Alkaline battery opinions wanted [RE-wrenches]

[daryl_solar at yahoo.com]

Hi All
I have never used NiFe batteries, but when I have considered the design, I find they are heavier, about 2 to 3x, they are larger 2 to 3x,they are more expensive 2 to 3x, and they have higher loss rates about 6x, I find I can not afford the infinite life.  
DArryl 


--- On Tue, 6/3/08, Jeff Yago <jryago at netscape.com> wrote:

> From: Jeff Yago <jryago at netscape.com>
> Subject: RE: Alkaline battery opinions wanted [RE-wrenches]
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 7:56 AM
> We had a potential client several years ago that had an
> off-grid system installed by others that had a very large
> nickel-Iron Alkaline battery bank consisting of 48 two-volt
> cells. We reviewed the problems he was having and BEGGED him
> to let us replace the battery bank with lead-acid, but he
> would not. After about 2 more years he came back to us and
> let us replace the batteries, which would run totally out
> of charge before the end of the night. During those prior
> years he had to replace about 15 of the cells that had
> "exploded". He kept them watered but they would
> really heat up during the daily charge. As soon as we
> replaced them with a lead-acid bank of 24 two-volt cells
> his system totally turned around and gave him days of
> operation without sun even though we were using the same
> array, same charge controllers, same inverters, and same
> loads. He does not have any backup power, grid, or
> generator, so it was easy to see the before and after.
> 
> The Edison batteries may last forever, but we found them to
> be just too much trouble to maintain, do not hold a charge,
> have a large standby loss, and have terminals that require
> custom made cables with over-sized bolt holes.
> 
> Good Luck,
> 
> Jeff Yago 
> 
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