Sealed battery choices [RE-wrenches]

[Robert Foster]

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Jeff,

We've had good luck with the smaller Concorde AGM (105 Ah SunXtender) 
in Chihuahua. We have a couple hundred SHS installations with them 
working 6.5 years now (~15% DOD). For hot areas (e.g., East Africa), I 
think AGM would probably be a better long-term choice than gel.

We've used the industrial class Absolyte in schools in Central America 
with good results for the past 5 years.

I'd be interested to hear more about your work (off-line) in East 
Africa as we are planning projects in Sudan and Kenya.

Robert Foster


On May 19, 2006, at 1:13 PM, Jeff Lahl wrote:

>
> Hi Wrenches,
>   Have recently rejoined the group after a long absence so please 
> excuse if this is an old, already-covered topic.
>
>   We're going to need sealed batteries for several dozen rural health 
> centers in East Africa and are trying to figure out the best to use.  
> Up to now, we've mostly used standard wet batteries so we're on a 
> learning curve here.  My reading seems to indicate that AGM is more 
> state-of-the art than gel but I am getting conflicting reports on 
> specific products: for instance in the 12v 250ah class, I'm hearing 
> that the Deka gel has better cycling life than the Concorde AGM.  
> Anyone have alot of experience with either, and especially with 
> comparing the two?  What kind of life are you seeing under what DOD?
>
>   In a heavier, industrial class, does anyone have favorite sealed 
> batteries?  I'm aware of Unigy and Absolyte - are there any others to 
> consider?
>
>   Finally, I'm more than a little concerned about a charge controller 
> failure resulting in overcharging and ruining these $4,000 battery 
> banks in remote locations.  Has anyone tried integrating a 
> voltage-tripped relay that would open the charging circuit - as a kind 
> of fail-safe mechanism?
>
>   Will appreciate input on any of the above.
>   Thanks much,
>   Jeff Lahl
>   Project Director, Solar Electric Light Fund
>
>
>
> --
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>


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