Alkaline battery opinions wanted [RE-wrenches]

[Todd Cory, Mt. Shasta Energy Services]

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I am helping James Surette test out a bank of lead calcium L-16's. The 
batteries are coming tomorrow. I'll let folks know how they work out, 
but they should be THE battery for grid tie with backup applications.

Todd



daryl_solar at yahoo.com wrote:

>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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