[RE-wrenches] (no subject)

[Mac Lewis]

Ray,

Yes, this is an off-grid applications.  I think you are right, the battery
guy sold him what he had.  Pretty pricey battery lesson twice!


On Sat, Aug 3, 2013 at 6:42 PM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com> wrote:

>  Mac;
>
> Is this off grid?   The Intimidator is not a high cycle life battery.
> I've had trouble finding exact ratings, but its probably in the 250 to 300
> cycles at 80% DOD.  I'd expect 3 years max in an off grid application.
> Also the Intimidators  I've seen are actually AGM, not Gel, but I don't
> know.  I looked on Deka's website but didn't find any good charge set
> points.  This is basically a sealed RV/ Marine battery.  Definitely not a
> top choice, but its what the battery guys have on the shelf, so that's what
> they sell.
> You're on to the biggest problem, pulling off opposite corners of the bank
> to balance the connector resistance between all the strings.
> I go out of my way not to poo poo the customer's choice, but to make sure
> and let them know you can't guarantee the performance of the system.   I
> had almost the exact experience just a few months ago, where the customer
> had just bought a new set of Intimidators.  I just told him to use them up,
> no sense in worrying about it, and when they were worn out, we'd get him
> something better.  I used AGM setting on the Midnite controller on that
> system. Voltage set points should be his responsibility to track down, if
> their gel.  It keeps you from being responsible for anything to do with the
> battery performance or life.  When he needs a new set, you sell him the
> right stuff, set it up right, and low and behold you'll look good when they
> outlast his previous sets.
>
> R.Ray Walters
> CTO, Solarray, Inc
> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
> Licensed Master Electrician
> Solar Design Engineer303 505-8760
>
> On 8/3/2013 5:31 PM, Mac Lewis wrote:
>
> Hello wrenches,
>
>  I am looking for guidance with charging setpoints for a battery that I
> don't have experience with.  This system was put in by another solar
> company and this battery bank failed after 1.5 years.  He bought these
> batteries without consulting us, but now we are stuck with them.
> It is a Deka Intimidator Gel Sealed Battery 12V 225 Ahr.  It is set up as
> 3 strings of 4 batteries to give a 675Ahr bank at 48V.  The batteries were
> not wired at opposite corners, but inverter/charger leads were connected to
> the middle string.  We will fix that and other things but I don't use Deka
> batteries.
> What charger setpoints would you recommend for this battery bank?  Does
> anyone have a good tech contact at Deka?  Anyone have any results to report
> about this type of battery in a solar application?
>
>  Thanks in advance
>
>  --
>
>
>
>  Mac Lewis
>
> *
>
> "Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates
> *
>
>
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-- 



Mac Lewis

*

"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates
*
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