[RE-wrenches] Battery SG testing (was Battery watering)

[Joel Davidson]

Hello Dana,

Sounds like you've solved the sore back problem without over- or under-watering cells.

I water and check electrolyte level every 2 to 6 months depending on the battery bank's age and use (grid-tie float only, off-grid daily charge/discharge, etc.). I encourage spot-checking specific gravity of about 10% of the cells before each scheduled watering and changing the sampling cells each time. That's only 5 cells of a 48 cell battery. But is that an adequate sampling or am I just rationalizing to avoid a sore back?

Joel Davidson
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dana 
  To: 'RE-wrenches' 
  Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2011 1:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery watering


  Hey Joel,

  We have a couple of auto water systems in use that we connect manually and it takes less than 5 minutes to water a triple HUP 1690 amp hour-24vdc bank. Pretty sweet but doing the SG is a bit of a hassle as you have to unscrew each cap. I hear that there are auto water caps that have a port for the extraction of electrolyte for testing, but I have not used or seen this cap.

   

  Dana Orzel

  Great Solar Works, Inc

  E - dana at solarwork.com

  V - 970.626.5253

  F - 970.626.4140

  C - 970.209.4076

  web - www.solarwork.com

   

  "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"

  Do not ever believe anything, but seriously trust through action.

   

  From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Joel Davidson
  Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2011 9:59 AM
  To: RE-wrenches
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery watering

   

  Dana,

   

  One of my battery suppliers gave me the same or similar float. He said something like, "Here's a sample from one of the watering systems that we sell. It's pretty good, but sometimes the float sticks open and sometimes it sticks closed so I wouldn't turn on the water supply unless I was there to monitor it." He said that his forklift customers schedule 30 minutes for watering - turns the water on before going to lunch and checks to see if the cells are full when he comes back from lunch.

   

  Joel Davidson

    ----- Original Message ----- 

    From: Dana 

    To: 'RE-wrenches' 

    Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 2:37 PM

    Subject: [RE-wrenches] Battery watering

     

    I found Battery Watering Systems ; http://www.batterywatering.com/

    Kits and lots of options on parts for battery service.

    I am getting a new pressure sprayer and ordered a "gun" that stops when the battery fluid is at a preset level $80, includes a flow meter visual, 20PSI pressure reducer, sprayer handle and auto stop tip.

    No more sore back from leaning over the battery bank, Yes!

     

    Dana Orzel

    Great Solar Works, Inc

    E - dana at solarwork.com

    V - 970.626.5253

    F - 970.626.4140

    C - 970.209.4076

    web - www.solarwork.com

     

    "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"

    Do not ever believe anything, but seriously trust through action.

     


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