off grid battery equalization [RE-wrenches]

[Tom Elliot, Guffey Energy Works]

<x-flowed>
 

Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you live vicariously through Reality TV? Let us know and win!
http://click.topica.com/caacDv1bz8Qcsbz9JC9a/PermissionData
-------------------------------------------------------------------

OK people, this is where I jump in with my predictable response, perennially 
ignored, suggesting that Jeff's answer lies in using a buss bar arrangement 
for the parallel connections.  I see advantages in having each series group 
individually connected to buss bars rather than interconnected through each 
other.

I won't go through my usual riff unless anyone is really interested.

Tom


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Yago" <jryago at wwjv.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 4:17 AM
Subject: RE: off grid battery equalization [RE-wrenches]





Thanks for all the suggestions and comments.  TO answer some of the
questions asked, The site is very remote and using larger batteries to
reduce the number in parallel was determined to not be feasible.

I have had him dis-connect any DC loads and raise the bulk charge
setpoint first to 29.4 which never got the batteries past 65% (based
on sp.gr. readings).  He then went to 30.4 volts bulk setpoint which
took him up to 75%.  Each time he starts the process, he can only push
about 200 amp-hours into this 1,400 amp-hour battery bank before the
inverter backs down to low current draw from the generator.

I realize this 6.5 kW generator and single Trace SW40 could be larger
for this large battery bank. However, for the past five years this
system (using 16 Decca L-16s) has worked perfectly and even with
minimum solar input, rarely required running the generator at all
during peak summer months, and only about 3 hours every 3 or 4 days
during the spring and fall.

So now what?  From the comments of others, it appears we just forget
trying to equalize these Surrette batteries for now and let the system
go through a few more months of cycling.

Thanks to all for replies.

Jeff Yago

Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Race to Claim your FREE Stock Car Racing Gift!
http://click.topica.com/caacERRbz8Qcsbz9JC9f/PermissionData
-------------------------------------------------------------------

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------




</x-flowed>