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Tom,<br><br>
The batteries usually reach absorb voltage shortly after the sun hits the
array. The reason the bank wasn't working correctly is that one cell was
dead in one of the batteries. <br><br>
I could increase the absorb time to 4.6 hours and the voltage to 29.6,
especially since the bank has a new battery. That is longer and higher
than I'd previously heard recommended. What would be the effect on water
consumption? How did you calculate the absorb time? <br><br>
Thanks,<br><br>
<br>
Drake <br><br>
<br><br>
At 12:19 PM 7/18/2013, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Content-Language: en-US<br>
Content-Type: multipart/related;<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>
boundary="_005_12a75c173ebd40919f701b08b4bd8fe6BLUPR05MB165namprd05pro_";<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>
type="multipart/alternative"<br><br>
Drake
<br>
<br>
I calculate 4.6 hours absorb time given the solar you have here. So the
charge rate at 29.3 is OK you could bump it to 29.6. It looks like
decreased capacity because of improper charge parameters. You have to
bring batteries to full charge at least once every 10 days and the only
way to achieve full charge is by holding in the absorb mode through the
proper time 4.6 hours.<br>
<br>
With that said when looking here at this the bulk time (based on where
the batteries were left off the previous night) bulk it typically at
least one or two hours. If you add this to the 4.6 it’s 5.6 or 6.6 hours
total charge time… this will work in New Mexico or Arizona most of the
year but if this is in Ohio let’s say, the real problem is not enough
solar!<br>
<br>
It’s not the batteries! Yes you have a problem now with them and it could
be fixed but that’s a different discussion. Call me 888-503-6772 <br>
<br>
Tom Duffy<br>
Senior Solar Design Engineer<br>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.0.20130718140253.05bb5950@redwoodalliance.org.2" width=244 height=101 alt="Real-logo-X-195">
<br>
Toll Free 888-895-8179<br>
<a href="mailto:tom@thesolar.biz">tom@thesolar.biz</a><br>
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<br>
<b>From:</b> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" eudora="autourl">
mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Drake<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 17, 2013 4:07 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Trojan L-16s<br>
<br>
Hi Tom,<br><br>
These are Trojan L-16E batteries, 370 AH. They have a 2 hour absorb
cycle at around 29.3 V. There is one series string of 4 batteries
in a small, off grid cabin that is used 3 or 4 days a week.
The system has 980 Watts of PV with an Outback FM 60 CC and an Outback
3524 VFX inverter.<br><br>
I was concerned to read that John and Bob have been seeing more problems
with the Trojan L-16s lately. They have been a standby for this type of
system. If they truly are not lasting as long as previously, what other
options do we have for a reasonably priced, decent quality battery in
that amp hour range? <br><br>
Thanks,<br><br>
Drake<br><br>
<br>
At 09:54 AM 7/16/2013, you wrote:<br><br>
Content-Language: en-US<br>
Content-Type: multipart/related;<br>
boundary="_004_66ba8ba32edb46a18046d46a3a83c95cBLUPR05MB165namprd05pro_";<br>
type="multipart/alternative"<br><br>
Hi Drake<br>
<br>
The first thing I would look at is how the batteries are being charged…
Can they even be charged by the present equipment? What is the
Bulk/Absorb voltage and time? Equally important is the design of the
bank… series or series/parallel and if parallel how many strings. Lastly
which Trojan L-16 are these? <br>
<br>
Tom Duffy<br>
Senior Solar Design Engineer<br>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.0.20130718140253.05bb5950@redwoodalliance.org.3" width=244 height=101 alt="Real-logo-X-195">
<br>
Toll Free 888-895-8179<br>
<a href="mailto:tom@thesolar.biz">tom@thesolar.biz</a><br>
Customer Service and Accounting 888-895-6810 <br>
Grid tie sales 888-895-7847 <br>
Off Grid sales 888-895-4058 <br>
Other Product Sales 888-895-9612 <br>
Central America Sales (Panama) 507-6-126-1253 <br>
Shipping and Receiving 888-895-6497 <br>
Tech Support 888-895-8179<br>
SKYPE: thesolarbiz<br>
<br>
<b>From:</b>
<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>
[<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" eudora="autourl">
</a><a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" eudora="autourl">mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Drake<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, July 15, 2013 8:59 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] Trojan L-16s<br>
<br>
Hello Wrenches,<br><br>
A 1 1/2 year old bank of Trojan L-16s had a battery with a dead cell. I
have heard that there have been some complaints about the L-16s
lately. Has anyone had experiences with Trojan L-16s (or the RE
series), good or bad? Are they still a good choice to use in off
grid systems?<br><br>
Thanks,<br><br>
Drake <br><br>
Drake Chamberlin<br>
<i>Athens Electric LLC<br>
OH License 44810<br>
CO License 3773<br>
NABCEP Certified Solar PV<br>
740-448-7328<br>
</i><a href="http://athens-electric.com/">http://athens-electric.com/<br>
<br>
</a><br><br>
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