E-meter [RE-wrenches]

[Backwoods Solar Electric Systems]

Right about new batteries behaving strangely.  Last fall I found 3 cases
(one my own RV of two L-16 Trojans, two were large home systems) where a new
set of batteries was accidentally deeply discharged.  Recharging in each
case would bring up the voltage, bubbling and all, but not the hydrometer
readings to normal even after extensive equalizing. Consulting a factory
engineer he said that was normal, if voltage and current indicated full
charge they would straighten out hydrometer only after a few more normal
cycles.  While I could not closely observe all these cases, all did
straighten out after further cycling.

By the way I prefer TriMetric to E meter, but both are harder to program
than an SW inverter.  We set them to pretty standard starting points, being
sure batteries are fully charged at the time. Not as familiar with the E
meter, but TriMetric lets you turn off the automatic re-zero, so I can
return a few weeks later and see if it is drifting too high or too low and
make corrections to the % efficiency. When it is tracking well, then I turn
on the auto zero function, which resets it to zero when voltage is at the
high set-point and current below its set-point at the same time, which
normally would indicate a fully charged battery. One problem is seasonal
efficiency changes.  batteries operate more efficiently in summer when
charged slowly by solar, and less efficiently in winter when often charged
more rapid rate by generator.

Steve Willey   www.backwoodssolar.com
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems

----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Ellison <ellison at gisco.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 12:46 AM
Subject: RE: E-meter [RE-wrenches]

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