[RE-wrenches] Hot Trojan Batteries

[John DeBoever]

Jeremy, Wrenches,



165°F is definitely too high and you should stop immediately any charge to avoid further major problems. I recommend you contact our Trojan Tech Support for help at http://www.trojanbatteryre.com/Tech_Support/Tech_Support.html?tab=0#TabbedPanels1#top



Below are few perspectives to help the diagnostic:



o   System issues:

ü  Check Charger setting: the C/20 rate mentioned is definitely too high and will damage the battery. The maximum recommended current rate is 10-15% of C/20 for a deep-cycle flooded lead acid battery. Other C/rates are possible but are application specific and not typical.

ü  Check Voltage settings: these are provided on Trojan datasheets, see here: http://www.trojanbatteryre.com/Tech_Support/literature.html

ü  Check Temperature compensation: -0.028VPC for every 10°F above 77°F (add 0.028 VPC for every 10°F below 77°F or subtract 0.020VPC for every 10°F above 77°F. See here: http://www.trojanbatteryre.com/PDF/Signature_Trojan_ProductLineSheet.pdf

ü  Check Voltage sensor status and connection. Dedicated wiring is recommended

ü  Check temperature sensor. It shall be well positioned, typically in the middle of the battery bank at the warmest point.

ü  Check if air circulation between the battery units.

ü  Check if adequate air ventilation of the battery room.



o   Battery issues:

ü  C/20 charging rate is too high (see above)

ü  How old are the batteries? Ageing batteries will face micro-shorts that will decrease the battery turnaround efficiency over time that translates in higher temperature generation. Typically the battery temperature range is about 20oF above ambient temperature, and typical min and max limit are -4°F to 113°F.

See here: http://www.trojanbatteryre.com/PDF/Signature_Trojan_ProductLineSheet.pdf

165°F is way too high and will damage the units

ü  Maybe you are facing one or more shorted units: check the voltage and it will quickly indicate if a unit is shorted.  Shorted units will generate heat and will jeopardize the charging of other units. Remove shorted units and consult tech support your charger supplier if possible to reconfigure of your battery bank with fewer units, configured at a lower battery bank voltage, using same voltage settings recommended by Trojan Battery Company.  Typically 1 to 3 units less would be acceptable, depending the charger manufacturer settings.

ü  Maybe you are facing sulfated batteries, resulting from low charging, thus resulting in lower overall turnaround efficiency. This will heat some healthier units of the battery bank, accelerating corrosion damages. The max temperature acceptable being 113°F, please consult Trojan Tech Support: http://www.trojanbatteryre.com/Tech_Support/Tech_Support.html?tab=0#TabbedPanels1#top

ü  Please deal directly off-Wrenches list, with Trojan Tech Support for better fine tune resolution: http://www.trojanbatteryre.com/Tech_Support/Tech_Support.html?tab=0#TabbedPanels1#top



I hope this help,



John
John F. DeBoever
Global Technical Director - Renewable Energy
Trojan Battery Company

12380 Clark Street
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Tel: +1-562-236-3000 Ext. 3139
Cell: +1-845-514-7600 - NY office time zone: USA EST (GMT-5)
Skype: john.f.deboever
Fax: +1-562-236-3239
jdeboever at trojanbattery.com<mailto:jdeboever at trojanbattery.com>
www.trojanbattery.com<http://www.trojanbattery.com/>



-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of allsolar at scswifi.net
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 7:20 PM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Hot Trojan Batteries



Wrenches,

Can anyone explain why an L16 bank would be at 165F at rest.  Over a C20 charge rate, but I have a feeling there might be an internal short



Jeremy

All Solar

Sent via BlackBerry. Sorry for typos and shorthand!

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