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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Question to the battery wizzs’ here and this may have some impact on the current thread.–<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>I was told long ago by a Trojan battery rep. in 1990? that we should not extend beyond [12] L-16s in a bank due to too many connections and to many cells to achieve a really go balance on the cell to cell charge. I have seen this to be a reality over the years though I have no concrete evidence other than observation. The more L-16s in a bank the more imbalance or probability of imbalance due to the greater of cells and interconnects, points of connection, number of strings. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>At [12] L-16s I have seen the longest life at 8-9 years and any # of batteries beyond it drops off to the 5-7 year range. This is all, off grid observations as I have not seen any L-16 wet lead acid in grid tie applications.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Manufacturers could you chime in and wrenches what is your experience?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Thanks<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Dana Orzel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Great Solar Works, Inc<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>E - dana@solarwork.com <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>V - 970.626.5253<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>F - 970.626.4140<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>C - 970.209.4076<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>web - www.solarwork.com <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><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"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>john<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 15, 2012 9:18 PM<br><b>To:</b> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] wrenches] Interstate L-16 vs Trojan L-16REB<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>William,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> Back to the original question you posed. I have had good luck with Interstate L-16 batteries (so far). My first ones were installed in 2005 so I am just at the 7 year mark. I just looked some today and they are now failing at 7 years... one string of 4 real strong and the other 3 strings showing a weak battery in each. This system has been heavily abused with deep cycling due to generator problems and undersized PV array (and large loads). This was the system installed in a shed to power construction of a "modest" house that turned into a 3 story 5000 sf house and 3000 sf barn with 1200 watts of PV. I added another 1600 watts and now will be adding more along with new batteries. I have had lots of problems with the Trojan L16 HC's. Virtually all that I sold (may 5 or 6 systems) had premature failures. (1 to 3 years). I have seen comparable results with the Interstate L16 and the standard Trojan L16, but the interstates were considerably less expensive. I also have an Interstate supplier one block from my shop so convenience is part of the plus. I have had a few with leaking cell tops but was able to get instant replacements at no charge. On the question of grid tie, I had a set of 24 Trojan L16's last 12 years with one cycle per month performed by the owner. Off grid, however, around 7 years seems to be the norm.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>John<br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>-----Original Message-----<br>From: William Miller <william@millersolar.com><br>To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><br>Sent: Tue, Feb 14, 2012 3:45 pm<br>Subject: [RE-wrenches] Interstate L-16 vs Trojan L-16REB<o:p></o:p></span></p><div id="AOLMsgPart_0_bb8ff954-459e-460f-ac8e-b3a4407b72e8"><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>Do any of you have experience with Interstate L-16 batteries? Are they a <o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>good value?<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>Thanks in advance,<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>William Miller<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>Miller Solar<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>Voice :805-438-5600<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>email: <a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com">william@millersolar.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><a href="http://millersolar.com/" target="_blank">http://millersolar.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>License No. C-10-773985<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>List sponsored by Home Power magazine<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>Options & settings:<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>List-Archive: <a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>List rules & etiquette:<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" target="_blank">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'>Check out participant bios:<o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org/" target="_blank">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></tt></pre><pre style='background:white'><tt><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></tt></pre></div></div></div></body></html>