Battery types & distribution, over time [RE-wrenches]

[Andrew Bortz]

Thanks John, Allen & Bob-O for your excellent responses.
Sorry to hear about the L16s, given that I've got some out there!

>"I set my bulk voltage set point higher than God intended it to be. Out,
damned sulfation, out!" >
Sez' he (Bob-O)!
So Bob-O, would you be suggesting that higher bulk voltages (15VDC per 12
volter perhaps?)
could substantially reduce the need for equalization?

>Since I also use Hydrocaps, frequent watering isn't needed for the first
five years or so until the Hcaps start to deplete.>
At ~$20? per year for Hydrocaps on an average battery bank that seems like a
decent investment, given the labor time involved in watering!

Andy B.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection" <econnect at snowcrest.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2002 7:05 AM
Subject: Re: Battery types & distribution, over time [RE-wrenches]


> Andy and all,
> I agree that the flooded lead-acid are the best bang for the buck in
> most remote homes. I used Trojan exclusively for many years, but I've
> moved away from them after several bad batches of L-16s had cell
> failures three years or so into a well maintained life. I can only
> surmise that QC went into the crapper at some point and, of course,
> Trojan wasn't copping to it. I've switched to Dyno. These are made in
> WA and were what Trace Engineering (remember them?) used for years on
> their burn-in stations. Same specs as the Trojan L-16 but five pounds
> heavier. Some of that weight could be case or electrolyte capacity,
> but some has to be lead as well. More lead equals mo'betta, IMO.
> Unfortunately, I've only been using them a couple of years, so time
> will tell...but not yet.
> I too, set my bulk voltage set point higher than God intended it to
> be. Out, damned sulfation, out! Since I also use Hydrocaps, frequent
> watering isn't needed for the first five years or so until the Hcaps
> start to deplete. I eyeball them every month or so. The SB50 is still
> the best way to go for PV (I use shunt load regulation for my hydro
> and wind inputs) , but I'm happily anticipating Outback's MPPT
> offering coming soon. I may have a beta unit in my system by the end
> of July if all goes well.
> Best,bob-O
>
> >
> >A piece I'd like to add to the watering issue:
> >My own home system has a 1kW array, 24V with 12 Trojan T105s: very
mundane
> >stuff. The array is pretty hot relative to battery size, around a C/20
> >charge rate sometimes. We use an SB50 Solar Boost. I have the bulk
setpoint
> >pretty high, around 30V, and it runs to 31.2 or so in winter. Most sunny
> >days we charge full year-round.
> >I add water twice a year, and I never have exposed plates from having
waited
> >too long. I think that one of the unheralded benefits of the Solar Boost
is
> >that it uses the net charge rate needed to maintain bulk setpoint in
order
> >to determine acceptance (absorption) duration before dropping into float.
> >That is, if the batteries are in good shape and able to absorb finish
> >current, there is no time-determinate absorption cycle. So I gas every
> >cycle, but not to an excess that necessitates frequent watering. We also
the
> >remote shunt feature, so the absorption cycle remains more or less
> >independent of the system loads, too. It's a pretty nice unit.
> >Allan at +E
>
> --
> Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection
> PO Box 203, Hornbrook, CA 96044
> 800.945.7587 or 530.475.3402
> fax 530-475-3401
> www.electronconnection.com
>
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