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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'>Bob<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'>Yes
the problem is hard sulfation due to chronically under charging. The absorb
time and voltage is the most critical charge mode for charging batteries. The
default settings on inverters and charge controllers are always way too short,
so they hold the batteries in absorb for a little while, then go to float,
leaving the batteries under charged forever, thus we get hard sulfation. This
is what you have here. Typically two parallel strings will yield about 6 ½
years of life in a system that is used off grid. While a single series string
will yield 10 to 14 years (properly maintained) 14 years is not the rule
however. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'>A bit of
due diligence is now required to get these back, (and they may not be worth
it). Separate the two strings and give them 62 volts for 10 hours; you’ll
have to watch them so they don’t get too hot. Set the absorb settings
below and give them about three weeks. If there is some improvement in capacity,
another EQ; 61 volts for two hours may just do it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'>With
the Magnum 48 volt inverter I calculate the absorb time at 5 hours, now typically
the absorb charge should be about 58.8 volts but, most batteries die because of
under charge so I would set the absorb voltage at 59.4. You may have to update
the software for the Magnum control panel to get more programming flexibility.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'>The
MX60 with 6 of the 175s should be set to absorb for as long as possible, I
think the last software version allows 4 hours. I calculated absorb time with
this setup is 19.6 hours which is not possible, so just keep the controller
from going to float for as long as you can.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=3
color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'>Concord</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'> makes a real nice 915 AH 2
volt cell which should give a decade plus life, for the next bank. I would
avoid parallel strings at all cost. If you feel this is too large a bank then
use the 660 AH 2 volt. You can always call me 575-539-2111 if you have
questions. I have been in the battery business almost 45 years.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green;
font-weight:bold'> Tom Duffy</span></font><font color=green><span
style='color:green'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color="#99cc00" face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:#99CC00;
font-style:italic'> Systems Design Engineer</span></font><font
color="#99cc00"><span style='color:#99CC00'><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=green face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'> <a
href="mailto:tom@thesolar.biz">tom@thesolar.biz</a></span></font><font
color=green><span style='color:green'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=green face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:green'>
575-539-2111 X 301</span></font><font color=green><span style='color:green'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=2 color=teal face="Arial Rounded MT Bold"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold";color:teal'>Although
no trees were killed in the sending of this message, a large number of
electrons were terribly inconvenienced.</span></font></i></em><font
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color:green'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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"Times New Roman";color:green'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>bob<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, June 29, 2010 4:53
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> 'RE-wrenches'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [RE-wrenches] Interstate
UL-16 HC problem</span></font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>I
have 2 systems that I am trying to correct that another local dealer has
installed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>This
one is 2 strings of (8) UL-16 HC Interstate Batteries, 16 batteries total.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>We
cannot get the batteries to charge over 1.225 despite discharging them and
generator charging them till everything shut down.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>This
is a 48 volt system with a Magnum 4448 inverter.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>He
also has (6) 175 watt Solar World panels on a manual tracker. (spends all day
tracking the sun) He is adding 2 more this summer. The controller is an MX-60.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>I
have moved the Magnums settings to 1600 AH battery bank size to allow for the
inverter to have a longer absorb time to help it finish charging and get to a
full battery.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>It’s
not working; we have 1 cell at 1.240 and the rest at 1.225.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>These
have not been cycled hard if at all, I am going to suggest that he cycle them
several more times to see if anything improves after that<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The
other system has the same problem with a different inverter! So it’s not
inverter related, but I am at a loss. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>I
have not used Interstates before and want to stay away from them in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Any
other suggestions?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Bob
Ellison<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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