This is similar to what I've been doing for a long time, I use high temp lithium based wheel baring grease, cover all surfaces and assemble. After 18+ years my own set of IBE 2v cells looks like the day I greased them, no corrosion. We keep a tub of this grease on the truck, and rubber gloves to apply it with.
Sincerely, Chris Worcester Solar Wind Works NABCEP Certified PV Installer Phone: 530-582-4503 Fax: 530-582-4603 www.solarwindworks.com [email protected] "Proven Energy Solutions" -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of North Texas Renewable Energy Inc Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 7:03 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Strings and series of batteries Petroleum jelly does work as you say to keep oxygen away from the metal surfaces but its melting temperature is relatively low making it not a long-term solution. A device I saw used on an industrial battery bank years ago used a solid brass alloy device. A small oblong plate fits over the battery post, lies flush on the battery case, then the battery cable is attached. A machined brass dome-shaped cover fits snugly over the plate and is attached with small set screws. A grease fitting on the top is where you squirt in special non-corrosive 'grease' until it leaks out around the battery cable opening. If the cable/terminal connection is good & tight the connection should not corrode or loosen for a decade or more. The device is no doubt pricey but should last for the life of the bank on a quality installation. I have not ever seen this device advertised, or even thought about it until I read Dicks posting. It sounds like it's worth the investment for an enclosed flooded battery enclosure where fumes will accumulate. Jim Duncan North Texas Renewable Energy Inc 817.917.0527 [email protected] www.ntrei.com ******************************** ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard L Ratico" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 5:00 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Strings and series of batteries > Perhaps off topic, it's been said here previously by others, but is worth > repeating, good old Vaseline, coating all exposed metal surfaces at > battery > terminals, totally eliminates the corrosion issue. It's benign, > inexpensive and > available everywhere. > > Dick > Solarwind Electric > > > > --- You wrote: > Yes, especially with flooded batteries where the posts are much more > subject to > corrosion. I am getting too old and decrepit to get out in the field much > anymore, but in the past I have seen complete strings basically isolated > by bad > cross connections, usually (but not always) due to corrosion at the > terminals. > In extreme instances I have seen cross connect cables totally gone at the > cable/lug connection point - nothing but green powder. > > With multiple batteries and banks, correct cabling and connections become > much > more important, because they may not show up until too late. With a single > series string it is usually obvious if something goes bad, but with > multiples > not so much. Sometimes you have no choice but to use large strings, but I > have > seen installations where 60+ 42 amp-hour batteries were strung together, > because > they were "cheap". > --- end of quote --- > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: [email protected] > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
