SW charging problems [RE-wrenches]

[Steve Willey, Backwoods Solar]

Seems to me that if you set the bulk voltage lower on the inverter, it will
reach it faster and kick out quicker.  You nee to set the charge amps much
lower and bulk voltage up to equalize levels to get them started charging.

Trojan states that 60 % of batteries in a bank will not recover from storage
without charge for 12 months, the other 40% will, in their tests. I find
that you have to equalize almost each time charged by cycle them a little
too, and after a month or so most straighten out if they have been stored 3
or 4 months.

Steve Willey   www.backwoodssolar.com
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
----- Original Message -----
From: Don Loweburg, Offline <i2p at aol.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 9:58 AM
Subject: Re: SW charging problems [RE-wrenches]


> Hi Carl,  Monitor the battery voltage as the inverter charger begins its
> cycle. If it bumps up to the bulk voltage set point right away, I'll bet
your
> batteries are sulphated.
>
> The inverter does what it thinks it should- goes to float.
>
> Drop the bulk voltage down  a volt or two and see if the charger hangs in
> there a bit longer.  If so, I would conclude the batteries need work. You
can
> probably recover them by doing a series of recharges, each time upping the
> bulk voltage a bit.
>
> Good Luck,  Don Loweburg
>


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