[RE-wrenches] cycling flooded batteries is not necessary

[Maverick Brown [Maverick Solar]]

Other than some statements I have heard about battery reaching full capacity
after X cycles... Maybe that is a wives-tale as well.
 
Otherwise, maybe I was not clear. By cycling, I mean daily (or periodic)
Absorb as I mentioned in the email, not loading/draining the battery (other
than the clear statement to test to see if the system actually works as a
backup system every once in a while). No real deep draining necessary. For
instance, after some months without issue, one customer called in a panic
because the electricity did go off one night and they had no backup. Turns
out, somehow they turned off the "Inverter" function. Easy solution, press a
few buttons, etc. to turn on the inverter.
 
Maybe all I need is a Time function attached to Selling, like the Charge
function has on some brands. Who knows.
 
It is clear that FLAs have a self discharge and some percent of capacity is
obtained during Absorb, so a long term Float only might reduce some of the
batteries capacity.
 
Anyway, Outback does have the "Absorb before Sell" function when using the
FN-DC in the system. Not sure about the newer version of hardware. The
"Parameters Met" settings gave me fits until I figured it out. Plus, the
FN-DC is not free.
 
The XW has a function for Absorb before/during sell. I think it requires a
XW CC. We use every brand of CC appropriate for the site. Also, the setup
instructions are weird in my mind since it requires the Grid Support Voltage
to programmed to very high value. I wish they would just have added the
function "Enhanced Interactive Mode = Enable", etc. 
 
Ok, enough rambling...
 
Maverick
 
 


  _____  

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: Saturday, February 18, 2012 3:37 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] cycling flooded batteries is not necessary


to reiterate wrenches:

 

two battery manufacturers (surrette & trojan) have both stated there is NO
NEED to cycle floating, flooded lead-antimony batteries. i have heard this
urban legend for some time and it is nice to finally have it put to rest as
an incorrect myth.

 

todd

 

 

 

 

On Saturday, February 18, 2012 7:04am, "Doug Wells"
<dwells at thesolarspecialists.com> said:



> Maverick,
> 
> "But you would think after 20 years, inverter manufacturers would make
some
> software similar to generator cycling to handle this cycling issue. "
> 
> I believe that the XW Inverters have this ability in sell mode. There is
> traditional sell voltage. And then there is a setting that puts the
batteries
> through a traditional bulk cycle while still "selling" back any excess
energy.
> The next question would be, is this better for battery longevity. Seems
like a
> hybrid of the two would be ideal.
> 
> Doug Wells
> The Solar Specialists
> Morrisville, VT 05661
> (p) 802-223-7014
> (c) 802-498-5856
> www.thesolarspecialists.com
> 
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