<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">I have provided battery watering system of this type before. Some commercial systems are available like you discussed, but include water filtration, too; which is attached to a water spicket. <br><div> </div>Nick Soleil<br>Project Manager<br>Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC<br>PO Box 657<br>Petaluma, CA 94953<br>Cell: 707-321-2937<br>Office: 707-789-9537<br>Fax: 707-769-9037<div><br></div><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> R Ray Walters <ray@solarray.com><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> RE-wrenches
<re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Tue, December 22, 2009 10:30:06 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery Automatic Watering<br></font><br>
We just came up with what we think is the best solution so far for battery watering: we took the the pressurized sprayer idea (thank you wrenches) and hooked it up to one of those onry BFS filling caps.<br>The result was a manual watering system with an idiot proof back up. JUst put the cap in, start filling, then it shuts off when its full, move to the next cell. <br>Totally automatic is a disaster waiting to happen (a we stated) but manual watering is a drag too. This seems to be the best of both worlds. Its still a chore, but not as bad.<br><br>R. Walters<br><a ymailto="mailto:ray@solarray.com" href="mailto:ray@solarray.com">ray@solarray.com</a><br>Solar Engineer<br><br><br><br><br>On Dec 21, 2009, at 4:06 PM, Kelly Keilwitz, Whidbey Sun & Wind wrote:<br><br>> All,<br>> I'm a little late on this thread, but wanted to give some contrary<br>> experience. We have, maybe, 15 BFS watering systems out there, dating back 5<br>> to 6 years.
Although I've experienced some issues in getting watering<br>> systems set up properly, once they are set I haven't seen a problem develop.<br>> <br>> Important issues include:<br>> - Proper size float must be specified for the battery reservoir size. For<br>> larger batteries, especially. If the float is too short it will not shut off<br>> soon enough, or allow enough headroom for expansion.<br>> - The caps must be carefully tightened, but not too much, as it can be<br>> turned past the simple threads (and then be looser).<br>> - Make sure when installing the tubing that the cap does not loosen. The<br>> base of the cap swivels from the top, but not easily.<br>> - We use the garden sprayer method, connected to the system. However, for<br>> obvious reasons, we don't recommend leaving it connected. We use an in-line<br>> flow wheel to gauge when the batteries are reaching capacity, stop pumping,<br>> then
disconnect. We use a quick coupling disconnect.<br>> - It's important to balance the flow layout, especially with large battery<br>> banks. Otherwise, the first cells in line can see higher flow/pressures than<br>> the last cells in line, and it can be difficult to fill evenly.<br>> <br>> Overall, I believe that the benefits of having a battery filling system<br>> outweigh the potential problems. As few of our battery systems customers can<br>> be said to be enthusiastically, and regularly, engaged with their batteries,<br>> I think that a properly working watering system is good insurance toward a<br>> healthy bank, and happy customers.<br>> <br>> Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.<br>> Whidbey Sun & Wind, LLC<br>> Renewable Energy Systems<br>> NABCEP Certified PV Installer<br>> 987 Wanamaker Rd, <br>> Coupeville, WA 98239<br>> PH & FAX 360-678-7131<br>> <a ymailto="mailto:sunwind@whidbeysunwind.com"
href="mailto:sunwind@whidbeysunwind.com">sunwind@whidbeysunwind.com</a><br>> <br>> <br>> On 12/9/09 7:06 PM, "R Ray Walters" <<a ymailto="mailto:ray@solarray.com" href="mailto:ray@solarray.com">ray@solarray.com</a>> wrote:<br>> <br>>> I have to highly recommend against Battery FIlling Systems. After 3 years<br>>> trying to make their products work, we are pulling all watering systems out,<br>>> and offering full refunds.<br>>> Some of the caps leaked at only 1 psi of pressure, some overfilled the<br>>> batteries causing acid spills, and the worst: some caps never filled at all,<br>>> leaving some cells under filled.<br>>> Repeated calls to their main contact Rob Source at Battery Filling Systems<br>>> have gone unanswered.<br>>> We're back to manual filling as we just haven't found anything reliable enough<br>>> to deal with this extremely important task.<br>>> Of 10
service call backs, 8 were problems with BFS products. (and we only made<br>>> a couple of bucks per cell in the first place....)<br>>> Please avoid this product like the plague!<br>>> <br>>> R. Walters<br>>> <a ymailto="mailto:ray@solarray.com" href="mailto:ray@solarray.com">ray@solarray.com</a><br>>> Solar Engineer<br>>> <br>>> <br>>> <br>>> <br>>> On Dec 9, 2009, at 7:14 PM, Joel Davidson wrote:<br>>> <br>>>> Wrenches,<br>>>> <br>>>> We installed 48 each IBE 1-85N-15 cells (24 in series in 2 Direct Power &<br>>>> Water battery boxes). We do not want to use Hydrocaps. Your suggestions for<br>>>> an automatic watering system would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance.<br>>>> <br>>>> Happy Holidays.<br>>>> Joel Davidson <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>>
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