That's way too many strings, and as T105s die, they start using more water and boiling as their efficiency drops. I would only use sealed batteries if maintenance is a real issue. Sealed batteries cost twice as much and lost half as long. Allan suggested them and I agree in the previous case, because no one will be there for several months at a time. I'd put a nice set of HUPs in to get the same or more amp hours. Efficiency will be much better, and they'll have a battery that will last 20 years.
Ray Walters On Oct 11, 2012, at 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. > <image001.jpg>Mark Dickson, Certified Solar PV Installer > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] 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 > [email protected] > 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: [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 >
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