to equalize or not, that is zee question [RE-wrenches]

Tue Feb 14 07:44:45 PST 2006

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Marco,

My experience about maintaining back up batteries agrees with David's
recommendations. I'd lean more to the 60% DOD on the discharge cycle. I'm
not sure that he answered your question about equalizing. In addition to the
cycle charge which David recommended I would also suggest equalizing about
twice a year. 

There's a number of ways to accomplish the eq charge but one of my favorites
it to eq just after a cycle charge. I run the batteries down at night, use
the inverter/charger to replenish capacity during the morning and let the
afternoon sun perform the eq charge (set your controller to eq). The fact
that the day will end ensures a nice bit of self requlation on the eq time.

Ezra Auerbach
DragonSun Consulting

-----Original Message-----
From: David Palumbo, Independent Power & Light [mailto:ipl at sover.net] 
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 7:48 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: to equalize or not, that is zee question [RE-wrenches]

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Marco,

Based on my experience with Trojan L-16's and Surrette CH-375's I would
recommend once per month disconnecting from the grid for a period of time
(enough time to use from 25% to 60% of the battery capacity) to use the
batteries. Have the bulk charging parameters set up to give it a strong bulk
charge of 29.6v with a absorption time of 2 hours. Check each cell with a
hydrometer to make sure this regime works for your setup. Once you have a
workable regimen then you can put the hydrometer down, except for two or
three time per year. This will keep the batteries healthy and also test the
backup aspect of the system.

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: Marco Mangelsdorf [mailto:marco at pvthawaii.com]
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 9:55 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: to equalize or not, that is zee question [RE-wrenches]

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The system: 2 kW grid-tie with a Xantrex SW4048 w/GTI w/ (8) Interstate
L16s.  Assume that the batteries will not be regularly cycled beyond
drifting down in voltage at night since I'm not using any grid power at
night to keep the batteries charged.  That is, only PV power will be used to
charge the batteries with the inverter being in the "sell" mode.

Question: should this battery bank be periodically equalized or is
equalization not really necessary?  If you believe that the batteries should
be equalized, how often?

thanks,

Marco Mangelsdorf
President
ProVision Technologies, Inc.
Electrical Contractor License C-26351
69 Railroad Avenue, Suite A-7
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA
(808) 969-3281, fax 934-7462
www.provisiontechnologies.com

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