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

Drake Chamberlin Drake.Chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org
Thu Oct 5 06:53:16 PDT 2006



Hi Bob-O,



Thanks for the information.  So I can safely charge L-16 and T-105 batteries at lower rates (say C;/30) as was recommended in the past?  The need for super fast charges is limited to Surrette and other heavy, industrial batteries?



Drake



----------------------------------------

From: "Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection" <econnect at snowcrest.net>

Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 7:33 AM

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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