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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dan,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There are benefits and disadvantages to almost
everything in this world.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Are you aware that the optical refractometer
_automatically_ compensates for temperature, something that I have not seen on
any hydrometer?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The amount of electrolyte required with the
refractometer is negligible compared to the hydrometer. My Misco refractometer
is also calibrated for antifreeze (both ethylene and propylene glycol). The
refractometer needs no batteries. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hydrometer is less expensive than
both refractometer and electrical meter.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If you like the hydrometer so much why are you
carrying/using an electrical meter instead of a hydrometer? I give my battery
customers a multimeter and let them learn to use it. (This can lead to a sale of
an amp -hour meter.) The electrical meter offers the distinct advantage of
not having to open up the battery cells, a really big deal with sealed
batteries! I believe it was Perez who favored the electrical meter over the
hydrometer for the flooded battery contamination issue alone.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I don't believe I am alone in my belief that the
desulfator _can_ be beneficial. Unfortunately, these devices seem to attract
more than their fair share of snake oil
based/trained salespeople.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Respectfully,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bill Loesch<BR>Solar 1 - Saint Louis
Solar<BR></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=dan@foxfire-energy.com
href="mailto:dan@foxfire-energy.com">dan@foxfire-energy.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, February 13, 2010 7:04
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs
Hydrometer?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">
<DIV>I'm confoosed.. . I got a call from an old client complaining that their
trace meter was wacky... seems it always read like 80% or something --
never reset?.. (48V -- 4 strings of UL16 -- 5 years old -- Off Grid). I asked
about the last time they equalized, and they proudly reported that they hadn't
had to eq. in over a year and a half because "an industry renowned battery
guru" they met at a home show advised them that they no longer needed to
equalize because their new Desulphators (that he sold them), made equalizing
unnecessary.. (One for every two batteries all neatly wire tied to the
cables.. blinking LEDs and everything) .. .. and that their specific gravity
levels were right on the money (as checked with their new refractometer Mr
Battery guy also sold them).. I asked them to check Batt. hi on the
trace meter, and it read like 57V .. I suggested they equalize with the
Gen Set..to 61Volts.. which did make the trace meter reset.. but they never
got the bank over 59 Volts.. in over 12 hrs... and the batteries were starting
to get hot... so I suggested they shut down, and I planned a trip down.... Got
on site, pulled the strings apart, and checked for dead cells.. everything
checked out ok... didn't have a hydrometer with me (seems they threw theirs
out .. on the advice of Mr. Battery guru).. so I took their word on the
refractometer readings... reconnected everything and fired up the gen set...
had 80 amp in (measured with a Fluke 337), 13 something on one string, 29 on
one, 24 on another and like 14 on the last. (the two lowest were on the
outside.. coolest? -- the bank was still kinda warm) ... I suggested
they let the bank cool completely, and try again in a few days... (Maybe even
eq each string individually as a last resort). In checking thru the set
points, I noticed many were wonky.. so I called tech support folks for the
latest.... they told me that the factory defaults for gen start / stop often
resulted in "Deficit Cycling".. and that proper settings were actually like 4
Volts higher (For both the 15 min. and the 2 hr start cycles).. they also told
me small desulphators were a waste of money, and that refractometers were
unreliable at best... now my customer is looking at me for answers... (I'm
sending them a good hydrometer).. I'm hoping you folks might set me straight
(er).. thanks db <BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR>Dan Brown<BR>President<BR>Foxfire Energy Corp.<BR>Renewable Energy
Systems<BR>(802)-483-2564<BR>www.Foxfire-Energy.com<BR>NABCEP
#092907-44<BR><BR></DIV>
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<DIV id=wmQuoteWrapper>-------- Original Message --------<BR>Subject: Re:
[RE-wrenches] ecoSolargy PV modules<BR>From: Keith Cronin
<electrichi01@yahoo.com><BR>Date: Fri, February 12, 2010 4:25
pm<BR>To: RE-wrenches
<re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><BR><BR><MCE:STYLE></MCE:STYLE>
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<DIV>Bob</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>They have contacted me and seem eager to distribute their
products.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Keith</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
mce_style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><BR>
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<HR SIZE=1>
<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"
mce_style="font-weight: bold;">From:</SPAN></B> Bob Clark
<bclark@solar-wind.us><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"
mce_style="font-weight: bold;">To:</SPAN></B>
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"
mce_style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</SPAN></B> Thu, February 11, 2010
5:02:17 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"
mce_style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</SPAN></B> [RE-wrenches] ecoSolargy
PV modules<BR></FONT><BR><MCE:STYLE></MCE:STYLE>
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<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"
mce_style='font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>RE-Wrenches:</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"
mce_style='font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"
mce_style='font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><SPAN>Does
anyone have experience with ecoSolargy PV modules: <A
href="http://www.ecosolargy.com/" target=_blank
mce_href="http://www.ecosolargy.com/">http://www.ecosolargy.com/#</A>
?</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"
mce_style='font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><B><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(227,108,10); FONT-FAMILY: Papyrus"
mce_style="font-family: Papyrus; color: #e36c0a;">Bob Clark</SPAN></B></DIV>
<DIV><B><I><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(227,108,10); FONT-FAMILY: Papyrus"
mce_style="font-family: Papyrus; color: #e36c0a;">SolarWind Energy Systems,
LLC</SPAN></I></B></DIV>
<DIV><B><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(227,108,10); FONT-FAMILY: Papyrus"
mce_style="font-family: Papyrus; color: #e36c0a;">P.O. Box
1234</SPAN></B></DIV>
<DIV><B><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(227,108,10); FONT-FAMILY: Papyrus"
mce_style="font-family: Papyrus; color: #e36c0a;">Okanogan, WA
98840</SPAN></B></DIV>
<DIV><B><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(227,108,10); FONT-FAMILY: Papyrus"
mce_style="font-family: Papyrus; color: #e36c0a;">(509)
826-1259<I></I></SPAN></B></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV>
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