Alkaline battery opinions wanted [RE-wrenches]

Mark Frye markf at berkeleysolar.com
Sat May 24 10:13:52 PDT 2008


I am really into the vanadium redox battery. I think it is the real wave of
the future.
 
Mark Frye
Berkeley Solar Electric Systems
271 Vistamont Dr
Grass Valley CA 95945
(530) 401-8024
www.berkeleysolar.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: Warren Lauzon [mailto:windsun at wind-sun.com] 
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2008 9:43 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: Alkaline battery opinions wanted [RE-wrenches]


While it sounds good at first, you might ask why nobody in the US is making
them if they are so good.

There are advantages to NiFe (Edison) batteries, but the disadvantages are
many, especially for RE systems:

1. poor weight/size to power ratio - you need a lot larger bank to store the
same power 2. expensive to make 3. poor charge/discharge efficiency - as
much as 40% loss - which means you need a lot more solar panel.
4. very high self discharge, hard to find any real (non-advertising) data,
but appears to be around 4% per day.
5. widely varying voltage vs state of charge, which means a "12 volt" 
battery bank migh vary from 17 to 11 volts between full and half charge. 
Some equipent cannot handle that range.
6. One non-technical problem is that it seems almost impossible to find
replacement cells should one go bad.

............................................................................
......................
Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The Sun
............................................................................
......................

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Peltz, Peltz Power" <jay at asis.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 8:27 PM
Subject: Re: Alkaline battery opinions wanted [RE-wrenches]


>
> Hi Bob,
>
> That was going to be my question.
>
> I have always been under the impression that without a truly  destroyed 
> cell, they will run forever, its the electrolyte that wears  out.
> So yes there is MX, but a different kind.
>
> In regards to the efficiency, yes NiFe are less efficient, but if  they 
> last forever, how does that factor in?
> And since they don't have a cold de-rating factor, then you don't  have to

> oversize for winter time.
> Also they are not damaged by hard usage, or
>
> There are lots of reasons to use the NiFe, and I for one would if I  could

> get good ones.
>
> jay
>
> peltz power
>
>
> 


- - - -
Hosted by Home Power magazine

To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address:
www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com


- - - -
Hosted by Home Power magazine

To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at re-wrenches.org

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------






More information about the RE-wrenches mailing list