Re: [RE-wrenches] C-40 controller tests

[Allan Sindelar]

Just a small part of an answer, Mark, The C-40 has a non-adjustable two hour absorption cycle. That's good for a system in regular off grid use, but tends to lead to excessive water consumption in an application with intermittent use, such as a summer cabin. Even if there's no overnight load, the batteries stay in the gassing range for two hours (plus bulk), leading to more water loss than is needed. A "done amps" or "return amps" function helps overcome this. In your case, it won't be a problem with the new batteries, as long as the setpoint is correct. My understanding is that the proper absorption voltage, which is below the gassing voltage of flooded batteries, may be maintained indefinitely with no adverse effect. With Concordes it's 2.385  +/- .0015 vpc, with temperature compensation. Allan Allan Sindelar al...@positiveenergysolar.com NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder and Chief Technology Officer Positive Energy, Inc. 3209 Richards Lane (note new address) Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 505 424-1112 www.positiveenergysolar.com On 10/11/2012 1:45 PM, Mark Dickson wrote: Sorry not to hijack, but. . I am sort of in the same situation. . . I am replacing a worn out battery bank (24 off-brand T-105s in six strings of 4) with nice new set of AGMs (3 strings of 4).  It has a solar array and Whisperer 200 turbine charging the bank and no generator.  Customer says the old batteries which are pretty worn, were always boiling and losing water.  I tested all the cells with a hydrometer on my last visit and found no obviously dead cells but all of them seemed week with some visual sulfation.   I am thinking the bad batteries are most likely the culprit, but I would like some ideas on what and how to test both the C40 and Whisper controller to make sure they were not causing the overcharging.  Any ideas on what tests to perform?    Best regards,   Mark Dickson, NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer ™ Oasis Montana Inc. Mark Dickson, Certified Solar PV Installer   From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Allan Sindelar Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 1:23 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Old School 12V Independent System?   Bill, Give her sealed batteries for this application. We like Concorde SunXtender, both because the few sets that have been in operation off grid have shown exceptional life (we have one series pair of PVX-2580Ts going into its 13th year still in good shape) and are available in sizes that easily replace standard flooded sizes. Contact me off list for a good distributor referral. If indeed they have "abused the batteries to death" then the batteries are indeed dead. I'd suggest that you sell her replacement sealed batteries. They'll arrive charged. Thus during daytime you can use the array itself and the full batteries to test the C-40, and set proper regulation voltage at the same time. Save the customer a second service call, make you a decent sale, worth the trip. Just my $.02001 Allan   Allan Sindelar al...@positiveenergysolar.com NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder and Chief Technology Officer Positive Energy, Inc. 3209 Richards Lane (note new address) Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 505 424-1112 www.positiveenergysolar.com     On 10/11/2012 1:07 PM, William Dorsett wrote: A client has an old school 12VDC remote cabin, (SunDanzer fridge, Sureflo pump, 12VDC lights and fans) which she visits perhaps every three months. It isn’t her interest to clean terminals, much less run the generator through one of her two days of country quiet to equalize the battery bank. The consequence is that she (and guests who borrowed the cabin) have abused the batteries to death. The first suggestion will be a maintenance agreement…yes. First I need to test the Trace C-40 charge control and would appreciate suggestions on choosing a portable 0-16V variable voltage power supply to check its function and set points etc. It should be as easy as a couple batteries in series, multimeter and a potentiometer. Thanks for your thoughts.   Bill Dorsett Sunwrights 1715 Leavenworth Manhattan, KS 785/539-1956 Home/Office   _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine   List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org   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: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org 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

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