[RE-wrenches] concord batteries, EQUALIZE Them!

Mon Nov 30 08:16:31 PST 2009

Conrad,

We have sold many Concord (Lifeline, Sun Xtender...) batteries over  
the years. They are the best and half of our battery sales are Deka  
and Concord AGM's.

When our mobile customers abuse their AGM batteries, I use an  
equalization process that has a constant current and no voltage limit  
to restore them. I am sure you have heard that you should never  
equalize an AMG battery. This is not true but the process must be  
tightly controlled. I have done it many times and the result is always  
to recover some or most capacity.

Do one battery at a time.
1. Battery temp: 77 degrees (+/-5) and stable
2. Apply charge current limited to 5% of the 20hr rate. eg. 220 AH  
will be 11 amps. Do not regulate voltage!
3. Monitor temperature and voltage.
4(a) If temperature reaches 130F, stop the process. Start again when  
the battery temperature has been lowered to room temperature.
4(b) When voltage reaches 2.6 vpc, continue charging for 4 hours.  
Voltage may reach 3 vpc!!  Follow 4(a) about temp.
5. After this process, perform a capacity test.

This has worked for me with chronically undercharged AGM's of all  
types. I  have never had one vent or go into thermal run away. At the  
price of these batteries, it is worth the time to try if you have the  
power source and time.

For reference this process is outlined in the Lifeline Technical  
manual, page 20. http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/manual.pdf

Larry Crutcher
www.starlightsolar.com
larry at starlightsolar.com
(928) 941-1660

On Nov 29, 2009, at 6:48 PM, Conrad Geyser wrote:

> In the vein of us on grid folks who’s heads spin when the off grid  
> folks start talking about charge programming and gen set start up  
> parameters…
>
> I am servicing an orphaned 48 V off grid system 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 generator  
> EQ charge).  I’m sure the batteries have been abused at least after  
> the point that someone lowered the generator start voltage to 40V.   
> We’re still doing fact finding on the charge parameters for the PV  
> and wind, but I’m wondering if there is anyone that has an opinion  
> on the Concorde batteries.
>
> And at least at this point, I’m glad I had to study for some off  
> grid questions on the NABCEP test, not to mention the 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, 2009 9:59 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 you  
> shouldn't bother with it. If your state- as more than a few have-  
> decides to recognize it in some way that affects your pocket, then  
> you'll likely change your mind PDQ. I've personally gotten one or  
> two jobs that I know about because I was Certified and the other  
> bidder was not, but our bids were very close in price. 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 lot  
> state to state. I'm licensed in CA and OR. While I understand the  
> rules in CA are changing, enforcement is, and has always been, a  
> joke. In OR, you need a 4000 hour apprenticeship AND 256 hours of  
> general electrical classroom time to get 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 like  
> in CA? Maybe in the big cities, but nowhere else.
> We're totally on the same page about the IBEW. If you understand  
> that their goal is total domination of the electrical trade  
> everywhere, a lot of how they operate makes sense. I'm a pro-Union  
> kinda guy as a rule, but, like religion, too much of a thing is way  
> worse than none.
> As to experience with EMT and the like, again it varies state to  
> state and certainly region to region. In this neck of the woods, if  
> you can't bend an offset 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  
> normally lose 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 basic grid tie system.  Conversely, many  
> electricians with the most basic electrical skills think they know  
> all that needs to be known to design and install solar-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's skills.  How many solar installers can  
> actually lay an offset into a stick of EMT?  Not many.  Most are  
> glorified stereo installers, plugging and praying.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> William Miller
>
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