C/5 - C/30 ? [RE-wrenches]

Joel Davidson joeldavidson at earthlink.net
Wed Oct 4 10:32:58 PDT 2006


Bob-O,

Opinions are just opinions. You are correct about applying a lower current
finishing charge. Battery manufacturers and chemists call what you describe
a taper charge.

Joel Davidson


Original Message:
-----------------
From: Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection econnect at snowcrest.net
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 06:53:34 -0700
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: C/5 - C/30 ?  [RE-wrenches]



Drake,
I don't think it hurts to charge T105 or L16 types at a C/5 rate IF  
they are heavily discharged. However, you must reduce that rate once  
they get much over 50-60% SOC again. In fact, you are unlikely to hit  
a 100% SOC with that rate regardless. Think about filling a 5 gallon  
bucket with a high volume, high pressure hose. You can never get it  
full unless you reduce the flow.
As to equalizing very often, I used to be a big fan of that as it was  
easy for me to do 6-8 months out of the year with hydro. My attitude  
was that I'll take an EQ charge whenever I can get it. After living  
with many sets of L16s over the years, I've changed my tune on that.  
My regime of regulating at a higher voltage seemed to wear out a set  
of batts just as fast as habitually undercharging them. I've come to  
realize that thinking was a holdover form the old days of slam-bang  
regulation. Since the advent of PWM, it just isn't necessary and  
perhaps even harmful. Live and learn. How often one EQs depends more  
on how the batts are charged and discharged. If you are cycling  
fairly deeply- say 50%- on a regular basis, then I think fairly often  
EQs are a good thing. If you are getting the batts full pretty much  
every day with your RE sources and not discharging more than 15-20%,  
It is far less necessary and can be done a couple of times a year.
Just my opinion. Bet if you get 10 Wrenches in a room talking about  
this you'll get 12 opinions.
Cheers, bob-O
On Oct 4, 2006, at 5:57 AM, Drake Chamberlin wrote:

>
>
> Should we be charging L-16s and golf cart batteries at higher rates  
> than previously recommended.  The owner of a photovoltaic house I  
> used to live in ramped his L-16 bank up to 30 volts each night.   
> The bank was old and stiff, but he seemed to get good results.  The  
> bank was being charged at around C/9.
>
> So the question is, "does the fast charge rate apply only to heavy  
> duty industrial batteries, or does it also apply L-16s and  
> T-105s?"  Also, should we bring the batteries to equalize level  
> voltages for short times, on a weekly basis?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Drake


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