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Forum Index : Other Stuff : Battery auto watering systems.
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yahoo2 Guru  Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
I do remember commissioning a set of dry exide energystor batteries. I had to charge the batteries until I got 3 readings one hour apart that were the same for volts and density. Then I had to adjust the density of each cell to 1.260 SG at 30 degrees C. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
1.26 SG at 30C was the data given to me when the first ones were new, they were delivered charged ready for service. The new ones get to 1.24 so am wondering did Exide change their specs because there was a problem with the higher SG. Cannot find a manual on the new energystore on the website but downloaded the old manual back in 06. It appears they have been superceeded. It is good to hear other owners data readings and their experiences with the same bateries. Makes you wonder a little considering we are using two different brand regulators. I know I`m going to be keeping even a closer look at my cells in the future. Off grid systems are relatively new(using the new technology regulators) So I guess the manufacturers of our system components are constantly fine tuning and probably the wet cell data they use is left over from other applications. We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
I am heartened by the info that you chaps have provided. I was begining to think that my battery bank was on the way out or that I had somehow stuffed it. It did get quite low a few years ago due to a solar system failure (the only one so far) but I got the SG back up again fairly quickly so not too much damage was done. Exide never did supply SG data when I bought the system only charging formula, but the PL40 takes care of that side. Our daily power usage is around 1.3 KWHr and now that we have the 500W modified OEM wind generator hooked up also, the battery bank rarely takes more than 3 hours to fully charge. David M. David M. |
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| yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
What is the equalisation specs for an Exide? Some of the other battery manufacturers are 2.6+ volts per cell for at least 2 hours. Trojan like to cook em for up to 6 hours, there are a lot of solar systems that don't make it to EQMAX volts. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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| norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
62.3v for 1 hour, /24cells=2.59533v. The old cells had EQ at a lower voltage 61v I think. My installer reset the regulator EQ voltage higher on installation of replacement batteries. The SG data I have was supplied by my installer for orig batteries. 1.26 100% 1.25 90% 1.24 80% 1.22 60% As stated the replacement cells only get to 1.24. Have enclosed old energystor manual. 2013-01-01_040004_EnergystoreOperatingManual.pdf You have 8 years of service so far Mobi at 1.22, runs on the board so to speak thus perhaps Yahoo2 you can shed more light on this for us. We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
I had a look in the filing cabinet for the Exide data but seeing as the PL40 does all the work I probably have it in archives on the farm. Didn't figure I would need it often. Anyhow, when my system is in equalizaton mode (which sometimes goes for several hours) the battery voltage is around 31volts i.e. 2.583V per cell and gassing well! Every now and then, the system hiccups and the equ sequence goes for a couple of days and I've had to reset the PL40. I believe it has a user configurable charge mode in addition to the "standard" battery types. I'll have to dig out the manual or download the full PDF version and have a read up. David M. David M. |
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| yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
I have had a little dig around in the potential paper avalanche that I pretend is my library. By some miracle I found an old folder with battery brochures in it. There were a lot of brands that were 1.225, 1.227 and 1.240 SG @ 100% charge. Seems like 1.260 has been the standard for the last few years. Mobi, If I read it right you are closing in on 3000 cycles at less than 8% of battery capacity. I would say there is a fair bit of life left in them. I would expect be able to knock out 2-3kw a overnight with that bank and still be under 20-25% capacity and pump it back in the 60 -90 amp range. If you are looking to use more power in the future you are actually a bit light on in the charging area rather than battery capacity. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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| yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
The plasmatronic will try to equilise the batteries for 4 days in a row if it does not reach the required EQ voltage, then it gives up and goes back to the standard routine. They are a bit like outback power gear, sometimes there is just to many settings to fiddle with. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
I am planning to get another batch of monosilicon panels this year (was going to say in the new year but it is now) and install on the shed roof above the power room. The roof faces roughly north. My current system is 8 panels of 85watts with a 180degree tracking system (an extra 20% power?) I bid on a ship load of 24V mono panels last year and ended up with a lousy 1 panel. Got pipped at the post so to speak. I'll probably put up about 1KW worth as a fixed array and that should(?) cover me for the days when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow. I know we are in the SE of SA, but it happens more often than not. I have to find a place that sells the panels at a reasonable rate. David M. PS. Edit: That probably explains why the extended equ sequence. All the more reason to check up the PL40 programming. David M. |
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| yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
you might be interested in this then http://www.plasmatronics.com.au/downloads/FAQ.adding.extra.c apacity.V1.4.pdf http://www.plasmatronics.com.au/downloads/PL.Extending.Capac ity.pdf I have installed a few panels from low energy developments I have no idea how long they will last but I have not found a faulty one yet. I normally email them for a price on freight for panels into the country, they do a bit better for multiple panels than the quoted prices. The only panels I was not sure about were the 250 watt ones, their ebay blurb was always a bit vague on which version they were selling, 40 volt 60 cell 6 inch cell or 60 volt 96 cell 5 inch cell. I see they have cleared that up now. racking kits I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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| norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
The Outback60 can be programmed for auto EQ, but my installer suggested I do it manually on a clear sunny day once every 2months, once started it automatically exits once its done an hour at EQ voltage. He suggested this to ensure it does the cycle completely on the one day ie. to maintain the EQ voltage continuously for one hour. My system has 18x130watt panels, 2x OEM500 and a 200w old Chinese. I use on average 5.2Kwhrs/day. Most days only use the solar panels leaving the wind turbines off of a day and on of a night (manually switched), although this time of year(wet season)the wind turbines are left on continuously. Very rarely go below 90% charge, all logged by a Selectronics Inverter. Cut in a diesel generator(manually) coupled to a 50amp 48v battery charger at around 80% never below 70% battery capacity. Great to hear of other off-grid users experiences, we are the test beds for a future that will see many more join our ranks. My installer has had an off-grid system with his exide batteries getting close to 20 years old. Mobi like Jahoo2 says up your solar panel count, you have obviously done the right thing with the batteries, they may go a lot longer. We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
Hyrometers and hydrometers!! Hi, I got hold of another hydrometer today and checked all my cells (no, not brain cells - not enought of them to check any more) I have a markedly different reading - more to what I would have expected. The "weak" cell I have now reads 1.25+ and the normal cells which read 1.25ish now read 1.26+ Hmmm. What do I believe?? Anyone got a third hydrometer handy? How about designing an electronic hydrometer? Pretty hostile environment! David M David M. |
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Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Could you not check calibration of each hydrometer in some 4C demin water, or wont the battery hydrometer read low enough to use with water. Fresh water at 4C degrees should give a SG of 1.000. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
I think it will if the top of the stem doesn't hit the top stopper. I need to get a new bottle of demin anyway so I'll probably have ananswer tomorrow. You'll just have to wait with bad, I mean (bated) breath - or is that baited?? Either way, its bad! David M. David M. |
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| norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
Well tis good to see our readings are now more inline, had me worried there for a bit. Don`t know about a digital hydrometer, ever seen two DMM agree exactly with each other? We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Is it me thats ass about or your hydrometer. Wont water with a lower density cause the stem/float to sink lower in water and not float higher. I am doubtful that the stem will actually float in water, as the weight of the stem might be heavier than the density of water. Think i tried to check one here some years back and it floated like a crow bar in fresh water, but your floatie thing might be different than mine. I once had a lab quality hydrometer that you dropped into a beaker, but think it got broken as i have not seen it for a while, or i would do a brine test. Sometimes it just works |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
What was I thinking???? Must be sun stroke.  I don't know how that one got past me unless I'm getting past "it".
David M. David M. |
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| norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
Know the feeling well, I remember my Grandma had a saying "I always remember what I don`t forget". I am saying the same thing now. We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| Georgen Guru Joined: 13/09/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 462 |
Maybe just "low water warning system" instead, so if trouble starts before we have scheduled maintenance day we can attend straight away. George |
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| yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
I wish I could find someone that sells these. 
I dont want the little brother 
It is a Gefo hydrometer, I know someone imports them but I have trouble finding a retailer, I have seen a marine supply place that stocks them, but cant find it in my bookmarks. If you need to check the calibration of a hydrometer, you can weigh a known quantity of distilled water (or acid from a flattish battery) and take a SG reading then the same quantity of fresh or charged acid, weigh it and compare the ratio's between the weights and SG readings. The beer guys do it with sugar dissolved in water, I have tried it with brine (salting meat). Then plot the two points on a graph, draw a line through it, do the same with the weights and there you have a little chart for calculating out any error. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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