[RE-wrenches] Sealed battery test/maintenance

[Darryl Thayer]

Hi Glenn
This is a real problem, but so is all battery care.  What I do is to turn off the battery system before, let it stand for one to 6 hours, then measure the resting voltage.  I know this is hard to do, but using the curves and a very accurate meter it does sort of revel the state of charge.  As the battery ages these numbers become less reliable.  

On one occacion I took the battery and discharged it through my air cooled water heater elements which allowed me to make a voltage vs discharge curve, as the water heater elements allow control of current.  I had to discharge over 10 hours and only discharged 30% of the capasity then measured the state of charge and recharged slowly.  This is out of the picture for anyone with a life.  
Darryl
  


--- On Tue, 12/16/08, Glenn Burt <glenn.burt at glbcc.com> wrote:

> From: Glenn Burt <glenn.burt at glbcc.com>
> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Sealed battery test/maintenance
> To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 11:55 AM
> Good Holiday Season to all:
> 
> Does anyone have a sealed (gel & AGM) battery
> test/maintenance procedure
> they would feel comfortable sharing with the group?
> I have been tasked with creating one for our company now
> that we have more
> than a couple of grid tied systems with battery backup.
> 
> Hate to re-invent the wheel with so much talent available
> here.
> Thanks in advance!
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Glenn Burt
> Technical Specialist
> 
> Renewable Power Systems, LLC
> PO Box 967
> Averill Park, NY 12018
> V: 518-674-5808
> C: 518-810-3174
> F: 518-514-1175
> E: gburt at RPSPower.com
> www.RPSpower.com
> 
> 
> 
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