[RE-wrenches] Battery Automatic Watering

[Kelly Keilwitz, Whidbey Sun & Wind]

All,
I'm a little late on this thread, but wanted to give some contrary
experience. We have, maybe, 15 BFS watering systems out there, dating back 5
to 6 years. Although I've experienced some issues in getting watering
systems set up properly, once they are set I haven't seen a problem develop.

Important issues include:
- Proper size float must be specified for the battery reservoir size. For
larger batteries, especially. If the float is too short it will not shut off
soon enough, or allow enough headroom for expansion.
- The caps must be carefully tightened, but not too much, as it can be
turned past the simple threads (and then be looser).
- Make sure when installing the tubing that the cap does not loosen. The
base of the cap swivels from the top, but not easily.
- We use the garden sprayer method, connected to the system. However, for
obvious reasons, we don't recommend leaving it connected. We use an in-line
flow wheel to gauge when the batteries are reaching capacity, stop pumping,
then disconnect. We use a quick coupling disconnect.
- It's important to balance the flow layout, especially with large battery
banks. Otherwise, the first cells in line can see higher flow/pressures than
the last cells in line, and it can be difficult to fill evenly.

Overall, I believe that the benefits of having a battery filling system
outweigh the potential problems. As few of our battery systems customers can
be said to be enthusiastically, and regularly, engaged with their batteries,
I think that a properly working watering system is good insurance toward a
healthy bank, and happy customers.

Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
Whidbey Sun & Wind, LLC
Renewable Energy Systems
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
987 Wanamaker Rd, 
Coupeville, WA 98239
PH & FAX 360-678-7131
sunwind at whidbeysunwind.com


On 12/9/09 7:06 PM, "R Ray Walters" <ray at solarray.com> wrote:

> I have to highly recommend against Battery FIlling Systems. After 3 years
> trying to make their products work, we are pulling all watering systems out,
> and offering full refunds.
> Some of the caps leaked at only 1 psi of pressure, some overfilled the
> batteries causing acid spills, and the worst: some caps never filled at all,
> leaving some cells under filled.
> Repeated calls to their main contact Rob Source at Battery Filling Systems
> have gone unanswered.
> We're back to manual filling as we just haven't found anything reliable enough
> to deal with this extremely important task.
> Of 10 service call backs, 8 were problems with BFS products. (and we only made
> a couple of bucks per cell in the first place....)
> Please avoid this product like the plague!
> 
> R. Walters
> ray at solarray.com
> Solar Engineer
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Dec 9, 2009, at 7:14 PM, Joel Davidson wrote:
> 
>> Wrenches,
>> 
>> We installed 48 each IBE 1-85N-15 cells (24 in series in 2 Direct Power &
>> Water battery boxes). We do not want to use Hydrocaps. Your suggestions for
>> an automatic watering system would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance.
>> 
>> Happy Holidays.
>> Joel Davidson