[RE-wrenches] (no subject)

wirewiz at gmail.com wirewiz at gmail.com
Sun Aug 4 08:14:45 PDT 2013


Mac,

David Smead of Ample Power has many years experience with gel batteries and has published this about charging gel batteries:

http://www.amplepower.com/gel/index.html

Larry Liesner



On Aug 3, 2013, at 9:46 PM, Mac Lewis wrote:

> 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 Engineer
> 303 505-8760
> 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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