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<p>I'm sure part of the problem is no load current circulation, but
much of the problem can be seen with a clamp on meter while
charging. I've seen parallel strings pulling 10 amps on one
string and 1 amp on the far end. Not subtle at all, and very easy
to understand why it would lead to unequal battery charging. Let
us know William what you find out with your extra shunts; we
always appreciate your keen mind and desire to get to the root of
the problem in a no nonsense manner. I think resistance checks of
the batteries and arranging the batteries into strings of equal
resistance might help too, but yes, less parallel strings is
better.<br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760</pre>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 7/18/18 7:33 PM, William Miller
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:56682f1b143bf93ff659080ddad8fe11@mail.gmail.com">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Colleagues:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I
believe that circulating currents in multi-string battery
installations are a major cause of premature failure of such
a system. I think it is important to monitor these
currents. Most telling would be checking these currents in
an at-rest scenario. It would be helpful to have a baseline
at install and then check periodically. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Measuring
these currents with any type of DC clamp-on meter can be
inaccurate at best. In a conversation with Steve Higgins at
a recent trade show I came up with this idea that may have
some merit: If an install has more than one string of
batteries, install an appropriately sized shunt in the
negative lead of each string. At any later date you can
apply any decent voltmeter with a millivolt scale and check
for battery string imbalance with some degree of accuracy.
Shunts are cheap and readily available and if you avoid the
brand that Outback uses in the Radian GSLC cabinets, they
are relatively rugged.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">We
will be trying this in any future install with multiple
strings, although we avoid this if at all possible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">William
Miller</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><img
id="Picture_x0020_1"
src="cid:part1.DA8304E8.2256206C@solarray.com"
alt="Gradient Cap_mini" class="" width="80" height="35"><br>
Lic 773985<br>
<a href="http://www.millersolar.com/" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="color:blue">millersolar.com</span></a><br>
805-438-5600</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">
RE-wrenches [mailto:<a
href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org"
moz-do-not-send="true">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>John Blittersdorf<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 18, 2018 6:24 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Electrolyte Dilution vs
Voltage</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mac,</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> I was about to ditto Ray with his
more common than I would like scenario of battery death
when I saw your mention of the 2nd string not connected.
It is always nice to see</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">a solution that is simple and should
have been considered, but wasn't. The assumption with
battery issues usually is that they are actually hooked
up! I often thought that it would be worth the money to
supply a cheap AC/DC clamp meter with every installation
so that a phone consultation could quickly determine if
the strings were unbalanced and what might be the reason.
Bad cells and bad connection will usually show up in a
current check and then a quick voltage check of each
battery with a load on the system will show the culprit if
a bad cell and corrosion present might find the bad
connection. I use Interstate L16's most of the time and
find that the life is typically 6 years. I used to call
them a 7 to 10 year battery but kept racheting back the
claim until I now call them a 5 to 7 year battery with
more if properly maintained. I have seen 10 years but it
is rare. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">John Blittersdorf</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
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