[RE-wrenches] (no subject)

[Ray Walters]

Just let him know what to expect, and he will respect that latter when 
it turns out to be true.
Does he need sealed batteries?  I'd start talking up an industrial grade 
battery for latter.  After all this, he'll be ready for a battery that's 
going to stay put for awhile.

R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 8/3/2013 7:46 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 
> <mailto: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  <tel:303%20505-8760>
>
>     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
>>
>>     *
>>
>>
>>     _______________________________________________
>>     List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>>
>>     List Address:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org  <mailto:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>
>>     Change email address & 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>
>>
>
>
>     _______________________________________________
>     List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
>     List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>     <mailto:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>
>     Change email address & 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>
>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
>
>
>
> Mac Lewis
>
> *
>
> "Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates
>
> *
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change email address & 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
>
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20130803/bb6f6c48/attachment-0004.html>