Rotating Batteries and Burning Bushes [RE-wrenches]

[Ezra Auerbach, Xantrex]

I remain a fan of 2 Vdc cells for battery configuration.  A string of them
allows me easy connection with power going in one end of the string and out
of the other (figuratively speaking).  I've run my current set of  Global
Uhasa tubular plate cells for over a decade with great results-this is to
say they are not dead yet and will stand up for at least one more winter if
not a few..(Source: Davidson Battery Service Vancouver B.C. great battery
suppliers.)  I do run my voltage high setting bulk at about 30 Vdc with eq
voltage getting to 31.  Water them a couple of times a year.  (O.K. I admit
I never water them but my darling on the other hand...)  We have no heat
problems here and cold is not extreme either so other than deep discharge
(morning voltages in mid 23 Vdc range before giving up waiting for wind and
starting the generator) during winter months they have an easy life powering
up a 4 kW inverter and a two person home, office and shop.

It was indeed great seeing a bunch of "us" folks at ASES and MWREA.  Sure
nice to have the event at their RE powered "home".  My favorite spot was the
tracker/trellis.

Ezra
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Lane, Energy Conservation Services" <tom at ecs-solar.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2002 7:40 AM
Subject: Rotating Batteries and Burning Bushes [RE-wrenches]


I have noticed a swelling at the terminals on the first and last Trojan L-16
in 48 volt battery banks. In some cases I have had to replace battery #1 and
#8 and #1 and #4 in a 24 volt bank. A German engineer who works with diesel
engines and trace invertors on large systems recommends rotating batteries.
All my batteries use 40 cable from all the + to - on the batteries. I asked
Richard Perez about the swelling phenomenon at MREA last week. HE said that
the first and last battery with large draws from an inverter have a
capcitator type of effect and he suggests rotating batteries if invertors
are used. He said that larger the cables - the worse the effect. One come
systems in the past I have rotated #1 and #8 with #4 and #5.

NOTE: All batteries had plenty of water that had the swelling problem. And
feedback on rotating batteries? Richard said he would write an article on
this.

The MREA Fair was great - it was nice to meat other old gray beards who have
been rolling the sun up the hill for so many years. It got me juiced up in
the age of deadly global burning BUSHES and other Texas homegrown dopes
transplanted to Florida.

-Gator Tom

PS: One water miser cap's benefit is that you can check the water level
without removing the cap. Hydrocaps sometime turn to charcoal dust when
equalized. Hydrocaps are sandwiched carbon cylinders with a platinum screen.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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