[RE-wrenches] Sick pack

[Ray Walters]

You can waste lots of time trying to save an already dieing set of 
batteries, or just cut to the chase and install a new set.  L16s are not 
a long life battery.  While some folks can baby them and get 10 years, 
I've seen failures at less than 5 years.  Compare cycle life; most L16s 
are only 600 cycles to 80% DOD.  The new Trojan RE series are 1000 
cycles to 80% DOD, but you're also up against the too many parallel 
string issue, which always contributes to unequal charging and early 
battery failure.  They need a forklift type (2v cells) battery. HUP 
Solar One, Crown, Trojan Industrial, or Rolls all make batteries that 
are what you need.

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

On 12/19/2013 6:52 AM, Tump wrote:
> What is the Spg (use a good refractometer)of each cell 1.11?1.15? 
>  that temp is not to hi especially w/ the temp comp. Charging w/ the 
> unit in bulk, the inverter will see voltage rise quickly and decide 
> that they are charged. disconnect the batteries and check as 
> individual units Eq at high voltage `32 v and a low charge rate 10 
> amps, watch the temp Spg .  I would suggest that if at all possible 
> remove 2 sets and eq from the grid for ~week on /off.DO use a temp 
> sensor and watch the spg. See Surrette's tech bulletin re/ highly 
> sulfated batteries. www.surrette.com <http://www.surrette.com>.
> Anything over 2 strings will cause a headache, BUT thats more the norm 
> w/ the cheep off grid, I'm going to manage my gen run time kinda of 
> folks!
> On Dec 19, 2013, at 1:28 AM, frenergy wrote:
>
>> Gentlemen and women,
>>         I have been called in to deal with a pack of 16 (4 strings of 
>> 4 for 24V), L-16s, 6 years old. She is having to run her generator 2 
>> times a day. Here in N.E. CA. its been cold, mostly clear, little 
>> wind.  Her inputs are about 1 KW of PV, and small wind machine and of 
>> course a serious generator. Cables and terminals looked clean, were 
>> tight.  The bulk setting on the Trace 4024 was 28.0 V for 2 hrs with 
>> RTS, however, she would manually turn off the generator soon after it 
>> reached 28V.  Recipe for suphation.
>>         Rather than getting into too much detail, here's my 
>> quandary.  When I fired up the generator, the input amps in each of 
>> the 4 strings were.... string #1:29A, 2:34 A, 3:25 A, 4: 13 A.  A 
>> survey of IR temps throughout the pack gave temps ranging from 63 to 
>> 92 degrees.  The highest temps were in the string pulling highest 
>> amps.  In trying to find shorted/failed and/or sulphated cells which 
>> data are most relevant?  Temps, amp draw during charge, disconnect 
>> strings from each other and check volts of each 6 volt 
>> batt?, active bubbling? ...all the above?
>>         I'm thinking I should have (1) checked the amp draw with 
>> batts under load/genny off in each string AND (2) check amps between 
>> strings with the pack at rest, no input or output.  I would love to 
>> EQ the pack but with a temp already in the 90's and uneven currents 
>> in the strings I don't want to risk too high of temp or worse, a 
>> runaway situation and fire. I'm thinking I'd like to yank a few bad 
>> batts and run on 3 strings and then carefully EQ.
>> I appreciate any insights.
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Bill
>> <FRS_working_logo.jpg>
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