<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:10pt;"><div>Jason,</div><div><br></div><div>Forcing a lead acid battery to deeply discharge does not increase capacity or life of the battery. It only shortens battery life and may damage the battery. This is one of many battery myths. </div><div><br></div><div>Larry Crutcher</div><div>Starlight Solar Power Systems<br></div>
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Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery Experience<br>
From: Jason Lerner <<a href="mailto:wapalco@rockisland.com">wapalco@rockisland.com</a>><br>
Date: Fri, July 13, 2012 7:28 am<br>
To: RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br>
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Hello John,<div><br></div><div>This time of year I service off grid summer cabins where people come up once a year for a few weeks. The batteries in these systems generally do not die from over cycling, but from over/under watering, acid stratification, corrosion, and generally being ignored. The more savvy customers I will recommend they turn off the PV's when they are there to get a deep discharge in.</div><div><br></div><div>Could you recommend any thing else they could do to lengthen their battery bank lifespan? These systems generally have a small PV charging capability, and float charge 350 days a year. It seems ironic that these systems that really never get used, and my battery bank at home that gets used (but not abused) and cycled daily, will last the same number of years.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks very much,</div><div><br></div><div>Jason Lerner</div><div><br></div><div>Waldron Power and Light Co.</div><div>
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