Rural Mexican power... [RE-wrenches]

[Windy Dankoff]

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Jim,

Let me inject this info about Mexican batteries. In the 80's, I heard  
repeat stories that automotive batteries were used in Mexico for PV,  
and portably-charged systems, and that they tolerated a great many  
deep and overly-deep cycles. I heard this enough times to finally  
believe it. I reasoned that the Mexican-made batteries were not  
intended for cold weather (as mass-distributed batteries are in our  
world). The only reason we have lots of thin plates in our batteries  
is for large surface area for cold climates. I reasoned that their  
auto batteries must have thick plates and therefore can tolerate deep  
cycling. I was able over the years to get some confirmation of this  
from someone who had visited a battery factory in C.A.

I'm concerned that in this new age of NAFTA and global commerce, the  
old thick-plate auto batteries may be replaced on the market with  
thin-plate globally-marketed batteries, and local factories shut  
down. True? I don't know, but this would lead to massive failures of  
small PV systems that use auto batteries.

You might forward this to the professor. I wish I had more  
information. Perhaps he can look into this. Maybe others here can  
comment.

Windy


> From: Jim  Duncan <ntrei at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Rural Mexican power...
>
> Wrenches, I got a call from a university professor in a nearby college
> town. He had been working in a central Mexico village and, some years
> ago, someone had installed PV on a number of the buildings. Apparently
> time and lack of maintenance had left most or all the installs not
> working. His plan was to install a new one as a model system then  
> apply
> for grant money to install more.
> So he called me to come up with a prototype before his departure in
> about 2 weeks. I said I could not have a completed system designed,
> tested and ready to ship in that short a time. I suppose I could do  
> most
> or all of that if I applied myself but I sensed some charity work  
> coming
> so there have to be other priorities mixed in there, like paying jobs.
> He agreed that the timeline was a little short and he could wait a bit
> longer.
> So, rather than re-designing the wheel here I thought that someone out
> there has a workable design in a file folder somewhere that could be
> reused in this situation. He was not too clear on what the loads might
> be. I figured that would be decided by the charge controller, when the
> battery sags, power goes away. (Trial and error can be a cruel  
> teacher.)
> On top of that, he insisted that he could find batteries there rather
> than taking the correct ones along. I suspect that there are probably
> not a lot of deep-cycle batteries available out in the badlands  
> though I
> have been wrong before. I don't think the importance of the battery
> completely sunk in with him in our conversations and emails.
> Finally, he thought roof mounted modules would work best but a pipe is
> pretty much a universal mounting spot. So I am open to any and all
> designs up to 200-300 Watts.
> Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Please contact me offline  
> unless
> it is wisdom worth sharing. Also the phone cable in the easement here
> was damaged and is being replaced next week so messages and replies  
> may
> be delayed.
>
> Jim Duncan
> North Texas Renewable Energy Inc
> Fort Worth, Texas
>


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