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    I completely agree with Larry, Trimetrics are not an option. You're
    learning the hard way why (and why most grid tie solar companies
    stay away from off grid).  Yes, the meter helps the customer better
    understand the system, but more importantly it saves you needless
    trips to look for what is usually a load side (customer) issue. The
    meter pays for itself in one service call. Trouble shooting over the
    phone while they look at the Trimetric is a joy for both of you.
    When you quote the system, you don't let the customer decide whether
    or not they ground or use breakers, or get enough modules and
    batteries for their loads, the meter is the same.<br>
    <br>
    I do use a cheaper meter on smaller systems (under 8 golf cart
    batteries). I used to use the SCI mark 22, but since it was
    discontinued, I've had good luck with the new Midnite battery meter
    ($59). It is not enough info for a larger system, though, as it
    doesn't have a shunt to track loads. As soon as you're looking at
    expensive batteries, a Trimetric will also pay for itself in
    improved maintenance of those batteries.<br>
    <br>
    Ray<br>
    <br>
    On 11/16/2011 10:02 AM, Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power
    Systems wrote:
    <blockquote
      cite="mid:03C35C77-96B0-4A20-90A5-8FE3162BF176@starlightsolar.com"
      type="cite">We are only on your back until you to do the advisable
      thing: Sell them a battery capacity monitor. It is a hard fact
      that NO off grid, battery based power system should be without a
      battery capacity monitor. They are cheap (only $150!) and not an
      option. Apparently, it is also hard learned fact. ;-)
      <div><br>
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                <div>Larry Crutcher</div>
                <div>Starlight Solar Power Systems</div>
                <div><br>
                </div>
              </div>
            </span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
          </span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
        </div>
        <br>
        <div>
          <div>On Nov 16, 2011, at 12:20 AM, Ron Young wrote:</div>
          <br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
          <blockquote type="cite">
            <div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;
              -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Larry, no amp
              hour meter installed yet as the customer is penny
              pinching. We're trying to solve the problem first and I've
              been out there twice, once to do general diagnostics and
              check all connections, try to load test the batteries, and
              so on; the second time I 'dropped in' to try a different
              load test on the batteries to see if I could replicate the
              problem <u>and</u> to resolve some other problems with a
              Whisper controller that had given up the ghost when
              disconnected & re-connected to the batteries (all
              precautions taken). It's a seven hour round trip and with
              time spent on the job makes for an expensive service call.
              I only charged for one call and I have to go back at least
              once more. So customer wanted to save some money on the
              installation of the TriMetric until the spring... sorry
              for the long winded reply. I know, it's false economy. So
              I'm thinking I'll just put the meter in and tell them to
              pay me when they feel like it. It'll help solve the
              problem and get some of the Wrenches off my back ... ;-)
              <div><br>
              </div>
              <div>Ron Young</div>
              <div><br>
                <div>
                  <div>On 2011-11-13, at 8:26 AM, <<a
                      moz-do-not-send="true"
                      href="mailto:larry@starlightsolar.com">larry@starlightsolar.com</a>>
                    <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
                      href="mailto:larry@starlightsolar.com">larry@starlightsolar.com</a>>
                    wrote:</div>
                  <br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
                  <blockquote type="cite">
                    <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;
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                        <div>Ron, </div>
                        <div>I stick by my evaluation as seen here: <a
                            moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/msg10694.html">http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/msg10694.html</a><br>
                          <br>
                        </div>
                        <div>The #1 reason for my opinion is that you
                          can NOT drive up voltage on a healthy bank <u>that
                            size</u> in just 5 minutes. It is impossible
                          with a 2500 watt generator. </div>
                        <div><br>
                        </div>
                        <div>Here is the pertinent part from my post:</div>
                        <divre>You mentioned that the the battery drops
                          to 24.5 in the early AM without any heavy
                          loads on. For the 4KS25 battery this equates
                          to about 800AH at the 72 hour rate. Then you
                          said that the customer ran a 2500 watt
                          generator for 5 minutes and drove the voltage
                          up to 29 volts. Here's the Ah-Ha moment: That
                          is EXACTLY the behavior of a heavily sulfated
                          battery bank. A fast rise in voltage indicates
                          sulfation. It is impossible for that tiny
                          generator, or any charge source they own for
                          that matter, to replace the hundreds of AH it
                          would take to drive a healthy battery up to
                          the absorb voltage of 29 volts. The bank is
                          about 45,000 watt hours (72h rate). There
                          would have to be over 20,000 Wh removed to be
                          at that voltage. How many Wh's are replaced in
                          5 minutes by a 2500 watt genny? I'm sure you
                          are getting the picture. <br>
                          <br>
                          Also, why have you not installed a battery
                          monitor yet? It will give you "eyes" into the
                          battery and spare countless hours of time
                          diagnosing the problem.<br>
                          <br>
                          Larry<br>
                          <div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder">
                          </div>
                        </divre></span></div>
                    <blockquote id="replyBlockquote" webmail="1"
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                      <div id="wmQuoteWrapper">
                        -------- Original Message --------<br>
                        Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] intermittent battery
                        problem; ...Battery<br>
                        Sulfation<br>
                        From: Ron Young <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
                          href="mailto:solareagle@solareagle.com">solareagle@solareagle.com</a>><br>
                        Date: Sat, November 12, 2011 9:57 pm<br>
                        To: RE-wrenches <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
                          href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br>
                        <br>
                        Folks, this one really has me puzzled. The
                        client has done regular two hour EQ's, at least
                        once a month. When did a site visit and I topped
                        up the electrolyte (they'd been starving the
                        batteries for water but always just above the
                        plates) the problem seemed to go away. They were
                        satisfied that the problem was solved but I
                        wasn't and I told them what I had been hearing
                        from this group - essentially that the batteries
                        needed a deep EQ, discharge, recharge and EQ
                        again two or three times to scrub the sulphates.
                        They declined until just a few days ago when
                        they said the rapid voltage drop was back.
                        Here's a quote:
                        <div><br>
                          <div>
                            <div><i>We had another rapid voltage loss
                                this morning ---it was 25.2 when we got
                                up and it dropped rapidly to 22.8.  We
                                turned on the generator and charged the
                                batteries until our display showed 30.2
                                 for awhile with the generator running.
                                 We turned off the generator and the
                                voltage settled at about 26.4.  We
                                turned off all loads and wind and solar.</i></div>
                            <div><i>  </i></div>
                            <div><i>At 9.15 our batteries were at 26.4</i></div>
                            <div><i>At 9:16 we turned on an 8W light
                                bulb, a1600W hair dryer, and a 1.5HP
                                (120V 5.75A) shop vac</i></div>
                            <div><i>The display showed a load of 1.9kw</i></div>
                            <div><i>At 9:40 the inverter shut
                                down---display showed batteries at 18.4</i></div>
                            <div><i>By 9.47 the display showed the
                                batteries at 25.2----the solar and wind
                                were still shut down.</i></div>
                            <div><i>We turned everything back on (a
                                light, Sunfrost RF16, phone)  and all
                                seems to be normal.</i></div>
                            <div><br>
                            </div>
                            <div>They agreed to do the EQ process but
                              only have a 3kw generator so we started
                              with 8 hours with the EQ voltage set for
                              32v (24v system). They completed that
                              yesterday and here's what resulted:</div>
                            <div><br>
                            </div>
                            <div>
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                                                          <div><i>Before
                                                          starting EQ
                                                          the batteries
                                                          were at 25.8,
                                                          hydrometer
                                                          reading 1283
                                                          with temp.
                                                          correction</i></div>
                                                          <div><i>Began
                                                          EQ            
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                             32.6 v    
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                     <span
class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Buying 1.5 kw</i></div>
                                                          <div><i>Hour 1
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                 32.4 v
                                                                       
                                                                     
                                                           1283  with
                                                          temp.
                                                          correction    
                                                            Buying  1.4</i></div>
                                                          <div><i>Hour 2
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                 32.4 v
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                           1285  with
                                                          temp.
                                                          correction    
                                                           Buying 1.5</i></div>
                                                          <div><i>Hour 3
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                 32.2 v
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                          <span
                                                          class="Apple-tab-span"
style="white-space:pre"> </span>Buying 1.7</i></div>
                                                          <div><i>Hour 4
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                 32.2 v
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                           1290  with
                                                          temp
                                                          correction    
                                                             Buying 1.8</i></div>
                                                          <div><i>HOur 5
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                32.0 v  
                                                                       
                                                                     
                                                           1290   with
                                                          temp
                                                          correction    
                                                             Buying 1.8 </i></div>
                                                          <div><i>Hour 6
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                 32.0 v
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                          <span
                                                          class="Apple-tab-span"
style="white-space:pre"> </span>Buying 1.9 </i></div>
                                                          <div><i>Hour 7
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                 31.8 v
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                            1292 with
                                                          temp correcton
                                                                 Buying
                                                          1.9</i></div>
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                                                          <div><i>Hour 8
                                                          complete---turned
                                                          off Gen and
                                                          turned on
                                                          loads
                                                          ---Batteries
                                                          dropped to
                                                          25.4 within 30
                                                          minutes and
                                                          stayed there
                                                          until this
                                                          morning---fridge
                                                          was running,
                                                          telephone,
                                                          internet, wool
                                                          carding
                                                          machine,
                                                          lights.  This
                                                          morning
                                                          hydrometer
                                                          reading  was
                                                          at 1290.</i></div>
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                            <div>
                              <div>Then today I just got this email:</div>
                              <div><br>
                              </div>
                              <div><i>Just experienced another rapid
                                  voltage drop.  As soon as the voltage
                                  hits 24.8 the voltage drops like a
                                  rock if we don't have any input (no
                                  solar or wind).</i></div>
                              <div><i><br>
                                </i></div>
                              <div>This is not what I expected after a
                                lengthy EQ. I'm getting them to do
                                another one tomorrow after a discharge
                                cycle and charge but I'm really
                                beginning to think we have something
                                else going on here, something
                                electrical, not chemical. The rapid
                                voltage drop is puzzling. </div>
                              <div><br>
                              </div>
                              <div>To review, it's an Outback 3524 on an
                                Epanel, Whisper 100 & controller, 6
                                4KS 25 Surrette batteries in 24v
                                configuration - 4.5 years old, .7kw
                                solar. I know the charging end is
                                undersized but they have been
                                compensating with the generator and they
                                get lots of wind in the fall, winter,
                                spring.</div>
                              <div><br>
                              </div>
                              <div>Any more thoughts on this anyone?</div>
                              <div>
                                <div style="margin-top: 0px;
                                  margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;
                                  margin-left: 0px; font-family:
                                  Helvetica; font-size: 12px; "><font
                                    style="font: normal normal normal
                                    12px/normal Helvetica; "
                                    face="Helvetica" size="3"><br
                                      class="Apple-interchange-newline">
                                    Best Regards,</font></div>
                                <div style="margin-top: 0px;
                                  margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;
                                  margin-left: 0px; font-family:
                                  Helvetica; font-size: 12px; "><font
                                    style="font: normal normal normal
                                    12px/normal Helvetica; "><font
                                      class="Apple-style-span"
                                      face="'Garamond Premier Pro'"
                                      size="4"><b><i>Ron Young</i></b></font></font></div>
                                <div style="margin-top: 0px;
                                  margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;
                                  margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal
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                                  min-height: 14px; font-family:
                                  Helvetica; font-size: 12px; ">earthRight
                                  Products - <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                                    target="_blank"
                                    href="http://Solareagle.com/">Solareagle.com</a></div>
                                <div style="margin-top: 0px;
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                                    style="font: normal normal normal
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                                    face="Helvetica" size="3">Alternative
                                    Energy Solutions ~ Renewable Energy
                                    Products</font></div>
                                <div style="margin-top: 0px;
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                                </div>
                                <div style="margin-top: 0px;
                                  margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;
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                                  Helvetica; font-size: 12px; "><br>
                                </div>
                              </div>
                              <div>On 2011-10-24, at 6:50 AM, Larry
                                Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems
                                wrote:</div>
                              <br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
                              <blockquote type="cite"
                                style="border-left: blue 2px solid;
                                margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 8px;">
                                <div style="word-wrap: break-word;
                                  -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;
                                  -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;
                                  ">Hi Ron,
                                  <div>Accurate SG readings are not
                                    simple. Was temperature compensation
                                    properly employed? Have they been
                                    keeping a log book to identify
                                    changes? How accurate is the
                                    hydrometer? How skilled is the
                                    person taking the reading? </div>
                                  <div><br>
                                  </div>
                                  <div>Most of the Battery Wrench
                                    responses suggest equalization but I
                                    don't see from any of your posts
                                    that this has been done yet. I
                                    suggest this to be the next step and
                                    I recommend that you carefully watch
                                    voltage and current. This will tell
                                    you a lot. I use a Fluke ScopeMeter
                                    in the TrendPlot mode and track
                                    voltage and current over time. It
                                    provides a good visual
                                    understanding.</div>
                                  <div><br>
                                  </div>
                                  <div>In case others are using this
                                    forum to glean information, attached
                                    is a chart for illustration of the
                                    charge cycle. You should see a
                                    constant, somewhat linear rise in
                                    voltage until the constant voltage
                                    setting is reached. If you see a
                                    sudden rise: suspect sulfation. If
                                    you see a quick reduction in
                                    current: suspect sulfation. The
                                    current should drop to about 8-10
                                    amps at the constant voltage towards
                                    the end of charge cycle. The health
                                    and DoD will determine the time this
                                    takes, expect many hours. Begin
                                    equalization.</div>
                                  <div>
                                    <div><span class="Apple-style-span"
                                        style="border-collapse:
                                        separate; font-family:
                                        Helvetica; font-style: normal;
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                                        0px;
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                                        0px;
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                                        none; -webkit-text-size-adjust:
                                        auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width:
                                        0px; font-size: medium; "><span
                                          class="Apple-style-span"
                                          style="border-collapse:
                                          separate; font-family:
                                          Helvetica; font-style: normal;
                                          font-variant: normal;
                                          font-weight: normal;
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                                          line-height: normal; orphans:
                                          2; text-indent: 0px;
                                          text-transform: none;
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                                          2; word-spacing: 0px;
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                                          0px;
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                                          0px;
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                                          none;
                                          -webkit-text-size-adjust:
                                          auto;
                                          -webkit-text-stroke-width:
                                          0px; font-size: medium; ">
                                          <div style="word-wrap:
                                            break-word;
                                            -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;
                                            -webkit-line-break:
                                            after-white-space; ">
                                            <div><br>
                                            </div>
                                          </div>
                                        </span><span><3s-chart.gif></span><br
class="Apple-interchange-newline">
                                      </span><br
                                        class="Apple-interchange-newline">
                                    </div>
                                    <div>
                                      <div>A couple other points: Is the
                                        MX absorb voltage at 29.6V? Did
                                        you program the MX controller
                                        for an extended absorb time
                                        (advanced menu, absorb time
                                        limits)? The default setting is
                                        poor for large batteries. I use
                                        90 minutes minimum and 4 hours
                                        max. This can greatly reduce the
                                        possibility of undercharging the
                                        battery but it may use more
                                        water. The timer (ChgT) will
                                        determine how long it stays in
                                        absorb each day.</div>
                                      <div><br>
                                      </div>
                                      <div>
                                        <div><span
                                            class="Apple-style-span"
                                            style="border-collapse:
                                            separate; font-family:
                                            Helvetica; font-style:
                                            normal; font-variant:
                                            normal; font-weight: normal;
                                            letter-spacing: normal;
                                            line-height: normal;
                                            orphans: 2; text-indent:
                                            0px; text-transform: none;
                                            white-space: normal; widows:
                                            2; word-spacing: 0px;
                                            -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing:
                                            0px;
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                                            0px;
                                            -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect:
                                            none;
                                            -webkit-text-size-adjust:
                                            auto;
                                            -webkit-text-stroke-width:
                                            0px; font-size: medium; "><span
                                              class="Apple-style-span"
                                              style="border-collapse:
                                              separate; font-family:
                                              Helvetica; font-style:
                                              normal; font-variant:
                                              normal; font-weight:
                                              normal; letter-spacing:
                                              normal; line-height:
                                              normal; orphans: 2;
                                              text-indent: 0px;
                                              text-transform: none;
                                              white-space: normal;
                                              widows: 2; word-spacing:
                                              0px;
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                                              0px;
                                              -webkit-border-vertical-spacing:
                                              0px;
                                              -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect:
                                              none;
                                              -webkit-text-size-adjust:
                                              auto;
                                              -webkit-text-stroke-width:
                                              0px; font-size: medium; ">
                                              <div style="word-wrap:
                                                break-word;
                                                -webkit-nbsp-mode:
                                                space;
                                                -webkit-line-break:
                                                after-white-space; ">
                                                <div>Larry Crutcher</div>
                                                <div>Starlight Solar
                                                  Power Systems</div>
                                              </div>
                                            </span></span></div>
                                      </div>
                                    </div>
                                    <br>
                                    <div>
                                      <div>On Oct 24, 2011, at 12:49 AM,
                                        Ron Young wrote:</div>
                                      <br
                                        class="Apple-interchange-newline">
                                      <blockquote type="cite"
                                        style="border-left: blue 2px
                                        solid; margin-left: 8px;
                                        padding-left: 8px;">
                                        <div style="word-wrap:
                                          break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode:
                                          space; -webkit-line-break:
                                          after-white-space; ">Hi Larry,
                                          <div><br>
                                          </div>
                                          <div>I immediately assumed
                                            sulphated battery when I
                                            heard the customers
                                            description a couple of
                                            weeks ago but the hydrometer
                                            readings didn't jive. Any
                                            sulphated battery I've
                                            encountered, and I defer to
                                            your greater experience, has
                                            always revealed itself with
                                            a simple S.G. test and these
                                            batteries were reading above
                                            1.265. I then thought the
                                            possibility of a defective
                                            hydrometer and had them test
                                            with another but we just got
                                            confirmation of the same
                                            thing. </div>
                                          <div><br>
                                          </div>
                                          <div>The weird drop in voltage
                                            also isn't explained by your
                                            description. Why would this
                                            just happen without loads or
                                            charging present (except
                                            maybe the DC Sunfrost load)
                                            at the same predictable time
                                            at 4 a.m. The fact that when
                                            the generator was turned on
                                            and sent a surge of current
                                            into the system and the
                                            problem went away made the
                                            detective in me think there
                                            had to be another
                                            explanation. The bank was at
                                            rest for several hours
                                            through the night and the
                                            voltage dropout was cured by
                                            a brief application of
                                            charge current. </div>
                                          <div><br>
                                          </div>
                                          <div>When I arrived on site my
                                            discovery that the client
                                            was under watering the
                                            batteries and this chronic
                                            condition resulted in a very
                                            rich electrolyte, reading
                                            well above 1.265 - into the
                                            1.280 range made me think
                                            that was the problem and it
                                            seems to have gone away now
                                            that the electrolyte level
                                            was raised and the batteries
                                            given a good charge. But it
                                            still nags at me that
                                            something else is lurking in
                                            the shadows. Your
                                            description of the sulphate
                                            converting to a crystalline
                                            form has me worried because
                                            if this is the case this
                                            expensive battery bank is in
                                            danger. I would have to camp
                                            out at the site and monitor
                                            the charging over a day or
                                            so. I'm going to forward
                                            some of your comments and
                                            those of others that have
                                            generously offered
                                            suggestions and we'll see if
                                            I can convince the client
                                            who now believes everything
                                            is A-Ok.</div>
                                          <div><font
                                              class="Apple-style-span"
                                              face="Helvetica" size="3"><span
                                                class="Apple-style-span"
                                                style="font-size: 12px;
                                                "><font
                                                  class="Apple-style-span"
                                                  face="Candara"><span
                                                    class="Apple-style-span"
                                                    style="font-size:
                                                    medium;"><br>
                                                  </span></font></span></font></div>
                                          <div>
                                            <div><span
                                                class="Apple-style-span"
                                                style="border-collapse:
                                                separate; font-family:
                                                Helvetica; font-size:
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                                                normal; font-variant:
                                                normal; font-weight:
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class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:
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                                                        "><span
                                                          class="Apple-style-span"
                                                          style="border-collapse:
                                                          separate;
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                                                          normal;
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                                                          normal;
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                                                          normal;
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                                                          text-indent:
                                                          0px;
                                                          text-transform:
                                                          none;
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                                                          none;
                                                          -webkit-text-size-adjust:
                                                          auto;
                                                          -webkit-text-stroke-width:
                                                          0px; ">
                                                          <div
                                                          style="word-wrap:
                                                          break-word;
                                                          -webkit-nbsp-mode:
                                                          space;
                                                          -webkit-line-break:
                                                          after-white-space;
                                                          "><span
                                                          class="Apple-style-span"
                                                          style="border-collapse:
                                                          separate;
                                                          font-family:
                                                          Helvetica;
                                                          font-size:
                                                          12px;
                                                          font-style:
                                                          normal;
                                                          font-variant:
                                                          normal;
                                                          font-weight:
                                                          normal;
                                                          letter-spacing:
                                                          normal;
                                                          line-height:
                                                          normal;
                                                          orphans: 2;
                                                          text-indent:
                                                          0px;
                                                          text-transform:
                                                          none;
                                                          white-space:
                                                          normal;
                                                          widows: 2;
                                                          word-spacing:
                                                          0px;
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                                                          0px;
                                                          -webkit-border-vertical-spacing:
                                                          0px;
                                                          -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect:
                                                          none;
                                                          -webkit-text-size-adjust:
                                                          auto;
                                                          -webkit-text-stroke-width:
                                                          0px; ">
                                                          <div
                                                          style="word-wrap:
                                                          break-word;
                                                          -webkit-nbsp-mode:
                                                          space;
                                                          -webkit-line-break:
                                                          after-white-space;
                                                          ">
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div
                                                          style="margin-top:
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                                                          0px; "><font
                                                          style="font:
                                                          normal normal
                                                          normal
                                                          12px/normal
                                                          Helvetica; "
                                                          face="Helvetica"
                                                          size="3">Best
                                                          Regards,</font></div>
                                                          <div
                                                          style="margin-top:
                                                          0px;
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                                                          style="font:
                                                          normal normal
                                                          normal
                                                          12px/normal
                                                          Helvetica; "><font
class="Apple-style-span" face="'Garamond Premier Pro'" size="4"><b><i>Ron
                                                          Young</i></b></font></font></div>
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                                                          0px; font:
                                                          normal normal
                                                          normal
                                                          12px/normal
                                                          Helvetica;
                                                          min-height:
                                                          14px; ">earthRight
                                                          Products - <a
moz-do-not-send="true" target="_blank" href="http://Solareagle.com/">Solareagle.com</a></div>
                                                          <div
                                                          style="margin-top:
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      <pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
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