[RE-wrenches] Fullriver Battery meltdown

[Michael Morningstar]

The picture shows a group of new Fullriver batteries destined for a different site, and the ruined Crown’s I had just pulled out. They are sitting in the back of my truck. Batteries were in a basement that stays 55F year round. Temp sensors for both the Magnum inverter and Midnite Classic 150. Small array(600 watts). 2/0 cables. Absorb time 1.5 hours. Factory recommended charging parameters. Tight connections. My first thermal runaway after hundreds and hundreds of battery bank installs too. My local distributor has been pushing Crowns and their great warranty so I reluctantly gave them a shot. Lead acids and AGMs. I’m not impressed with either. Nor their warranty process.

I
> On May 10, 2018, at 3:49 PM, Rick Brown <rick at solshineenergyalternatives.com> wrote:
> 
> I’m inclined to agree with Maverick. Mixing old and new batteries is not recommended. Differing internal resistance coupled with potentially extreme temps can lead to thermal runaway. 
> 
> rick brown
> SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC
> Electrical & Solar Contracting Services
> www.SolShineEnergyAlternatives.com <http://www.solshineenergyalternatives.com/>
> Check, Virginia 24072
> 540.808.9502 <tel:540.808.9502>
> 
> VA Class A Contractor Lic# 2705147660
> VA Master Electrician Lic# 2710062762
> VA Alternative Energy Systems Installer  
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional 110112-21
> 
> On May 10, 2018, at 6:02 PM, "maverick at mavericksolar.com <mailto:maverick at mavericksolar.com>" <maverick at mavericksolar.com <mailto:maverick at mavericksolar.com>> wrote:
> 
>> Looks like a mix of old and new Batteries in a cabinet too small to drain excessive heat gain. Was the cabinet shaded? Or exposed to direct sun? Temp sensor on charging source?
>> What size interconnect cables were used? 
>> Was it a bus system? 
>> Absorb with End Amps was turned on?
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> On May 10, 2018, at 4:41 PM, Michael Morningstar <mjmorningstar at gmail.com <mailto:mjmorningstar at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>>> <image1.jpeg>
>>> One year old. Well looked after system. 
>>> On May 10, 2018, at 1:42 PM, Starlight Solar Power Systems <larry at starlightsolar.com <mailto:larry at starlightsolar.com>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Wrenches, 
>>>> 
>>>> Attached is a photo of my first thermal runaway event after 17 years and thousands of battery systems installed. These were in an RV. I checked every charge source and all are within specified charging parameters. No cause found. The owner is a single elderly lady that uses very little power in her RV and spend most of the time on shore power. She reported that the batteries were dead when she unplugged from shore power. This was i the 23rd month after installation. 
>>>> 
>>>> After I reported this to my Fullriver distributor, they told me that another set of DC400-6 had melted down just 1 month earlier and that they had fused together just like these. That is extreme heat. It is too peculiar to know of two similar events. This meltdown happened within the 2 year warranty period but my customer could not come back to us for another 3 months beyond the warranty period. Fullriver would not allow anything towards replacement do to the reporting date being grater than 24 months.
>>>> 
>>>> I would like to know has anyone else had a similar failure with Rolls or Fullriver AGM batteries, specifically L16 size.
>>>> 
>>>> Thank you,
>>>> 
>>>> Larry Crutcher
>>>> Starlight Solar Power Systems
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> <IMG_0627.jpeg>
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