[RE-wrenches] Trojan Batteries

[Tom Duffy]

Drake et al

I only design with series strings (no parallel) I use a fairly high bulk and absorb setting and I always calculate the absorb time. Further I don't pretend there is enough solar if there's not.  I design for a full charge daily for 8 months a year from solar alone, thus insuring fully charged batteries at a minimum of every 10 days.

I have been selling Trojan for years and with the new RE line we have never seen a failure that wasn't caused by abuse, either a poor bank design or bad or no charge settings or failure to maintain properly (this includes judicious equalization). Failing batteries after two years always indicates improper charging and probably too many parallel strings that are not being dealt with the way parallel strings require.

I have been selling batteries for 47 years now and in that time I have only seen 5 honest to goodness (Manufacturing defect) batteries. Everything else was abuse.

Kind regards

Tom Duffy
Senior Solar Design Engineer
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From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Mark Frye
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 9:23 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Trojan Batteries

It does not bode well that Trojan is currently back ordered on at least some AGM batteries until October in order for them to address issues on their manufacturing line.
On 8/12/2015 6:44 PM, Ray Walters wrote:
Oh I'm going to risk the wrath of Trojan and others, but I can confirm issues with the Trojan L16 having premature cell failures within a couple of years just as you reported.  We use the T105 RE and have not had problems, but stay away from their L16 line.  I otherwise do not know or understand the causes behind these failures, but I think this list proves to be at its most valuable when we can save each other and our customers needless suffering.


R.Ray Walters

CTO, Solarray, Inc

Nabcep Certified PV Installer,

Licensed Master Electrician

Solar Design Engineer

303 505-8760
On 8/12/2015 4:03 PM, Drake wrote:
Hello Wrenches,

I have had a number of customers with Trojan L-16s have problems lately. In some cases, I know that the batteries weren't very well cared for, but in no case were the batteries totally discharged and let get cold or sit for a long time. It doesn't seem that the batteries should have died after a couple of years. I could see diminished output and a reduced life.

One customer who supposedly knows someone with inside information claims that Trojan started cutting corners a few years ago to be more competitive on price.

Has anyone else seen more problems with Trojan Batteries, or heard that the company is cutting corners?

Thanks,

Drake

Athens Electric LLC
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
NABCEP Certified Solar PV
740-448-7328
http://athens-electric.com/





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