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    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">You can waste lots of time trying to
      save an already dieing set of batteries, or just cut to the chase
      and install a new set.  L16s are not a long life battery.  While
      some folks can baby them and get 10 years, I've seen failures at
      less than 5 years.  Compare cycle life; most L16s are only 600
      cycles to 80% DOD.  The new Trojan RE series are 1000 cycles to
      80% DOD, but you're also up against the too many parallel string
      issue, which always contributes to unequal charging and early
      battery failure.  They need a forklift type (2v cells) battery. 
      HUP Solar One, Crown, Trojan Industrial, or Rolls all make
      batteries that are what you need.<br>
      <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 12/19/2013 6:52 AM, Tump wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote cite="mid:10D540AC-9962-4E26-BCE0-43FA3B24E32C@swnl.net"
      type="cite"><base href="x-msg://12/">What is the Spg (use a good
      refractometer)of each cell 1.11?1.15?  that temp is not to hi
      especially w/ the temp comp. Charging w/ the unit in bulk, the
      inverter will see voltage rise quickly and decide that they are
      charged. disconnect the batteries and check as individual units
      Eq at high voltage `32 v and a low charge rate 10 amps, watch the
      temp Spg .  I would suggest that if at all possible remove 2 sets
      and eq from the grid for ~week on /off.DO use a temp sensor and
      watch the spg. See Surrette's tech bulletin re/ highly sulfated
      batteries. <a moz-do-not-send="true"
        href="http://www.surrette.com">www.surrette.com</a>.
      <div>Anything over 2 strings will cause a headache, BUT thats more
        the norm w/ the cheep off grid, I'm going to manage my gen run
        time kinda of folks!
        <div>
          <div>
            <div>On Dec 19, 2013, at 1:28 AM, frenergy wrote:</div>
            <br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
            <blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span"
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                  <div>Gentlemen and women,</div>
                  <div> </div>
                  <div>        I have been called in to deal with a pack
                    of 16 (4 strings of 4 for 24V), L-16s, 6 years old. 
                    She is having to run her generator 2 times a day. 
                    Here in N.E. CA. its been cold, mostly clear, little
                    wind.  Her inputs are about 1 KW of PV, and small
                    wind machine and of course a serious generator. 
                    Cables and terminals looked clean, were tight.  The
                    bulk setting on the Trace 4024 was 28.0 V for 2 hrs
                    with RTS, however, she would manually turn off the
                    generator soon after it reached 28V.  Recipe for
                    suphation.</div>
                  <div> </div>
                  <div>        Rather than getting into too much detail,
                    here's my quandary.  When I fired up the generator,
                    the input amps in each of the 4 strings were....
                    string #1:29A, 2:34 A, 3:25 A, 4: 13 A.  A survey of
                    IR temps throughout the pack gave temps ranging from
                    63 to 92 degrees.  The highest temps were in the
                    string pulling highest amps.  In trying to find
                    shorted/failed and/or sulphated cells which data are
                    most relevant?  Temps, amp draw during charge,
                    disconnect strings from each other and check volts
                    of each 6 volt batt?, active bubbling? ...all the
                    above?  </div>
                  <div> </div>
                  <div>        I'm thinking I should have (1) checked
                    the amp draw with batts under load/genny off in each
                    string AND (2) check amps between strings with the
                    pack at rest, no input or output.  I would love to
                    EQ the pack but with a temp already in the 90's and
                    uneven currents in the strings I don't want to risk
                    too high of temp or worse, a runaway situation and
                    fire. I'm thinking I'd like to yank a few bad batts
                    and run on 3 strings and then carefully EQ. </div>
                  <div> </div>
                  <div>I appreciate any insights.</div>
                  <div> </div>
                  <div>Thanks in advance,</div>
                  <div> </div>
                  <div>Bill</div>
                  <div><span><FRS_working_logo.jpg></span></div>
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                                              California</i></b></span><span
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                                            </i></b></span><b><i>       
                                                           
                                             207-832-7574   Cl.
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