steaming batteries [RE-wrenches]

[sunwise]

I don't know if this answer has come up yet, but if you have mist
(steam) coming out of a cell when the battery is under charge, the cell
is shorted.  At a minimum that particular battery in the string is bad
(often the whole string or battery can be effected).

Kurt Nelson

-----Original Message-----
From: Kirk Herander, VSE [mailto:kirk at vtsolar.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2003 9:30 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: steaming batteries [RE-wrenches]

Group,
I got a service call from a customer. He has -12- 6 volt T105 batteries
wired in 3 sets of 4 to obtain 24 volts @ 660 ahr total. The batteries
are
charged by a SW4024 and a Kohler 10RY (10 kw) generator. He told me one
of
the three strings needed water every day because they would immediately
boil
during battery charging.

When I arrived the generator was on, and the string in question was
literally steaming, while the other two strings appeared to charge
normally,
with overall battery voltage at 28.8 volts. The fumes were overwhelming.
I
shut down the system and an hour later the batteries were still boiling
and
super hot. I was able to safely disconnect the string. I expected to
find
one or more shorted cells, but the 4 batteries all measured a normal
voltage
of 6.3 volts. I found no evidence of any type of short in the cabling.
The
inverter to battery cables were wired properly in an "opposite corner"
config to create a uniform resistance. The battery bank is roughly 6 mos
old
and there were no problems until this. Any theories on the cause would
be
most appreciated.

Kirk


Vermont Solar Engineering
a Xantrex / Trace Certified Dealer Charter Member
Kirk Herander
PO Box 697
Burlington, VT. 05402
www.vermontsolar.com
www.backeastsolar.com
800.286.1252 - 802.863.1202
fax 802.863.7908

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