[RE-wrenches] Battery recommendation WAS: Rolls batteries

Fri Oct 23 09:22:16 PDT 2015

Hey Dan,

Interesting voltage numbers. How many T-105's in this system and what is the load? What is the temperature of the battery bank?

Thanks,

Dave

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dan Fink
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2015 10:51 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery recommendation WAS: Rolls batteries

Another thumbs up on Trojan T-105 golf cart batteries. They take owner abuse with grace and dignity, are easy to move via non-truck methods and with shipping caps on the cells even helicopter operators don't whine too much. 

Here's some data aq from one of my helo installs in northern BC  that gets zero sun 3 months of the year. These T-105s have been in place since 2009 and are still going strong.

Dan Fink

Adjunct Professor, Ecotech Institute

IREC Certified Instructor™ for: 

~ PV Installation Professional

~ Small Wind Installer

Executive Director, Buckville Energy

NABCEP / IREC / ISPQ Accredited Continuing Education Providers™
 <tel:970.672.4342> 970.672.4342

On Thu, Oct 22, 2015 at 6:51 PM, Dave <dave at independentpowerllc.com> wrote:

Jay,

I second your thumbs up for golf cart batteries for their value to budget wise off-gridders. I sell a lot of Trojan T-105's (selling more of the RE models the last few years) to do-it-yourselfers with small systems. I have not seen problems with two, and up to three strings of these in 24v systems. Many of my customers can't afford the more expensive batteries and they have been getting 8 to 12 years of service from T-105's. 

David Palumbo 

Independent Power LLC

462 Solar Way Drive

Hyde Park, VT 05655

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of jay
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2015 6:40 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Battery recommendation WAS: Rolls batteries

Hi Allan,

A few questions.

how little energy?  amp hrs night/avg.

and

is mx something this person does or would like to do without?

But given what you’ve said, I wouldn’t go with wet cell industrial as you’ll never get the C rate you need.  If the  8 x L-16’s have done her well ( and probably the battery box is set up for that form factor) and with your budget I’d go with another set of  L-16’s flooded or sealed if the budget/want allows. 

And if the need is really quite small, I”d consider golf cart.  Yea yea,I hear all the laughs, but where I live, golf carts seem to have the life they always have, but L-16’s ( all brands) seem to have a shorter and shorter life for reasons I don’t understand. 

jay

peltz power

On Oct 22, 2015, at 11:19 AM, Allan Sindelar <allan at sindelarsolar.com> wrote:

I have a related question, please. One of my longtime off grid clients is a single woman who maintains a nonprofit sanctuary for about 30 rescue dogs, both adoptable and not adoptable (curious?  <http://www.bridgingtheworlds.org/> www.bridgingtheworlds.org). With that many animals, Beverly seldom leaves her remote land and her support and sustenance comes primarily from donations. Her existing system is a 18-year-old SW4024/Solar Boost SB50, with 800W of old array and eight L16s. 

The L16s were takeouts from another job that I figured had some life left (used for two years in another contractor's Sunny Island GTBB system without telling the customer that he needed to add water regularly). I gave them to her at no cost and they lasted three years but are now dying fast.

At my suggestion she has been running a GoFundMe campaign that has raised $2900. I have already told her that I'll do the swapout at no charge. I told her that the choice of her next set of batteries would depend on the money she raised: we have another 24V set of 820A/hr Rolls that I think has some life left, or we can afford 8 L16s, or with the most generous donation total I'll order a set of HUPs and they'll last her the rest of her life (or maybe not - she's healthy, beautiful and independent at 71 years). 

So, my question: At $3,000 and 24V, what would you sell her? This is bound to bring varied opinions, but I want to look beyond what I would select based on price and get other Wrenches' suggestions. I'll add that while the array is small and old, she lives well on very little energy, and has a TriMetric and a backup generator. 

Thank you for your opinions.
Allan

Allan Sindelar
allan at sindelarsolar.com
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
505 780-2738 <tel:505%20780-2738>  cell

On 10/22/2015 11:50 AM, penobscotsolar at midmaine.com wrote:

As with Tump, we have been using the KS series for over 20 years with
little issue. My own particular caveat is that we have now started to use
Crown as well and are finding them as rugged, easier to move (metal cases
with handles), with built in water miser caps, and a better warranty, and
with great success. I also echo Tumps sentiments with Roy at RAE. We have
been buying from him since our inception in 1988.

Daryl

The 5000 series are what we always recommend and install for my off grid
clients. 2 volt cells are the only way we go. Despite what folks believe,
we find it easier to handle the KS series then the L16.
We have been using them for many years and as with ANY manu, they have and
had issues BUT...... we feel w/ proper system sizing, education of the
client & record keeping we have yet to have an issue w/ warrantee claims.
That being said we have had a long relationship W/Jamie Surrette and his
supplier, Roy Early and his crew at RAE Battery,  one of the best
suppliers in our 27+ years.
On Oct 22, 2015, at 11:15 AM, Kristopher Schmid wrote:

Hi Wrenches,

Anyone using Rolls Surrette batteries?  Happy with them?  Worth the
extra $$$?

Thanks for the feedback,
Kris

--
Shine On!

Kris Schmid
Legacy Solar, LLC
864 Clam Falls Trail
Frederic, WI 54837
www.legacysolar.com <http://www.legacysolar.com/> 
715-653-4295
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
Licensed Wisconsin Master Electrician
BSEE
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