[RE-wrenches] Huge battery bank recommendation

Wed Mar 12 15:17:49 PDT 2014

Hi Kirpal,

With regards to your question about what size solar system will be feeding
this large battery bank, we are still trying to optimize the design a bit.
 However, the the preliminary design was at about a 25 kW.  During peak
production, we expect about 500A(!) to be heading into the battery bank.
 Should be a fun project to see how it develops.

Thanks

On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 1:37 PM, Kirpal Khalsa <solarworks at gmail.com> wrote:

> Ray.....i do not have the link to the warranty....our salesman presented
> us with a variety of options ranging from 5 years upto 20 years.....just
> like other manufacturers they had prorating levels with each option.....If
> asked i am sure they will provide you with any information you want in
> regards to the warranty....
>
> Allan.....yes in fact we were also surprised with the low voltage settings
> that they specify....In one system we installed a 3200Ah battery bank and
> trying to coordinate the settings they specify with the programmable
> settings offered in the Sunny Islands was an exercise in it self....They
> have different terminology than is common in most RE system charging
> parameters....making sure we were all talking about the same parameters was
> the hardest factor....If i remember correctly the absorb and equalize
> settings were almost the same per the manufacturer.
> I could not tell you much about the lead -selenium technology or the
> tubular positive plates with any expertise.....
> The large system we installed these batteries on was specified to use the
> longest possible life span batteries  coupled with high cycling
> capability....At the time they were the only company we could find willing
> to put the 20 year warranty in writing apart from some sealed Unigy
> batteries which were far more expensive..This was a AC coupled grid
> interactive system and so the batteries are in standby 95%+ of the
> time....We have a contract to do routine maintenance on the system and have
> only had to add water once per year....even then it was not necessary but
> to set it on course till the next time we are scheduled to inspect, 1 year
> later.
> The customer has had very few power outages but did have one for 4 days
> last winter and the battery bank worked flawlessly....We really like the
> clear cases for quick electrolyte level monitoring.  The cells have flip
> tops for easy access.
> My overall take on these batteries is that they are primarily designed for
> standby systems.  We haven't used them in an off grid configuration.  They
> have been in for 3 years with no sign of aging...I think they are a company
> that is only beginning to realize the possibility of the RE market and
> havent focused much effort in that direction in the past....
> SBS was easy to work with, and provided good support for the seismic
> racking and spill containment system....with more documentation than i am
> used to receiving from our main suppliers...
> Hope that helps...
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> Sunny Regards,
> Kirpal Khalsa
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> Renewable Energy Systems
> www.oregonsolarworks.com
> 541-218-0201 m
> 541-299-0402 o
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 8:42 AM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com> wrote:
>
>>  Hi Kirpal;
>>
>> I see that the SBS batteries are rated to 1200 cycles to 80% DOD, but I
>> can't find the warranty on their website. Do you have a link to that?
>>
>> R.Ray Walters
>> CTO, Solarray, Inc
>> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
>> Licensed Master Electrician
>> Solar Design Engineer303 505-8760
>>
>> On 3/11/2014 9:26 AM, Kirpal Khalsa wrote:
>>
>> Mac...good morning....that is a big battery bank!....We have used the SBS
>> Batteries for large battery banks....They offer multiple warranty options
>> including upto 20 years.  They are tubular plates with clear outer cases
>> which make the electrolyte levels really easy to monitor and fill....They
>> come with insulated cell interconnects with testing ports, they offer
>> seismic racking custom designed to fit your battery bank, as well as spill
>> containment trays and acid neutralizer kits for the spill containment
>> trays.  We have been very happy with their performance.  They offer a 2V
>> FLA cell at 4000Ah @ the 20 hr rate.  They are a high quality product made
>> in the USA and worth looking at.
>> Here is the link to their website.
>>
>> http://www.sbsbattery.com/products-services/by-product/batteries/batteries-flooded-wet-cell-batteries/flooded-wet-cell-batteries-stt-series-flooded-2v-cell.html
>>  Additionally they offer hydrogen gas alarms for battery rooms.
>>
>>  I am curious - is this a solar integrated system, if so, what size
>> array would be charging the batteries?
>> Good luck!
>>
>>  Sunny Regards,
>> Kirpal Khalsa
>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
>> Renewable Energy Systems
>> www.oregonsolarworks.com
>> 541-218-0201 m
>> 541-299-0402 o
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 8:05 AM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Consider the HUP Solar One battery, the 125-33.  It has 2490 AH at the
>>> 20 hr rate.   The warranty is for 2100 cycles to 80% DOD.  Also most of the
>>> jumpers are included (bus bars within each 12 v group)
>>> We've had nothing but happy customers since we started using the HUPs.
>>>
>>> R.Ray Walters
>>> CTO, Solarray, Inc
>>> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
>>> Licensed Master Electrician
>>> Solar Design Engineer
>>> 303 505-8760
>>>
>>>
>>> On 3/11/2014 8:01 AM, penobscotsolar at midmaine.com wrote:
>>>
>>>> Mac, for this type of large system we typically use Surrette/Rolls
>>>> 2YS31.They are 2430 ah. When we get into battery banks this large we
>>>> typically only run two cells deep (front to back) for ease of
>>>> maintenance.
>>>> I hope your customer has some free time on their hands for maintenance.
>>>> Remember, Surrette deep cycle batteries demand a higher than most charge
>>>> rate or you will find the life of the cell will be significantly shorter
>>>> than with proper charging. I'm sure your local battery distributor or
>>>> Jamie Surrette can send you the tech stuff on these batteries. Any way
>>>> it
>>>> goes, this is a very big battery bank. Good luck!
>>>>
>>>> Daryl DeJoy
>>>> NABCEP Certified PV installer
>>>> Penobscot Solar Design
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  Good point Jason.  To clarify this is a 48V system.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 7:44 AM, Jason Szumlanski
>>>>> <jason at fafcosolar.com>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>  Not that I have an answer for you, but I'm curious, too. You need to
>>>>>> specify voltage to get a good answer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jason Szumlanski
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Fafco Solar
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 9:24 AM, Mac Lewis <maclewis1 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  Hi wrenches,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am consulting on a job that requires an 8000 Ahr battery bank.
>>>>>>>  This
>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>> quite a bit beyond my normal battery bank realm.  What would you
>>>>>>> recommend
>>>>>>> for this?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>   Thanks in advance
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mac Lewis
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 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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