
 www.homepower.com

For info contact list moderator by email:
 michael.welch at homepower.com

==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9
Or send an email To: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less.
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
==^================================================================

</x-flowed>