<div dir="ltr">I second Ray on the FLIR, photo attached. At $250 for the smartphone variety, it's affordable.<div><br></div><div>My last two service calls were both failed battery banks thanks to older charge controllers, including Trace. The relay fails, but the green light is still lit, so the customer thinks everything is fine when in fact the system isn't charging. I always spec a CC with a digital display now.</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Dan Fink</span><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">IREC Certified Instructor\u2122 for: </div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">~ PV Installation Professional</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">~ Small Wind Installer</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Executive Director, Buckville Energy</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers\u2122<br><a href="tel:970.672.4342" value="+19706724342" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">970.672.4342</a></div><br> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Feb 24, 2018 at 9:14 PM, Ray <span dir="ltr"><<a 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">I agree, I usually steer full time off grid customers away from AGM, but for remote sites that might not be attended for months at a time, AGMs do have a purpose. We've had good luck with Full River. Load testing is one really long way to test; I usually just have the customer do load testing with the system and the Trimetric or other SOC meter. Run a good charge cycle, then turn off the solar for a couple of days, and see what kind of capacity is left. Also always good to check voltages of all the batteries, and see if there are weak or dead cells. Dead cells show up pretty easily, they will test 1.5 to 2 volts lower.<br>
<br>
My latest toy purchase was a FLIR camera, it has been extremely helpful. You can literally see the dead cells within the packs. They show up noticeably warmer than surrounding cells. If you see anything like that, you know the pack is probably toast. Finally, a really good test is how old they are. If they are rated at 300 cycles to 80% DOD battery and they are 5 years old, they're probably gone as well. Most AGMs do not have long cycle lives. Folks don't call to complain about batteries unless they're not working right. I listen to my customers; they know better than anyone when the system isn't working the same, and after checking for new loads, and proper charge settings, its almost always batteries.<br>
<br>
Ray<br>
<br>
Remote Solar<div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 2/24/18 5:20 PM, Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Load test and compare with another known good battery. I also steer away<br>
from AGM's. --Dave<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Wrenches,<br>
We have a client with a string of sealed L16s and he believes he may have<br>
a weak or failed cell.<br>
<br>
Whatâ\u20ac\u2122s the best way to test or check these batteries, since there is no<br>
electrolyte to draw out.<br>
<br>
We donâ\u20ac\u2122t install many AGMs, in fact, steer the client away from them,<br>
usually.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Jeremy Rodriguez<br>
Solar Installation And<br>
Design Expert<br>
All Solar, Inc.<br>
1463 M St<br>
Penrose Colorado 81240<br>
<br>
Sent by Jeremy's iPhone. Sorry for typos and shorthand!<br>
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