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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Reply #2 Looking at the specs for standard Cool Cells the biggest is 46” x 23” x 13” and lists at $2,219. Still the idea is great and I would wonder if there isn<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>‘t a comparable use of heat pipes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pipe">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pipe</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Bill Dorsett<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Sunwrights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Manhattan, KS<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Starlight Solar, Larry Crutcher<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 22, 2011 2:50 PM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] Battery Life (Air conditioning for batteries in high temperature climate)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Roy,</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Your post is most puzzling. As temperatures rise above 25C, battery capacity rises and cycle life is shortened. The opposite is true as temperatures drop below 25C. What do you mean by he was loosing "capacity" during summer months? </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>My question is whether anyone has run air conditioning on a battery bank to increase the cycle life, not capacity, in hot climates.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>As of my last conversation with the customer, he is willing to insulate the small battery room and put in a portable A/C unit. I measured one unit that only drew 620 watts while cooling. I expect that with sufficient insulation, the A/C will only run a few hours per day. The home is vacant for 3-4 weeks then used for 3-5 days. The DoD is only 5% while vacant. The PV charging system is oversized now and should keep up with the extra load. I'll post again in about 3 to 4 years to let you know if this plan works!</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thanks for everyone's input.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Larry</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 3.0pt;margin-left:3.0pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:#E4E4E4'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:roy@four-winds-energy.com" title="roy@four-winds-energy.com">Roy Butler</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>To:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" title="re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Friday, April 22, 2011 10:09 AM<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Subject:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Re: [RE-wrenches] Air conditioning for batteries in high temperature climate<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Bob is correct, I do have an off grid client that uses an AC unit to keep the batteries cool.<br>Although we're not in a high temp climate, it does get into the 80's and low 90's here<br>in the summer. <br><br>By my calculations, he was losing an 'average' of 10% storage capacity during the 5 month<br>period from late spring to early fall. In July and August it was closer to 18%, but for calculation<br>purposes, 10% is close enough. His bank capacity is 4800AH @ 48 VDC. That's 230,400 watt hours <br>and 10% of that rounds out to 23,000 watt hours lost to heat. <br><br>I showed up one day to check something in the power shed and was dismayed to see a window <br>AC unit installed there. An interesting customer discussion ensued and I had to admit he was <br>correct in his calculations.<br><br>The Energy Star rated AC unit consumes no more than 3,000 watt hours per day, even in the<br>highest heat. Essentially, he's 'spending" 3 kilowatt hours to 'buy back' 20 kilowatt hours of<br>storage. He got me on that one!<br><br>That reasoning didn't work on the 6 other AC units that appeared on his house the following<br>week. But that's another story altogether!<br><br><o:p></o:p></p><pre>Roy Butler<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer®<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>PA Sunshine Program Approved PV Installer<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>8902 Route 46<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Arkport, NY 14807<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>607-324-9747<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hello Battery Wrenches,</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Over the years I have had several battery banks in Baja and Sonora Mexico fail in just 36 to 48 months. These have been L16 or 8D AGM or flooded banks, 24 and 48 volt systems. The charging systems are working properly and programmed to manufacturer recommended set points and discharges are rarely over 30% DoD. Some batteries are only used on weekends, some are discharged daily. I believe what is affecting the short life is the high temperature they live in for 5 months each year. Temps. can hit 115 F in vented battery rooms. I have been thinking about a small air conditioner and insulated battery box to keep the battery at no more than 80 F. There are some portable units that draw about 600 watts and the run time would be very little with a highly insulated enclosure. There is ample power to do this on the home I am changing batteries in now. Has anyone done this and gained longer battery life?</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Best Regards,</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Larry Crutcher<br><a href="http://www.starlightsolar.com/">Starlight Solar Power Systems</a><br></span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif"'><br></span><em><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:red'>powered by</span></em><span class=apple-converted-space><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:red'> </span></i></span><em><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:red'>S</span></b></em><em><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:red'>TARLIGHT</span></b></em><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:red'>™</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></div></body></html>