off grid battery equalization [RE-wrenches]

[Frank Fowler]

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Try using a DC charger that does not taper off the charge.
SUNcerely,
Frank Fowler
Crystal Pines Alternative Energy
530-532-1972
cpae1 at direcway.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Yago" <jryago at wwjv.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 7:35 AM
Subject: RE: off grid battery equalization [RE-wrenches]




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I have an off grid client that has a 1.4 kW array, a 6.5 kW Kohler
generator, and 16 Decca L-16 size 350 Amp-Hr batteries.  System worked
great for 5 years, although limited sun-hours due to being in bottom
of a canyon!.  He needed generator about 3 hours run time twice a
week. Client recently decided to replace batteries and we supplied 16
Rolls Surrette S460 batteries (350AH @ 20 hrs).

Client cannot get these new batteries up to full charge.  Nothing else
changed in system, same solar input, same generator run time, same
loads.  He has tried setting his MPPT controller for equalize, then at
end of day setting the Trace SW40 for equalize and running generator
up to 6 hours.  He has also tried to "fool" the inverter by resetting
the bulk and absorption charge setpoints up to 30 volts to avoid the
inverter shutting down the generator before a full equalize charge is
complete (which is what it is doing now).

He has monitored the charging progress by sp.gr. readings and Amp-hour
meter and still can only reach a 75% full level.  Nothing seems to get
these even close to 100%.  There are 2 batteries out of the 16 with
sp.gr. staying slightly below the others, but since we cannot reach
equalization, we cannot force the battery bank to balance.

The old batteries did not have this problem and the owner is starting
to feel the higher priced Surrette batteries are not as good as his
older Decca L-16 batteries which he could re-charge to at least 90%
full.

 We are thinking about dis-connecting the battery "strings" and
charging only 8 at a time, but I do not want to do this each time an
equalize charge is needed.

Has anyone run into this before?  Any other "tricks" to keep the
inverter charging at full amps longer when powered from generator?

Jeff Yago

WWJV Internet Filtering - www.wwjv.net - $3.99

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