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    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">I have 5,000 pounds of original Edison
      NiFe batteries, made between 1928 and 1939.<br>
      Almost all of them are working at close to 90% of their original
      capacity.<br>
      <br>
      I would be willing to bet that Edison was really close with his
      100 year estimate.....on his batteries.<br>
      I would not want to make that same claim with batteries from other
      sources.<br>
      <br>
      BUT......they really are inefficient. And they really are
      difficult to charge with modern battery chargers.<br>
      The cases are conductive and need to be insulated from each other
      and anything around them.<br>
      <br>
      And voltage is the only way to determine state of charge, as the
      electrolyte specific gravity does not<br>
      change throughout the charging cycle.<br>
      <br>
      I like them but definitely agree with Dan....they are not for the
      general public!<br>
      <br>
      <pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Roy Butler
NABCEP Certified Small Wind Installer®
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer®
NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer
Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC
8902 Route 46, Arkport, NY 14807
607-324-9747  <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.four-winds-energy.com">www.four-winds-energy.com</a>

Join us at the 9th Annual Small Wind Conference
A Gathering of Installers, Manufacturers, Dealers, & Distributors
June 18 and 19, 2013 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.smallwindconference.com">www.smallwindconference.com</a>

Although no trees were killed in the sending of this message, 
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

                
</pre>
      On 9/26/2012 7:58 AM, Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power
      Systems wrote:<br>
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    <blockquote
      cite="mid:555329C5-00E0-48AE-872B-6B97E8DD4E3D@starlightsolar.com"
      type="cite">Forever? Well, at least Edison thought they should
      last 100 years. As mentioned by others, inefficiency is an
      impairing factor in an RE system. However, due to the all time low
      cost for PV solar modules, these batteries can actually be a
      viable option. If you have the space for 40% more PV power and you
      have a customer willing to keep the batteries filled, the Ni-Fe
      battery could be the last battery they will ever buy. Imagine the
      grand-kids inheriting the battery bank.
      <div><br>
      </div>
      <div>Of course, there are many other details for you to study and
        understand before diving in; don't compare these to lead acid. I
        have about 25 that of these that are many years old that I
        bought for experimenting. I have also read about an 85 year old
        bank that was made useable again by Peter DeMar.
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                              <div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
                                Larry Crutcher</div>
                              <div>Starlight Solar Power Systems</div>
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