[RE-wrenches] Deka/MK battery pv charge parameters

[Bill Hennessy]

hi folks, here's the deka/mk spec sheet with battery charge parameters: gel, agm and fla.


http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/1913.pdf


and a link to their "solar" battery page


http://www.dekabatteries.com/?pageid=443 


regards, bill

 
Bill Hennessy
Berks Solar, LLC
371 Centennial Rd
Mertztown, PA 19539

o 610 682 4300
c 484 560 4666
NABCEP certified installer
PA contractor #44411
www.berkssolar.com


________________________________
 From: "wirewiz at gmail.com" <wirewiz at gmail.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> 
Sent: Sunday, August 4, 2013 11:14 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] (no subject)
 


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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