[RE-wrenches] Surrette Battery Question

[robert ellison]

A couple things that I haver noticed in the past, sometimes batteries like
to be cycled, shut off the controllers and run them down, then charge them
up fully and then give them an eq charge till it comes up the peak voltage
and hold it there as it (sometimes) slowly rises. Any of these thoughts are
superseded by Jamie if he has any thoughts.

Also, if you have not given them an eq in a while it might take longer than
the available solar time has to get them to the top and hold them there..
Have the controllers settings changed?

Bob
On Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 10:18 PM, Allan Sindelar <
allan at positiveenergysolar.com> wrote:

>  Wrenches,
> In late 2003 we installed a 24V set of Rolls-Surrette 4-KS-21PS 6V 1104
> A/hr batteries in the off-grid system of a long-time client. The client's
> system had a democracy array of around 800 watts of tracked PV. In early
> 2005 we added 1,280 watts of additional PV, and the client hasn't run the
> generator since; the system rarely drops below 80% and fills to 100% most
> days in sunny New Mexico. Batteries are located in a basement, so
> temperatures stay relatively constant, although it will vary slightly
> seasonally. MX60 controller is temperature compensated, with 29.6 VDC bulk
> and 31.4 VDC EQ set points.
>
> The problem is that the client reports being unable to achieve previous EQ
> voltages, and this inability appears to be a new development. The system is
> otherwise performing well. As the client is sharp and pays close attention
> to the system's operation, I'm not ready to blame user ignorance (with one
> possible exception; read on). This may be an issue of seasonally warm
> temperatures, but I'm not sure this would explain the full 0.4 VDC reduction
> in voltage. I told him that I would post his problem to this list, and also
> request advice from Surrette Battery.
>
> Here is the client's description of the symptoms:
> I'm concerned that I am unable to equalize batteries at this time.  Up
> until June of this year the Tri-Metric readings during equalizing indicated
> holding voltage at 31.1, with maximum amps gain of around 52.   Three weeks
> ago, when set on equalize, the maximum voltage reading was 30.7, with
> maximum amps of 46; this was reached around noon, and by around 1:30 pm
> voltage/amps began its typical afternoon drop-off.  I attempted equalizing
> on two other occasions since then--the last time this past Saturday, with
> clear skies up until mid-afternoon--but having the same results.  So, the
> question is: are my batteries beginning their decline? We've had this set
> for 4 1/2 years, so it would seem a bit too early for this, given that
> these
> batteries are expected to last 7-10 years.
>
> Second issue, possibly related:
>
> On another matter, I have been using deionized water for the batteries for
> as long as we've been using photovoltaics (since 1991), as it is my
> understanding that deioinized water is virtually the same as distilled
> water--I just checked Wikipedia on this (using "deionized and distilled
> water" as the search phrase), and this appears to be the case.
>
> I don't know the answer to this question, as we have always recommended
> distilled water only in batteries, and have never faced this question.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Allan Sindelar
> ***allan_(at)_positiveenergysolar.com* <allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
> NABCEP certified solar PV installer
> Positive Energy, Inc.
> 3225A Richards Lane
> Santa Fe NM 87507
> 505 424-1112
>
> Allan Sindelar
> ***allan_(at)_positiveenergysolar.com* <allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
> NABCEP certified solar PV installer
> Positive Energy, Inc.
> 3225A Richards Lane
> Santa Fe NM 87507
> 505 424-1112
>
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