[RE-wrenches] Battery Experience

[Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems]

Ken,

Interesting. Do you know if Deka has more than one manufacturing plant? 

My Deka representative did respond. Perhaps I could have expressed this better: the response was "they are out of warranty". I knew that.  However, due to the number of Deka battery failures we were experiencing, I would have expected something more than "no warranty".  They did replace one 8D that failed at 13 months. Thanks Deka.

During the last few years that we sold and installed the Deka AGM's, we also sold Lifeline, Sun Xtender, Trojan, Optima and FullRiver. We sold 3 times as many Lifeline as we did Deka. Zero failures form any other brand.

I have a customer coming in today that has 2 8D AGM's. I installed these 11 months ago. His complaint is that the voltage will drop to 11.5 within 5 hours of use. I'll let you know what I find.

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems



On Feb 9, 2012, at 5:24 AM, Ken Schaal wrote:

We have used Deka wet and sealed, AGM and Gel, since 1999 and never had a premature failure.
I have a set of 8D AGM's  in my own system.
The local factory warehouse is responsive to our needs.
 
Ken Schaal
CommonWealth Solar
----- Original Message -----
From: Larry Crutcher,Starlight Solar Power Systems
To: wes kennedy ; RE-wrenches
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 3:14 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery Experience

Wes,

While I don't have experience with the Deka Unigy AGM's,  I can tell you that we are experiencing many failures of the 4D, 8D and other 6 and 12 volt Deka AGM batteries. The company will not respond to the problems so we will never sell another Deka or MK (made by Deka) AGM battery.

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems
(928) 342-9103


On Feb 8, 2012, at 9:02 AM, wes kennedy wrote:

Howdy Gents,
 
I have a project (high altitude, off grid, 25 kw PV, 9 x SI5048's, multicluster) where I am considering two similar batteries.
 
The Absolyte GP (GNB 100G17)  vs the Deka Unigy II (AVR95-19).  Both have similar reported Lifecycle curves, 1200-1300 cycles at 80% DOD.
 
Any field experience to share? The Deka seems better on paper, larger AH capacity per dollar quoted from my distributor.
 
 
Thanks!
 
-Wes Kennedy
Solar Geek since 1996
303-653-3073





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