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    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">Just let him know what to expect, and
      he will respect that latter when it turns out to be true.  <br>
      Does he need sealed batteries?  I'd start talking up an industrial
      grade battery for latter.  After all this, he'll be ready for a
      battery that's going to stay put for awhile.<br>
      <pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer, 
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760</pre>
      On 8/3/2013 7:46 PM, Mac Lewis wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote
cite="mid:CAOABG4-h-UsJe8ML65X6db-H_fO+rr8o-dZCQAYb3+UgtvNgDg@mail.gmail.com"
      type="cite">
      <div dir="ltr">Ray,
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div>Yes, this is an off-grid applications.  I think you are
          right, the battery guy sold him what he had.  Pretty pricey
          battery lesson twice!</div>
      </div>
      <div class="gmail_extra"><br>
        <br>
        <div class="gmail_quote">
          On Sat, Aug 3, 2013 at 6:42 PM, Ray Walters <span dir="ltr"><<a
              moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:ray@solarray.com"
              target="_blank">ray@solarray.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
          <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
            .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
            <div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
              <div>Mac;<br>
                <br>
                Is this off grid?   The Intimidator is not a high cycle
                life battery.  I've had trouble finding exact ratings,
                but its probably in the 250 to 300 cycles at 80% DOD. 
                I'd expect 3 years max in an off grid application.  Also
                the Intimidators  I've seen are actually AGM, not Gel,
                but I don't know.  I looked on Deka's website but didn't
                find any good charge set points.  This is basically a
                sealed RV/ Marine battery.  Definitely not a top choice,
                but its what the battery guys have on the shelf, so
                that's what they sell.<br>
                You're on to the biggest problem, pulling off opposite
                corners of the bank to balance the connector resistance
                between all the strings.  <br>
                I go out of my way not to poo poo the customer's choice,
                but to make sure and let them know you can't guarantee
                the performance of the system.   I had almost the exact
                experience just a few months ago, where the customer had
                just bought a new set of Intimidators.  I just told him
                to use them up, no sense in worrying about it, and when
                they were worn out, we'd get him something better.  I
                used AGM setting on the Midnite controller on that
                system. Voltage set points should be his responsibility
                to track down, if their gel.  It keeps you from being
                responsible for anything to do with the battery
                performance or life.  When he needs a new set, you sell
                him the right stuff, set it up right, and low and behold
                you'll look good when they outlast his previous sets.<br>
                <pre cols="72">R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer, 
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:303%20505-8760" value="+13035058760" target="_blank">303 505-8760</a></pre>
                <div>
                  <div class="h5"> On 8/3/2013 5:31 PM, Mac Lewis wrote:<br>
                  </div>
                </div>
              </div>
              <blockquote type="cite">
                <div>
                  <div class="h5">
                    <div dir="ltr"><span
                        style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Hello

                        wrenches,</span>
                      <div
                        style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br>
                      </div>
                      <div
                        style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">I
                        am looking for guidance with charging setpoints
                        for a battery that I don't have experience with.
                         This system was put in by another solar company
                        and this battery bank failed after 1.5 years.
                         He bought these batteries without consulting
                        us, but now we are stuck with them.</div>
                      <div
                        style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">It
                        is a Deka Intimidator Gel Sealed Battery 12V 225
                        Ahr.  It is set up as 3 strings of 4 batteries
                        to give a 675Ahr bank at 48V.  The batteries
                        were not wired at opposite corners, but
                        inverter/charger leads were connected to the
                        middle string.  We will fix that and other
                        things but I don't use Deka batteries.</div>
                      <div
                        style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">What

                        charger setpoints would you recommend for this
                        battery bank?  Does anyone have a good tech
                        contact at Deka?  Anyone have any results to
                        report about this type of battery in a solar
                        application?</div>
                      <div
                        style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br>
                      </div>
                      <div
                        style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Thanks

                        in advance</div>
                      <div><br>
                      </div>
                      -- <br>
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                          color="#305A78"><br>
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                      <div><br>
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                      Mac Lewis<br>
                      <br>
                      <span><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
                            size="3">
                            <p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial,
                                Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#000000"><span
                                  style="font-size:small"><span
                                    style="font-family:arial;font-weight:normal;color:rgb(48,90,120)"><font
                                      face="'times new roman', serif">"Yo
                                      solo sé que no sé nada." </font><span
style="font-weight:700;color:rgb(104,104,104)"><font face="'times new
                                        roman', serif">-Sócrates</font></span></span></span></font></p>
                          </font></b></span> </div>
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                        face="'times new roman', serif">"Yo solo sé que
                        no sé nada." </font><span
                        style="font-weight:700;color:rgb(104,104,104)"><font
                          face="'times new roman', serif">-Sócrates</font></span></span></span></font></p>
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