HI Dana, I'm curious about why you differentiate sealed vs flooded batteries?
thanks, jay peltz power On Dec 12, 2010, at 3:13 PM, Dana wrote: > Great discussion and Thanks to all of you for the input. > > I thought of attempting a wrap up of the various presentations but there are > and always will be many variables in battery storage and insulation > requirements. Here are my thoughts and a distillation from you all with > respect to my high elevation climate in W. CO. - 6 months of winter and cool > nights in summer [typically]. > > Type of battery - Wet VS. Sealed batteries. : depends on size and usage of > system and client choice. > > Climates – 4 season with 5-6 months of winter like conditions VS. a mild year > round costal climate. : A long winter climate can seriously chill a poorly > insulated bank and therefore reduce capacity when the bank get cold. I get > more calls each Nov. from new to off grid folks with an under sized array and > cold battery bank about reduced capacity. > > Does it cool off at night in the summer? VS. It is hot 24/7 for 4 months? > > Size of bank – Small VS. Large. : Smaller reacts more quickly to a cooling or > heating trend VS. Larger react slowly. > > Ambient building temperature. – heated building VS. walled in shed/free > standing battery box in a snowy scenario. : If I can put the bank on a > temperature controlled radiant concrete slab I do so. > > Ability to sink the battery bank into the ground VS. not being able to do so. > : installation & cost can be a challenge here. > > Powered venting VS. convective venting ; Powered with a back draft damper > seems to be a better option in winter climates. I have used the Zephyr > Industries powered vent with backdraft damper for many years with great > success. > > As mentioned batteries are an electrochemical unit that requires, like us, a > narrow window for temperature to exist and operate efficiently. When working > hardest, typically during winter, the recharge requirements are high and the > hours of sunlight are low, therefore the temperature window is best on the > warmer end of the range. > > The time of year when power requirement can be lowest in summer, the usage is > lower due to long days and lack of heating systems drawing them down over > night, unless you are irrigating and perhaps a PV direct design would then be > best. > > Thanks all. > > > Dana Orzel > Great Solar Works, Inc > E - [email protected] > V - 970.626.5253 > F - 970.626.4140 > C - 970.209.4076 > web - www.solarwork.com > > "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" > Do not ever belive anything, but seriously trust through action. >
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