<div dir="ltr"><div>A couple things that I haver noticed in the past, sometimes batteries like to be cycled, shut off the controllers and run them down, then charge them up fully and then give them an eq charge till it comes up the peak voltage and hold it there as it (sometimes) slowly rises. Any of these thoughts are superseded by Jamie if he has any thoughts. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Also, if you have not given them an eq in a while it might take longer than the available solar time has to get them to the top and hold them there..</div>
<div>Have the controllers settings changed?<br></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Bob<br></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 10:18 PM, Allan Sindelar <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:allan@positiveenergysolar.com">allan@positiveenergysolar.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<div>
<p><font face="Arial">Wrenches,</font> <br><font face="Arial">In late 2003 we installed a 24V set of Rolls-Surrette 4-KS-21PS 6V 1104 A/hr batteries in the off-grid system of a long-time client. The client's system had a democracy array of around 800 watts of tracked PV. In early 2005 we added 1,280 watts of additional PV, and the client hasn't run the generator since; the system rarely drops below 80% and fills to 100% most days in sunny New Mexico. Batteries are located in a basement, so temperatures stay relatively constant, although it will vary slightly seasonally. MX60 controller is temperature compensated, with 29.6 VDC bulk and 31.4 VDC EQ set points.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The problem is that the client reports being unable to achieve previous EQ voltages, and this inability appears to be a new development. The system is otherwise performing well. As the client is sharp and pays close attention to the system's operation, I'm not ready to blame user ignorance (with one possible exception; read on). This may be an issue of seasonally warm temperatures, but I'm not sure this would explain the full 0.4 VDC reduction in voltage. I told him that I would post his problem to this list, and also request advice from Surrette Battery.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Here is the client's description of the symptoms:</font> <br><font face="Arial">I'm concerned that I am unable to equalize batteries at this time. Up</font> <br><font face="Arial">until June of this year the Tri-Metric readings during equalizing indicated</font> <br>
<font face="Arial">holding voltage at 31.1, with maximum amps gain of around 52. Three weeks</font> <br><font face="Arial">ago, when set on equalize, the maximum voltage reading was 30.7, with</font> <br><font face="Arial">maximum amps of 46; this was reached around noon, and by around 1:30 pm</font> <br>
<font face="Arial">voltage/amps began its typical afternoon drop-off. I attempted equalizing</font> <br><font face="Arial">on two other occasions since then--the last time this past Saturday, with</font> <br><font face="Arial">clear skies up until mid-afternoon--but having the same results. So, the</font> <br>
<font face="Arial">question is: are my batteries beginning their decline? We've had this set</font> <br><font face="Arial">for 4 1/2 years, so it would seem a bit too early for this, given that these</font> <br><font face="Arial">batteries are expected to last 7-10 years.</font> </p>
<p><font face="Arial">Second issue, possibly related:</font> </p>
<p><font face="Arial">On another matter, I have been using deionized water for the batteries for</font> <br><font face="Arial">as long as we've been using photovoltaics (since 1991), as it is my</font> <br><font face="Arial">understanding that deioinized water is virtually the same as distilled</font> <br>
<font face="Arial">water--I just checked Wikipedia on this (using "deionized and distilled</font> <br><font face="Arial">water" as the search phrase), and this appears to be the case.</font> </p>
<p><font face="Arial">I don't know the answer to this question, as we have always recommended distilled water only in batteries, and have never faced this question.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Any help would be appreciated.</font> </p>
<p><font face="g">Allan Sindelar</font> <br><a href="mailto:allan@positiveenergysolar.com" target="_blank"><u></u><u><font face="g" color="#0000ff" size="2">allan_(at)_positiveenergysolar.com</font></u></a> <br><font face="g" size="2">NABCEP certified solar PV installer</font> <br>
<font face="g" size="2">Positive Energy, Inc.</font> <br><font face="g" size="2">3225A Richards Lane</font> <br><font face="g" size="2">Santa Fe NM 87507</font> <br><font face="g" size="2">505 424-1112</font> </p><br><font color="#888888">
<p><font face="g">Allan Sindelar</font> <br><a href="mailto:allan@positiveenergysolar.com" target="_blank"><u></u><u><font face="g" color="#0000ff" size="2">allan_(at)_positiveenergysolar.com</font></u></a> <br><font face="g" size="2">NABCEP certified solar PV installer</font> <br>
<font face="g" size="2">Positive Energy, Inc.</font> <br><font face="g" size="2">3225A Richards Lane</font> <br><font face="g" size="2">Santa Fe NM 87507</font> <br><font face="g" size="2">505 424-1112</font> </p></font></div>
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