Allan:
I know this has come up before on the list, but I was hoping someone had gained experience since the last time this was posted. I am familiar with the optical refractometers. We order them by the dozen. I have taken thousands of readings with them. They have distinct difficulties in application: Over the years we have gained more large battery arrays to maintain like this <http://www.millersolar.com/MillerSolar/Portfolio/Commercial/RM/Complete_battery_system%20copy.jpg> one. These arrays have lots of cells, up to three strings at 48 volts nominal. That is 72 cells. Testing all of these cells every month (and we test that often) is very time consuming. You have to pull a sample from each battery, apply the sample, flip the cover carefully so as not to spray acid, hold the device up to the eye, note the reading, record the reading on paper, wipe down the instrument with a shop towel (that has ever-increasing toxicity), and then prepare another sample. I don’t like flipping acid around and putting it near my or my employees eyes. The display is hard to read with safety glasses. The display has poor resolution. The sample easily runs off the glass if you tilt the instrument. Acid gets on the paper and then vectors into the office. The entries have to be typed into a permanent record. All considered, a time consuming and dangerous process. I was hoping to hear from someone who actually uses one of the higher end digital units <http://www.sbsbattery.com/products-services/by-product/battery-test-equipment-1/digital-hydrometers-density-meters/sbs-2003.html>. It appears no one on this list has. William [image: Gradient Cap_mini] Lic 773985 millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 805-438-5600 *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Allan Sindelar *Sent:* Sunday, August 30, 2015 10:29 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Digital Hydrometer William, Why bother, when a refractometer is cheaper, does a better job, self-corrects for temperature, and won't be broken when you pull it off of your truck? Here's an example, quickly found on eBay, if you're not familiar with these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Robinair-75240-Coolant-and-Battery-Refractometer-/131591979786?hash=item1ea37e430a&item=131591979786&vxp=mtr This has come up before on this list. Allan *Allan Sindelar* [email protected] NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc. *505 780-2738 cell* On 8/30/2015 5:08 PM, William Miller wrote: Friends: We are maintaining more vented battery systems. I am contemplating purchase of a digital hydrometer. Does anyone have any experience with one of these? Thanks in advance, William Miller
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