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<p>Hi William;</p>
<p>I agree with your original premise that checking levels is
difficult by eye. Also, I would add that many of my clients
chronically over fill the cells, leading to acid loss and severe
corrosion of the connectors, battery box, and floor. </p>
<p>Your float is an interesting idea, but personally I think you're
inviting more acid contact not less, by putting the probe down
into each cell. This is similar to checking specific gravity. I
think a no contact method, like a laser measuring device would be
the way to go. I see several on Amazon in the $25 range. I have
a Bosch that's quite accurate; I tried it on some bottles with
fluid in them, and it seemed to work well. I'll try and remember
to take out with me on the next job with FLA. <br>
</p>
<p>Ray Walters<br>
Remote Solar<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2/29/2024 2:12 PM, William Miller
via RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:aec020fb7d3d96e0196531bf317d3da5@mail.gmail.com">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Friends:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Thanks
to everyone who responded to the original question. The
information was valuable but did not directly approach the
question. I apologize if my replies hinted at frustration.
I know everyone is trying to help.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">This
subject is important enough to me that I thought I’d take
another run at explaining what I am trying to accomplish:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
do not like looking into battery cells. It is dangerous.
With some of the larger battery banks looking into the cell
requires climbing up onto and kneeling on the tops of the
batteries, increasing the danger and adding discomfort and
future wardrobe malfunctions. Determining electrolyte level
by looking into cells gives inaccurate results.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Safety
glasses help but spilling acid on the unprotected area of my
face around the glasses is not ideal. A face shield
provides better protection but when bending my neck sharply
downwards the shield bumps into my chest, is uncomfortable
and obstructs my view. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">There
has to be a better way!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Here
is where I am heading with an idea to provide a safer way to
measure electrolyte levels. I have mocked up a prototype in
my kitchen to illustrate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><br>
</span><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The
idea is a float with a scale attached. The scale is
calibrated to show the desired fluid level and how much too
low or high the level is.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
was hoping someone had already gone down this road and I
could steal- I mean learn from- their ideas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
will keep trying to create something viable. Already I have
something I can use, it’s just a bit hokey. Ideally
whatever I conjure up can also be deployed while filling
batteries by whatever means you have at hand so the process
can be safer, quicker and more accurate. Everyone who works
with flooded batteries needs this.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
hope this explanation makes more sense.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">William</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">PS:
I have seen electrolyte level gauges on the internet. None
that I have seen quite fit the bill. <a
href="https://www.flowsystemsusa.com/Battery%20Water%20Level%20Monitor%20Indicator%20Electrolyte%20Vent%20Cap.html"
moz-do-not-send="true">Here is one</a> that is not
adjustable but comes in two fixed levels. If you know of a
product that does what I need, or at least can spark some
creativity, please let me know.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">PPS:
Ideally whatever I come up with is cheap enough that one or
two can be left in place to allow checking levels at a
glance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Wm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Miller
Solar</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">17395
Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">805-438-5600</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a
href="http://www.millersolar.com/" moz-do-not-send="true">www.millersolar.com</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CA
Lic. 773985</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<br>
<fieldset class="moz-mime-attachment-header"></fieldset>
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