[RE-wrenches] Hot Trojan Batteries

Mon Apr 2 10:00:06 PDT 2012

Jason, Wrenches,

C/20 means C over 20 hours discharge rate = capacity @ the 20 hours discharge rate. C/20 often is mentioned as C20, so the confusion here.
Max recommended is 10& to 15% of C20 of the battery bank.

John
Trojan Battery Company

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jason Szumlanski
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 12:53 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Hot Trojan Batteries

There must be some confusion here about the charging rate. C/20 refers to capacity divided by 20, so in the case of a 325aH battery (capacity @ the 20 hour discharge rate) we're talking about charging at a 16.25 amp rate. I'm sure John is not referring to a maximum rate of 10-15% of 16.25 amps, but 10-15% of the 325aH capacity.

Jason Szumlanski
Fafco Solar

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>] On Behalf Of John DeBoever
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 12:14 PM
To: allsolar at scswifi.net<mailto:allsolar at scswifi.net>; RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Hot Trojan Batteries

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:

*  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.

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

*  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

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

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

*  Check if air circulation between the battery units.

*  Check if adequate air ventilation of the battery room.

o   Battery issues:

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

*  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

*  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.

*  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

*  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> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of allsolar at scswifi.net<mailto:allsolar at scswifi.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 7:20 PM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto: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!

_______________________________________________

List sponsored by Home Power magazine

List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>

Options & settings:

http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List rules & etiquette:

www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm<http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm>

Check out participant bios:

www.members.re-wrenches.org<http://www.members.re-wrenches.org>

This e-mail message and any attachments that accompany it may contain information that is confidential, privileged, or protected from disclosure. It is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it was intended to be addressed. If you have received this e-mail by mistake, or you are not the intended recipient, any reading, disclosure, copying or other use of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately advise the sender at their phone number listed above, or by electronic mail, and also permanently delete the original and all copies of this e-mail and any attachments from all locations. Thank you.

This e-mail message and any attachments that accompany it may contain 
information that is confidential, privileged, or protected from disclosure.  
It is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it was intended 
to be addressed. If you have received this e-mail by mistake, or you are not 
the intended recipient, any reading, disclosure, copying or other use of this 
communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this communication 
in error, please immediately advise the sender at their phone number listed 
above, or by electronic mail, and also permanently delete the original and all 
copies of this e-mail and any attachments from all locations. Thank you.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20120402/89891576/attachment-0003.html>