I've got two Hawker installs out here, a 48 Volt and a 24 Volt system. Both are
going on 6 years or so. Clients are happy, I'm happy. It does resemble work to
move and place them. We typically use "Egyptian" techniques when heavy equipment
isn't available or appropriate. Inclined plane, big pry bars, rollers, come
along, block & tackle. It's kind of fun to try to outsmart the mass. It's
interesting to experience gravity's effect on lead, atomic weight 207.2. Glad
it's not Uranium at 238. Thankfully, we've not had to replace a cell. That
always sucks, regardless.

If I remember correctly, the steel cans had welded seams. The cans make the use
of insulated tools even more important. Should you ground the cans???

Speaking of replacing cells. I looked at a 5 year old bank of 8 Rolls L16s this
weekend. Two of the batteries had a dead cell. This in a bank that had a single
battery replaced at 6 months or less because of a bad cell. 

I've also got a 7 year old bank of 12 Surrette / Rolls 2 Volt units installed.
The only problem so far was on day one when they arrived. They were shipped on a
single, narrow, beat up pallet. Some had obviously tipped over in transit and
had lost a considerable amount of electrolyte. Northern Arizona Wind & Sun
user's forum has posts reporting similar experiences. 

I dread receiving expensive pallets of batteries and modules from shippers. High
percentage of damage. Steel cans instead of plastic wrap is worth thinking
about.
Hope this doesn't just muddy the water.

Dick Ratico
Solarwind Electric

