[RE-wrenches] Battery capacity testers

Tue Oct 5 06:42:52 PDT 2010

Bob
since we've scheduled 2 days for the 400a upgrade and generator installation, a 8-12 hour static period for the batteries won't be a problem. I suspect that the half day battery rest before testing VOC is not usually an option for most installers on service calls so their diagnosis could be consistently off the mark. 
If my VOC test finds a low cell I want to be able to check it with the capacity tester but I don't find anything rated below 12v. My original question was not "do capacity testers work", I know they do, but which brand is reliable and accurate. Seems that no one uses them so the question goes unanswered. http://www.buchmann.ca/article25-page1.asp A good article on the topic is here for Wrenches enlightenment on newer testing technology. 
As for Daryls concern of liability, I have this customers initials beside the paragraph declining a "maintenance contract" on our original 2006 agreement. This customer will pay for the battery maintenance & testing. 
Jim Duncan
  -----Original Message-----
  From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]On Behalf Of bob ellison
  Sent: Monday, October 04, 2010 10:15 PM
  To: 'RE-wrenches'
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery capacity testers

  The only way to do a capacity test is with a load bank over the rated discharge period of the batteries, it they have a 6 hour rate, use that one. The 20 hour rate takes too long! Voltage is a moving target and pretty much useless unless the battery has been sitting with no charge or discharge for 12 hours or so, and all that tells you is the state of charge nothing about the capacity of the battery.

  If you are going to buy a load bank the old resistor load banks are the best choices, the newer electronic units are too sensitive to damage and the failure rate is quite high according to my suppliers. They have gone back to the resistor banks in most cases. The load banks can test up to a 48 volt bank at one time, so you don’t need to test each cell for 6 hours, you can spend 6 hours and test them all at once! But your still going to spend 6 hours to do a correct test

  My first experience with gels was bad enough to make me swear off them and that was 18 years ago. I am sure they have I improved but most of my work is off grid and flooded work best in that use.

  Later,

  Bob Ellison

  From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of North Texas Renewable Energy Inc
  Sent: Monday, October 04, 2010 9:36 AM
  To: RE-wrenches
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery capacity testers

  Todd

  I've heard the same arguement, as well as its inverse. The battery choice was the decision of the system owner. I know they are more sensitive to charge/discharge abuse but I see the full charge rate last week at 52.xx V, just like day 1and I trust the Trimetric and the Sunny Islands. We're taking down the entire system to upgrade & install a 400A transfer switch so the batteries will have time to stabilize for the VOC check & cleaning. 

  I guess a more accurate question would be is it good enough to properly check cell VOC and not bother with the discharge capacity check? A compromise could be cap check 12V blocks of cells instead of all 24 separately. Or is the capacity checker a waste of money.

  Jim

   ----Original Message-----
  From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]On Behalf Of toddcory at finestplanet.com
  Sent: Monday, October 04, 2010 2:23 AM
  To: RE-wrenches
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery capacity testers

    I know many on this list disagree, but this sounds SO typical for sealed batteries. It is why I never use em... never! If they are 5 years old, you are probably at the limit of their life. Replace em with flooded lead calciums and your customers (and you) will be happy for 20+ years.

    my .o2

    Todd

    On Sunday, October 3, 2010 9:28pm, "North Texas Renewable Energy Inc" <ntrei at 1scom.net> said:

    I have a customer with a set of 24 Concord PVX-6480s that have twice failed during grid outages during the night. No large loads are on the critical load panel and, since it's at night when they drop to 50% dod, I'm not sure what's up with them. I plan on cleaning and retightning all the cable connections first to eliminate that possibility then checking VOC of each cell. 

    Eventually we'll install a 25 kW genset but my first task is to find out the state of the batterys. The system turns five next spring so I don't think they are near an early death. The BOS is 2 Sunny Island 4248s with upgraded chipsets and the charger is set to spec though that may need to be bumped up. The only culprit I suspect is the high summer temperatures in this unconditioned equipment room. 

    Finally it may be time to invest in a capacity tester. What brand is popular among those Wrenches with lots of experience in diagnosing a batterys health? The Concord DC5000 only comes in 12 & 24 V models and these are 2V cells. 

    Thanks as always

    Jim Duncan

    North Texas Renewable Energy

    486 W.N. Woody Road

    Azle Texas 76020

    NABCEP Certified Solar PV

    Installer No.31310-57

    TECL 27398

    ntrei at 1scom.net 

    817.917.0527

    www.ntrei.com

    Sent from Finest Planet WebMail.
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