[RE-wrenches] Trojan RE Series Tech question

Wed Aug 3 07:21:31 PDT 2011

Hello David,

I thought I would share with the Wrenches the below answer from our Tech Support.

Rgds,

John

From: Tom Lowder
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 10:17 AM
To: dave at independentpowerllc.com
Cc: John DeBoever; Dean Middleton; Stacey Delzeit
Subject: Questions on RE product

Dave,

Hi.  Below we have answers for the questions that were sent regarding the L16RE 2V product in a particular application.  If you have any further questions you can contact us through the web site or Technical Support call line.  Stacey or I will do our best to get the information you request.

The Premium line (L16RE-2V, T105-RE, L16RE-A, L16RE-B) have a slightly lower recommended absorption-regulation charge phase voltage setting range: 2.35V to 2.45V per cell. The recommended float charge phase voltage setting is 2.20V per cell. The recommended equalization charge phase is 2.58V per cell.  Standard temperature compensation applies.

You wrote in italics - answers in red

I have a question on the Trojan RE Series charging voltage settings. I know the specific gravity is lower on this series and the bulk charge voltage is correspondingly lower than the old L-16's.

I have an off grid system for a remote home where the client is only there from June through October. He has 1,560 Watts of solar and a new battery bank rated at 2,220 AH at 12 volts (12 L-16 RE-2V batteries).
That is a charge rate in the C/20 range. The homeowner uses the system reasonable hard when they are there but during the winter the load is only 15AH per day for a low voltage security system.

He has previously serviced his Rolls CH-375's (1,400AH with 450 Watts of PV on that system, about a C/33 rate) in October before leaving for 7 months and has not had a problem with the battery electrolyte boiling off too much over that time period. He got 10 years out of the Rolls batteries using it in this way. The charge voltage for that system was 14.6  through a Solar Boost 50.

The new system will have 1,110 Watts charging through a Out Back FM 80 alongside the original array on the Solar Boost for the total of 1,560 Watts of PV.

I am thinking of charging at 14.6 Bulk with a two hour absorption time period in the summer  and then changing it for the 7 month period when the system is lightly used.   14.6 - 14.7V for the  absorption-regulation phase charge during the summer usage is fine.  The two hour absorption-regulation phase charge time should be sufficient.

My question is, how low should I set the two charge controllers for winter/spring use to minimize water consumption? I'm thinking of 14.2 or 14.3 Volts, with a reduced absorption time of one hour.
And what should the float voltage setting be? The batteries are in a basement that is kept at about 55 degrees. There is temperature compensation on the battery charging.  14.1V would be the optimal voltage setting for the absorption-regulation phase charge during the winter usage to minimize water loss.  Given the very low load during the winter, I would think that 1 hour would be plenty of absorption-regulation charge phase time.  One hour for any equalization charge also would be sufficient.  Float voltage charge phase setting should be 13.2V, during summer or winter months.
The temperature compensation for 55F should be 0.4V so the charger needs to adjust automatically the setting in the solar charger. The solar charger should  adjust in the winter  the absorption-regulation voltage setting  to 14.5V and the float voltage setting to  13.6V.

Again, if you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,
Tom Lowder
Manager, Applications Engineering
Trojan Battery Company

5174 Minola Drive
Lithonia, GA 30038
Tel: 678-518-7365
Fax: 678-518-7398
tlowder at trojanbattery.com<mailto:vhall at trojanbattery.com>
www.trojanbattery.com<http://www.trojanbattery.com>

Trojan Battery Company - Clean Energy for LifeTM

From: John DeBoever
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 6:06 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Cc: Stacey Delzeit; Tom Lowder; Dean Middleton
Subject: RE: [RE-wrenches] Trojan RE Series Tech question

Hello David,

You are correct, Ronald Parades is not working with us anymore.  Our Technical Support is provided by Stacey and Tom, both of whom have their contact number here:
http://www.trojanbatteryre.com/Tech_Support/Tech_Support.html?tab=0#TabbedPanels1#top
Phone
Trojan telephone tech support is available Monday thru Friday, 7am to 5pm Pacific Standard Time.
US and Canada: 800-423-6569
International: +1-562-236-3000

Your email arrived at 2:30 PM PST to Ronald old address and has been re-directed. Please look for a response by tomorrow.

Regards,

John

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dave Palumbo
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 5:50 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Trojan RE Series Tech question

Our go to guy at Trojan, Ron Parades, is evidently gone. That's what they said at his old phone extension at Trojan. I left a message for tech support there and have not heard back as of yet.

Is there another Trojan Tech person to  specifically ask for now? And is there one on this list helping out as Ron did previously?

I have a question on the Trojan RE Series charging voltage settings. I know the specific gravity is lower on this series and the bulk charge voltage is correspondingly lower than the old L-16's.

I have an off grid system for a remote home where the client is only there from June through October. He has 1,560 Watts of solar and a new battery bank rated at 2,220 AH at 12 volts (12 L-16 RE-2V batteries).
That is a charge rate in the C/20 range. The homeowner uses the system reasonable hard when they are there but during the winter the load is only 15AH per day for a low voltage security system.

He has previously serviced his Rolls CH-375's (1,400AH with 450 Watts of PV on that system, about a C/33 rate) in October before leaving for 7 months and has not had a problem with the battery electrolyte boiling off too much over that time period. He got 10 years out of the Rolls batteries using it in this way. The charge voltage for that system was 14.6  through a Solar Boost 50.

The new system will have 1,110 Watts charging through a Out Back FM 80 alongside the original array on the Solar Boost for the total of 1,560 Watts of PV.

I am thinking of charging at 14.6 Bulk with a two hour absorption time period in the summer  and then changing it for the 7 month period when the system is lightly used.

My question is, how low should I set the two charge controllers for winter/spring use to minimize water consumption? I'm thinking of 14.2 or 14.3 Volts, with a reduced absorption time of one hour.
And what should the float voltage setting be? The batteries are in a basement that is kept at about 55 degrees. There is temperature compensation on the battery charging.

Thank you,

David Palumbo
Independent Power LLC
462 Solar Way Drive
Hyde Park, VT 05655
www.independentpowerllc.com<http://www.independentpowerllc.com>
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
Vermont Solar Partner
23 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194

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