[RE-wrenches] Iron Edison Batteries

[Dan Fink]

Hi Jay; Price, proven long-term reliability, no high-tech computerized
Battery Management System, and finally lots of questions about NiFe from
potential prepper clients.

A lot of grid-connected folks are best served by a backup generator, but
want to have batteries stored in pristine condition in their vault for
doomsday 5-20 years from now. A bank of L-16s even on careful float charge
will have significantly degraded on the far side of that time frame.

"Dry charged" FLA batteries these days are really "moist charged" IE at the
factory filled, charged to "form" the plates, and drained. That only gives
you an extra 18 months before damage occurs, maybe 3 years with a strict
rehab regime afterwards for a couple weeks (thanks to Rolls/Surrette for
that tidbet, and to my buddy at the local ATV/jetski/snowmobile/boat store
who has to mix up electrolyte and fill moist-charged batteries and put them
out on the shelves).(saves hazmat shipping fees)

Another advantage I see on NiFe cells is that you can add another string to
the battery bank years down the road.....drain and dispose of the
electrolyte in the original bank, mix and refill with fresh, and the new
string will match the old closely.You can get spare electrolyte powder from
the battery mfr packed for long term storage.

I made myself a guinea pig on these, but hey, my L-16s were shot after the
flood. I'm going to add more PV to help get that 1.65v per cell on a daily
basis, and then hopefully add battery #10 back in the string once my PV can
maintain that daily, as the inverter/charger refuses to try.

Best regards;

Dan Fink
Buckville Energy
IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
~ PV Installation Professional
~ Small Wind Installer
NABCEP / IREC / ISPQ Accredited Continuing Education Providers™
970.672.4342



On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 8:47 AM, Jay <jay.peltz at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi dan
>
> I'm curious why you opted for NiFe vs lithium?
>
> Jay
> Peltz power.
>
>
>
>
> On Jul 26, 2015, at 8:11 PM, Dan Fink <danbob88 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I made myself a guinea pig on Iron Edison NiFe cells this year, before I
> try to install them for any customer. I have now about 90 days on them.
> 1.65 volts per cell charging is what they want and need. PV controllers
> MPPT type are fine with this. just change the settings (assuming the sun is
> shining)
> . Inverter/chargers are not fine, at least not my Magnum OMG! over 1.6v
> per cell!! Overvoltage! Shut down!
> So I have rewired battery bank as recommended by Mrf with 9 cells at 1.2v
> instead of 10 cells. And now with my 10.8v battery bank I get surge low
> voltage wonky waveform hits from the fridge turning on, etc. that reboot
>  the satellite internet, tv etc.
> My plan is to add another 1kw of solar here for an increase of 50% and
> rely more on the incoming PV that can bring it all up to 1.65v per cell
> rather than the generator that can't do it thanks to the inverter firmware.
>  I think my new NiFe batteries will do just great in the long run. But
> their charge/discharge behavior is a continuing lesson. And I am SO glad to
> learn these lessons myself, instead of in front of a critical customer.
>
>
>
> Dan Fink
> Buckville Energy
> IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
> ~ PV Installation Professional
> ~ Small Wind Installer
> NABCEP / IREC / ISPQ Accredited Continuing Education Providers™
> 970.672.4342
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 26, 2015 at 6:55 PM, jay <jay.peltz at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> HI Tom,
>>
>> They are considered 1.2v nominal.
>>
>> Charge range is up to 1.7v per cell.
>> For a 24v system usually you pull out 1 cell or 19 cells 19 x 1.7 = 32.3v
>> For a 48, usually 2 or 3 , or 37-38 cells.
>>
>> If you use much less, then the voltage swings really low, if you go more
>> the voltage is too high for most inverters.
>> The Iota isn’t going to charge them up fully with that low a voltage.
>> But I don’t know if that version Iota is adjustable, many of the older ones
>> had a internal pot you could turn up.
>>
>> But heck give it a try and play with it.
>>
>> jay
>>
>> peltz power
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Jul 26, 2015, at 4:34 PM, Tom Lane <tom at ecs-solar.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > I have a friend who has forty ( 40 ) Iron Edison Batteries , he says
>> they are each 1.5 volts and wants to use them for a backup to his aquatics
>> business's . Continuous load 24/7 is only 365 watts with surges to 1200
>> watts . My guess is that ___# of batteries ( maybe 32 to 36 ? ) can be wire
>> as a 48 volt system ? Any suggestion on charge controllers - Morningstar or
>> MidNite ? . .? A Samplex pure sign wave inverter 2000 watts at 48 volts and
>> an Iota 54 volt battery charger is my guess that it might be the way to
>> power the load - any suggestions  . Anyone have experience with Iron Edison
>> .any suggestions appreciated !  Gator tom PS : any suggested websites ?
>> >
>> > Sent from my iPad
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