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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"'>Eric,<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 have not been following this at all & here is my .02 – <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"'>Load test<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Specific gravity test per cell.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Volt per cell measurement at rest.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Volt per cell measurement under as big a load as you can impose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Volt per cell measurement with as big a charge as you can impose.<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"'>The voltage will drop off on bad or dying cells severely and out of line and in comparison with “good cells” & the voltage will jump up severely under charge.<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"'>If you line up the measurements - SG, VPC/ rest, VPC/ load, VPC/ charge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>It become visually clear if one or more is out of line. If your SG is 1000 - 1100 & all cells do not improve even after an EQ charge on the bank you probably are looking at replacement.<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"'>****Try a refractometer instead of a hydrometer easier, cleaner, less acid to play with unless you are so inclined, much more accurate, best of all refractometers do not break in the truck on the road or if someone tosses a tool in on top of them. <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"'>Good luck!<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"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><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:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Dana Orzel - Great Solar Works, Inc - E - <b>dana@solarwork.com</b> - V <b>970.626.5253</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>F - 970.626.4140 C - 970.209.4076 web - www.solarwork.com <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>Please consider the environment before printing this email</span></i></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>NABCEP # 051112-136</span><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#99CC00'><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></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>Chris Mason<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, May 29, 2012 5:16 PM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Troubleshooting Off-grid PV...second try with server up<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>If you suspect the batteries are floating high and not taking charge, why don't you load up the inverter and see how much power you are getting from the PV system when there the inverter is fully loaded? If the PV output loads up nicely, then your batteries are gone.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Tue, May 29, 2012 at 3:07 PM, Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems <<a href="mailto:larry@starlightsolar.com" target="_blank">larry@starlightsolar.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Eric,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>To see the responses to your original post, go here: <a href="http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/" target="_blank">http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/</a><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'><br>Larry Crutcher<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Starlight Solar Power Systems<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On May 29, 2012, at 9:03 AM, SunHarvest wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Sorry. I have to re-post this as my local, small-town email provider's server crashed the day I sent this out. I couldn't receive any responses.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Hi Wrenches,<br><br>I inherited an off-grid PV system that seems to be significantly under producing. I have:<br><br>12 KC120's (~19V 7A each) paired up 2 in series, for 6 strings terminated on new 15A breakers in a new Midnite combiner,<br>Output of combiner passes through a 60A breaker into a RV SolarBoost 50 charge controller. An SW4024 ties in the CC, a Kohler 8.5 Gen set, and a Yuasa 24V battery bank.<br><br>My problem is that I never see more than about 5A (displayed at charge controller) coming off the array, even in full sun, regardless of the state of charge of the batteries. I figure I should see, at least once in a while, closer to between 20-30A. Batteries are, admittedly, passed their life expectancy as the system was installed in '02 and I am sure this is part of the problem. I'm thinking that if the batteries are at about 1/2 capacity (don't own a hydrometer...yet), the controller senses the batteries are near full SOC even at lower voltage (~24V) and is therefore attempting to trickle charge even in the bulk stage. Though this is not how the CC is supposed to function in bulk, obviously, I'm assuming the old batteries are altering the standard operating conditions of the system. I've adjusted the Bulk set point on the CC but that doesn't seem to make a difference.<br><br>I doubt this is part of the problem but the generator is problematic as well (it has it's own array of maladies).<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'><br>Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Eric Stikes<br>Owner<br>SunHarvest Solar<br><a href="tel:%2B1%20%28530%29%20798%20-%203738" target="_blank">+1 (530) 798 - 3738</a><br><a href="http://www.harvesthesun.com" target="_blank">www.harvesthesun.com</a></span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>_______________________________________________<br>List sponsored by Home Power magazine<br><br>List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>Options & settings:<br><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><br><br>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><br><br>List rules & etiquette:<br><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" target="_blank">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br><br>Check out participant bios:<br><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <br>Chris Mason<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>President, Comet Systems Ltd<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:masonc@cometsystems.co" target="_blank">masonc@cometsystems.co</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.cometsystems.co" target="_blank">www.cometsystems.co</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: 264.235.5670<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Int: +1305.767.2094<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Skype: netconcepts<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>