[RE-wrenches] concord batteries

[toddcory at finestplanet.com]

As someone who has been doing off grid systems since 1985 I can say from experience, ALL sealed batteries are CRAP... especially in off grid applications. They are too fragile and do not last.

Todd



On Sunday, November 29, 2009 5:48pm, "Conrad Geyser" <conradg at cape.com> said:



In the vein of us on grid folks who’sheads spin when the off grid folks start talking about charge programming andgen set start up parameters…
 
I am servicing an orphaned 48 V off gridsystem that is only 1 1/2 years old, with 40 Concorde Sun Extender batteries,which are for the most part, shot (about half of them under 10V after a generatorEQ charge).  I’m sure the batteries have been abused at least afterthe point that someone lowered the generator start voltage to 40V.  We’restill doing fact finding on the charge parameters for the PV and wind, but I’mwondering if there is anyone that has an opinion on the Concorde batteries.
 
And at least at this point, I’m gladI had to study for some off grid questions on the NABCEP test, not to mentionthe conversations on this list.    : >
 
Conrad
Cotuit Solar
 
 
 


From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Bob-O Schultze
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 20099:59 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Nabcep - grid tie---Off grid
 
William,

Nice to meet you -however briefly- at the Solar Zoo in Anaheim.

If you don't see the value in being NABCEP certified, then youshouldn't bother with it. If your state- as more than a few have- decides torecognize it in some way that affects your pocket, then you'll likely changeyour mind PDQ. I've personally gotten one or two jobs that I know about becauseI was Certified and the other bidder was not, but our bids were very close inprice. Low-ballers, like head lice, are just a nasty fact of life.

While I generally agree with you on your point #2, it varies a lotstate to state. I'm licensed in CA and OR. While I understand the rules in CAare changing, enforcement is, and has always been, a joke. In OR, you need a4000 hour apprenticeship AND 256 hours of general electrical classroom time toget a Renewable Energy license. A general journeyman license is twice that.I've had inspectors come to our job site and check that everyone is licensed.In OR, you don't lay hands on a wire without a license. Ever hear of the likein CA? Maybe in the big cities, but nowhere else.

We're totally on the same page about the IBEW. If you understand thattheir goal is total domination of the electrical trade everywhere, a lot of howthey operate makes sense. I'm a pro-Union kinda guy as a rule, but, likereligion, too much of a thing is way worse than none.

As to experience with EMT and the like, again it varies state to stateand certainly region to region. In this neck of the woods, if you can't bend anoffset or saddle bend, you are either a new apprentice or unemployed.

Best, Bob-O

 


On Nov 24, 2009, at 11:48 PM, William Miller wrote:
 

Friends:

I'd like to make two brief points on the training/NABCEP debate:

1. If I thought NABCEP certification would get me one more job I'd normallylose to a low-ball bidder, I'd be inclined to sit for the test, but it won't.

2. Most solar electric installers could not be considered electricians. Until they learn the trade, they are not qualified to install the most basicgrid tie system.  Conversely, many electricians with the most basic electricalskills think they know all that needs to be known to design and installsolar-electric.  Wrong again.

I don't support the IBEW concept of taking over the solar industry by force,but I do respect their concept of actually encouraging well rounded electrician'sskills.  How many solar installers can actually lay an offset into a stickof EMT?  Not many.  Most are glorified stereo installers, pluggingand praying.

Respectfully,

William Miller
 
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