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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Chris,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Look for hair-like cracks around the cell
terminals. The cracks are failure indicators caused by temperature
swings. In Malibu California, a 75 kWh, 48-volt Absolyte battery
bank failed after 4 years. Malibu has a very mild climate but temperature
in the uninsulated equipment room ranged from 40 F in winter to 90 F in
summer. The PV system is grid connected with battery backup. Absolytes were used
to replace an IBE battery bank because no one was watering the IBE cells. Two
years ago, the Absolytes were replaced with a new IBE battery bank that is
inspected and watered every 6 months.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=maclewis1@gmail.com href="mailto:maclewis1@gmail.com">mac Lewis</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> Friday, February 17, 2012 7:08
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] Absolyte
recovery</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Hi Chris,
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>I suspect that the charger in the Apollo Inverter/Charger is undersized,
especially since all of the loads are -48V. Conversely, the array is
very oversized and the controllers float most of the time. The charge
controllers were working fine last I checked. It's difficult to access
the site right now, it includes a 30 mile snow mobile ride. We intended
to put a comprehensive remote monitoring system but it didn't get put in
before the snow came. I want to get up there and help the system limp
along until snow melt when we can do a thorough assessment.</DIV>
<DIV>The generator guy went up there and someone had pulled the stop switch on
the genset. The battery voltage was around 5V on a 48V bank.
Yikes!</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV> Thanks for the contact info.<BR><BR>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 2:13 PM, Chris <SPAN
dir=ltr><<A href="mailto:chris@solarwindworks.com"
target=_blank>chris@solarwindworks.com</A>></SPAN> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex"
class=gmail_quote>
<DIV lang=EN-US vlink="purple" link="blue">
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Hi
Mac,<U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">We
had a cell failure on an Absolyte system we inherited and
contacted;<U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Jeff
Lambert</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"> <BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Product
Support and Warranty</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"> <BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">East
Penn Mfg. Co., Inc. - Unigy Battery Division</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"> <U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Office:
<A href="tel:%28610%29%20682%20%E2%80%93%206361%20ext.%202848" target=_blank
value="+16106826361">(610) 682 – 6361 ext. 2848</A></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">| </SPAN><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Webdings; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">È</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Cell:
<A href="tel:%28484%29%20955%20%E2%80%93%202899" target=_blank
value="+14849552899">(484) 955 – 2899</A> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">| </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Webdings; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Ç</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Page:
<A href="tel:888-797-8039" target=_blank
value="+18887978039">888-797-8039</A> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">(If
no answer on Cell)</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt"> |
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">*</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Email</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">:</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: navy">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"><A
title=blocked::mailto:jlambert@eastpennunigy.com
href="mailto:jlambert@eastpennunigy.com" target=_blank><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy">jlambert@eastpennunigy.com</SPAN></A></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"><U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Jeff
was very helpful.<U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I
do wonder if your charge controllers are getting the array power out to the
battery bank, was there any damage to them too? Is the Apollo 4048
inverter/charger doing its job, is it undersized for the size of battery
bank?<U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><U></U><U></U></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sincerely,<BR><BR>Chris
Worcester<U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Solar
Wind Works<BR>NABCEP Certified PV Installer<BR>Phone: <A
href="tel:530-582-4503" target=_blank
value="+15305824503">530-582-4503</A><BR>Fax: <A href="tel:530-582-4603"
target=_blank value="+15305824603">530-582-4603</A><BR><A
href="http://www.solarwindworks.com/" target=_blank><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue">www.solarwindworks.com</SPAN></A><BR><A
href="mailto:chris@solarwindworks.com" target=_blank><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue">chris@solarwindworks.com</SPAN></A><BR>"Proven Energy
Solutions"</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><U></U><U></U></SPAN> </P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt">
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org"
target=_blank>re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</A> [mailto:<A
href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org"
target=_blank>re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</A>] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>mac Lewis<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:43
PM<BR><B>To:</B> RE-wrenches<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] Absolyte
recovery<U></U><U></U></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Wrenches,<U></U><U></U></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>We have inherited a Telecomm system in which the
batteries have had a very hard life. A lighting strike knocked the
system off line for about 5 months, and ground fault dragged the batteries
way down about a month ago. Now, we are seeing about 10h of generator
run time/day indicating to me that the batteries are not holding voltage at
all.<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> I am uncertain of the exact specs at this
moment, but it is a 24 Absolyte IIP batteries (5 years old), with a 5 kW
array, two Apollo T80HV charge controllers and an Apollo 4048 inverter
charger.<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>I don't have experience with these batteries.
Is there any way to try to recover these batteries? Any good
contacts with GNB would be useful.</SPAN><U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Thanks</SPAN><BR clear=all><U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P>
<DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: #cccccc 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 6pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; MARGIN-LEFT: 4.8pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Wrenches,<U></U><U></U></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>We have inherited a Telecomm system in which the
batteries have had a very hard life. <SPAN
style="COLOR: #888888"><BR
clear=all><SPAN><U></U><U></U></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">--
</SPAN><U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #888888"><U></U><U></U></SPAN> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #888888"><U></U><U></U></SPAN> </P></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: #888888">Mac Lewis</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #ff9900"><U></U><U></U></SPAN></B></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="COLOR: #305a78">"Yo solo sé que no sé
nada." </SPAN><B><SPAN
style="COLOR: #686868">-Sócrates</SPAN></B><U></U><U></U></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><BR><BR clear=all><U></U><U></U></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>-- <U></U><U></U></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt" class=MsoNormal>Mac Lewis<B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #ff9900"><U></U><U></U></SPAN></B></P>
<P><SPAN style="COLOR: #305a78">"Yo solo sé que no sé
nada." </SPAN><B><SPAN
style="COLOR: #686868">-Sócrates</SPAN></B><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #ff9900"><U></U><U></U></SPAN></B></P>
<P
class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>List
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<DIV><BR></DIV>-- <BR>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#305a78 face="'times new roman', serif"><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Mac Lewis<BR><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: rgb(255,153,0); FONT-SIZE: medium"><B><FONT
size=3 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
<P align=left><FONT color=#000000
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style="FONT-SIZE: small"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: arial; COLOR: rgb(48,90,120); FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="'times new roman', serif">"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." </FONT><SPAN
style="COLOR: rgb(104,104,104); FONT-WEIGHT: 700"><FONT
face="'times new roman', serif">-Sócrates</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></FONT></B></SPAN><BR></DIV>
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