[RE-wrenches] cleaning battery caps

[Dan Fink]

What we've noticed is that battery re-combiner caps, automatic watering
systems, etc. can work fair to OK, but because everyone thinks the battery
bank is now bulletproof, really simple and painless inspections and
maintenance get forgotten. Then loose / bad connections / corrosion / etc.
creep in, and nobody is regularly checking the battery bank for such simple
and common battery-killers.

A system inspection / maintenance contract might be the way to go. Or throw
that in for free if the system is within reasonable driving distance.

Off the grid, we tend to get "married" to a whole lot of systems. Overall,
I'd put customer psychology and marriage counseling higher than many
technical skills an off-grid system installer can have. Your system
maintenance contract is your "pre-nup."

-- 
Dan Fink,
Executive Director;
Otherpower
Buckville Energy Consulting
Buckville Publications LLC
NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers
970.672.4342 (voicemail)



On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 6:20 AM, Dana <dana at solarwork.com> wrote:

> I have yet to see any of these water saver caps that last more than a few
> years. For the cost regular service seems a lot less expensive.
> My last experience was calling the manufacturer and he said that 24 volt
> caps were only safe and expected to work to 28 volts and needed to be
> removed. He also stated that I was in error charging a 24 volt bank over 28
> volts as it was dangerous. I begged to differ but it turned into a verbal
> pissing match immediately. I quit using them after eventually removing
> every
> set I have run across as they were damaged. This was a few years back.
>
> Has anyone had a new or current experience that is positive and really long
> lasting?
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________
> Dana Orzel - Great Solar Works, Inc -  dana at solarwork.com  -
> www.solarwork.com
>
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