Paul, how often do you change the batteries? And how often do they get discharged?
The small ones I try to change every 2 years, but the 100Ah and larger AGMs seems to last 5 years or more. Our towers only have a handful of power outages per year though. Most of our big batteries are Concorde (marine or solar) or Northstar. I suspect any name brand US manufactured AGM batteries would have similar life. From: George Skorup Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 4:24 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Deka 7T31 non-AGM batteries I just use AGM everywhere. Screw maintaining wet cells. On 5/31/2016 11:14 AM, Paul McCall wrote: We have 22 towers that have the battery plant indoors. 4 batteries at $ 100 each vs $ 200 each (Optima D31M) saves $ 400 per tower ($ 8800 total) We need to be doing routine maintenance and inspection on each tower anyways every 6 months or so. The cost savings is something to consider. For outdoor, we can stick with AGM. Paul From: Af [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jesse DuPont Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 11:27 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Deka 7T31 non-AGM batteries Adding to what Chuck said, you'd also only want to use flooded batts in a vented space. AGM are safer in sealed enclosure. Jesse DuPont Network Architect email: [email protected] Celerity Networks LLC Celerity Broadband LLC Like us! facebook.com/celeritynetworksllc Like us! facebook.com/celeritybroadband On 5/31/16 8:27 AM, Chuck McCown wrote: Flooded cells will have the lowest price per watt hour and the longest life if in a temp controlled environment. However, they are classified as hazardous materials due to the amount of liquid electrolyte and that may affect zoning and insurance (if any one asks). I would not use a lead acid flooded cell unless it was in a temp controlled environment. If you have 120 batts to replace, sounds like they might be outdoors. I would use AGM. From: Paul McCall Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 7:38 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [AFMUG] Deka 7T31 non-AGM batteries Guys, We have always used the Optima D31M AGM batteries (just because). Well…. It’s that time… time to replace 90% of them, and looking for alternatives. Having to buy 120+ batteries… cost becomes something to at least look at. My local supplier says that FPL (Florida Power & Light – aka Florida Flicker and Flash) uses the Deka 7T31 non-AGM batteries (Lead Acid) and they are a lot cheaper (waiting on price – I found them quickly for $ 100 each). They are a 100ah batteries. Here is the spec otherwise http://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/wp-content/uploads/Deka-Commercial-Batteries-Flyer-0010.pdf (minus the ah rating which I got from Deka over the phone). Does lead acid have distinct disadvantages from AGM? Also, anybody using Li-Ion yet for a tower battery bank? Probably not cost-effective ? Paul Paul McCall, President PDMNet, Inc. / Florida Broadband, Inc. 658 Old Dixie Highway Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-564-6800 [email protected] www.pdmnet.com www.floridabroadband.com
