[RE-wrenches] Battery load tester purchase advice?

[Hugh]

I have used a load resistor on a voltage controlled relay VCS from solar converters and a USB data logger. I only used the relay because I didn't want to kill the battery or sit watching. USB voltage loggers are good things to own anyway.

Hugh

On 6 August 2017 17:18:51 BST, Steve Higgins <steve at surrette.com> wrote:
>Since Surrette was mentioned, even if you used the house loads and
>monitored the load current on the batteries with a DC current clamp...
>That
>would work for us... there is a webinar on the procedure on our YouTube
>channel.
>
>
>
>On Aug 6, 2017 5:40 PM, "Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar"
><offgridsolar at sti.net>
>wrote:
>
>> This is a bare bones but easy method. I am not sure Trojan would
>approve.
>> You need a working bank and an inverter. A variac is used to set the
>AC
>> voltage on an electric heater. A clamp-on DC ammeter is used to set
>the
>> variac for the exact specified DC current (25A).
>> A descent Variac is not that expensive and this set-up did work for
>> Surrette, at one time. Interested to hear what is better and easier!
>>
>> Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
>> "we go where powerlines don't"
>> http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
>> e-mail  offgridsolar at sti.net
>> text 209 813 0060
>>
>> > Esteemed Wrenches; My customer's saga of failing Trojan LC-16s
>continues,
>> > unfortunately. It's 8 Trojan L-16 P AC in series/parallel for a 24v
>bank
>> I
>> > think I have strong warranty claim on at least one battery.
>Trojan's
>> > warranty claim form requires a series of tests, including using a
>load
>> > tester "approved" by Trojan (whatever that means). to put a load of
>25
>> > amps
>> > on each battery and time down to 1.75 volts per cell, specific
>gravity
>> > checks, etc.
>> >
>> > This situation is worth purchasing a load tester I think. I'd like
>one
>> > that
>> > can do 2v, 6v and 12v batteries. Searching online, 6/12v seems
>common,
>> not
>> > seeing anything that can do 2v other than the Fluke BT series,
>which is
>> > way
>> > out of my off-grid price range. And I'm not seeing an automotive
>variety
>> > where you can set the load amperage.
>> >
>> > Anyone have product advice for something that they use and like?
>Any help
>> > appreciated.
>> >
>> > DAN
>> >
>> > PS---backgrounder and images.......................
>> >
>> > Numbering the batteries 1-2-3-4 left to right:
>> >
>> > ~Battery #2 was installed as a replacement only one month ago (July
>2017)
>> > and has a late 2016 date code. The 2 hot cells have such low
>Specific
>> > Gravity that they don't register on the hydrometer or
>refractometer.
>> >
>> > ~Battery #3 was installed as a replacement in mid 2016. I found the
>cause
>> > of the problem that killed the original battery (the entire bank
>was
>> > installed 2014), an incredibly poorly crimped interconnect cable
>from
>> > AltEdirect (I posted here about it then). They offered to replace
>the
>> > cable
>> > (thanks, folks) but it's of more value to me in teaching my
>hands-on
>> solar
>> > college classes.
>> >
>> > ~Battery #3 has a 2013 date code, implying to me that it sat on the
>self
>> > for almost 3 years before the distributor dumped it on me as a
>one-off.
>> > Next time, I will demand the same date code on each battery.
>> >
>> > ~Battery #1 has NO date code. First time I've seen that.
>> >
>> > ~In any case -- all the problems seem to be on only the outer
>parallel
>> > string. So the customer approved a complete re-cable, and I'm going
>to
>> > build them all myself after the expensive AltE cable fail.
>> >
>> >
>> > Dan Fink
>> > Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute
>> > IREC Certified Instructorâ„¢ for:
>> > ~ PV Installation Professional
>> > ~ Small Wind Installer
>> > Executive Director, Buckville Energy
>> > NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providersâ„¢
>> > 970.672.4342
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>>
>> Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
>> "we go where powerlines don't"
>> http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
>> e-mail  offgridsolar at sti.net
>> text 209 813 0060
>>
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