[RE-wrenches] Ni-Fe update?

[Jay]

Hi Dan and Kienan 

I’m curious how much water you are adding monthly?  

Jay
Peltz Power. 

> On Nov 22, 2018, at 7:08 AM, Dan Fink <danbob88 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Wrenches; I have run my house on 12 volt NiFe batteries for 3 years now. I was going to write a long essay, but Kienen beat me to it. It's an excellent analysis, I agree with each of his bullet points.
> 
> All I'll add is that the batteries charge with decent efficiency up to 80% SOC. To get that last 20%, they do require 1.65 volts per cell, which most standalone inverter / chargers won't do off a generator - they freak out at a bit above 15v and shut down.
> 
> I've used 2 tactics to get that last 20% when using a generator, and I have experienced the same issue that Kienen mentioned -- they need to get a nice strong, charge cycle every so often or else they will behave like a heavily sulfated FLA, but of course the NiFes don't sulfate.
> 
> 1) after charging to 80% SOC with the generator, both of my charge controllers (outback and midnite) have no problem being programmed to a 16.5v absorb cycle, I set absorb at 6 hours, on a sunny day that does the trick here.
> 
> 2) If no long, sunny day available and you are forced to use a generator and charger that won't let you get to 16.5v, remove one cell from the series string, and charge the other 9 cells. Then put the one you removed back in the string, and remove one of the ones you discharged, and generator charge again. Then re-assemble back into a 10-cell string. I've only had to do this a couple times.
> 
> In general, I'm happy with these batteries, and happy to never have to deal with sulfation again, and remember I have the worst case scenario here with a 12v bank, undersized because of the greater DOD capability of NiFes, a refrigerator that surges very hard, and a magnum inverter that goes wonky with big surges at low voltages.
> 
> I would sell Iron Edison NiFes to a client...but unless they are a special sort of off-grid 12v person, I'd only do 48v because of the surge issue. 
> 
> 
> Dan Fink
> Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute
> IREC Certified Instructor™ for: 
> ~ PV Installation Professional
> ~ Small Wind Installer
> Executive Director, Buckville Energy
> NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers™
> NABCEP PV Associate
> 
> 970.672.4342
> 
>  
> 
> 
>> On Wed, Nov 21, 2018 at 11:35 AM <dan at foxfire-energy.com> wrote:
>> Hi Guys, I have a potential customer inquiring about installing a pre packaged Iron Edison system.. I recall hearing strange stories about Ni-Fe batteries but don't recall the specifics. I have done a few searches with mixed results.. And have friends advising I run like a Rabbit.. Thought I'd run it by you folks for an update..
>> Thanks, and Happy Turkey Day.
>> 
>> db
>> 
>> 
>> Dan Brown
>> Foxfire Energy Corp.
>> Renewable Energy Systems
>> (802)-483-2564
>> www.Foxfire-Energy.com
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