Self Regulating micro PV system [RE-wrenches]

[joeldavidson at earthlink.net]

Summer 1982, at the request of Arco Solar I tested their 30-cell modules
and reported that the M61 did not charge batteries in summer due to low
voltage and, without a charge controller, could over-charged batteries in
winter. Unfortunately, Arco marketing had already decided to roll out the
30-cell module. Some of you may remember this was the same time that Arco
pushed the Delco 12-5000 15% d.o.d. battery as the right battery for
off-grid systems. Several other PV techs reported that the 30-cell module
and 12-5000 battery were bad ideas, but Arco management and their in-house
techs toed the party line to the bitter end. A few years later, the same
Arco people claimed that they developed the "improved" 36-cell module.

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection econnect at snowcrest.net
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 06:36:11 -0800
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: Self Regulating micro PV system [RE-wrenches]


Dan and All,
So called self regulating PVs were and are a cruel joke. Less than 36 
cells just means the power levels roll off sooner and hardly work at 
all in lower light levels. Yet, a 33 cell module still has enough 
voltage to overcharge a full battery. That's probably why nobody 
makes the culls anymore. I don't believe I've ever seen a 30 cell PV. 
Use a CC.
Bob-O

>I saw this in an old Siemens installation instructions, If you wish 
>to use a pv module on a wet lead -acid ( I am para-phrasing now), 
>they recommended  a panel with now more than 30 cells in series - 
>lower rated voltage - and to make sure that the maximum charge rate 
>for the panel to the ampere-hour rating of the battery bank in 
>question was a C/200 rate or less
>	In R. Perez's classic "Complete Battery Book", (TAB Books), I 
>also believe he says something similar, that's where I  1rst saw a 
>rule of thumb guide for self regulating batteries with a PV module.


-- 
  We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
-Aesop

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