[RE-wrenches] Are Thick Plate Batteries Worth the Price?

[Dave Palumbo]

All,

 

I've worked with most battery types in 23 years in the trade. There are no
easy answers here. We see the unusual T-105 battery bank go 12 years.
Conversely we have seen people blow through L-16's in 3 years. I personally
have some gigantic (Hoppecke LA's 330lbs each cell) 2v cells in my shop
system that are 16 years old and show no signs of decline. They are German
made and brought in special to make good on a failed fibered NICAD battery
we sold for Hoppecke in the early 90's  (that was not a pleasant experience,
I would not do it again, even for a free 20 year+ battery bank as a make-up
gift). Also, I wouldn't want to actually buy these large 2v cells.

 

If you can trust the life cycle, depth of discharge, charts from the
manufacturer and calculate a simple "best value" for the dollar, than you've
done your job. Then it's up to a good system sizing design, good metering
and great user care. Our number one rule is "fully charge every ten days (at
least)". If you do this, you avoid sulfation, the number one culprit in
early battery demise.

For a small system  the T-105's typically are the best value. In larger
system's there are more choices. A string, or two, of 2v cells can be an
excellent choice depending on the price/value ratio. Medium size systems
will normally call for Surrette/Rolls 6v, or Trojan L-16 batteries. All for
off grid applications. Sealed batteries for battery backup grid tied. 

 

Dave Palumbo

Independent Power LLC 

Offices in Lamoille and Champlain Valley, Vermont

www.independentpowerllc.com 

NABCEP Certified PV Installer

Vermont Solar Partner

802.888.7194 

 

 

 

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of jay peltz
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2010 8:52 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Are Thick Plate Batteries Worth the Price?

 

HI Nick,

 

I gotta ask have you ever seen a battery last 25 years that wasn't in float
and had to do some work,

or even 15 years?

 

jay

peltz power

On Oct 29, 2010, at 5:17 PM, Nick Soleil wrote:





You generally pay for what you get.  The industrial 2V cells generally cost
more, but will last a lot longer (up to 25 yrs.)  I think it depends on the
customer's budget, and the long term plans for the property.   

 

Nick Soleil
Project Manager
Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
PO Box 657
Petaluma, CA 94953
Cell: 707-321-2937
Office: 707-789-9537
Fax: 707-769-9037

 

 

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