[RE-wrenches] Battery Automatic Watering

[North Texas Renewable Energy Inc]

Has anyone tried a modified drip irrigtation system for battery watering? 
The calibrated emitters can assure the accurate regulation of water flow. 
Turn off the pressure and the feed stops. Sounds like a good winter project 
for the slow season.
And we can share the patent rights!
Have a long and happy holiday weekend....

Jim Duncan
North Texas Renewable Energy Inc
817.917.0527
ntrei at earthlink.net
www.ntrei.com



> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
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