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Forum Index : Other Stuff : Battery auto watering systems.
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Downwind Guru  Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
I have one of the hydrometers you show above, but the bulb is a rubber plastic and they crack along the eye lug on top, if they didnt put the lug on the top they would be far better. They also show the fluid temp to (albeit rather slow) I need a new bulb for mine, as its just a floatie in a glass tube now days. Sometimes it just works |
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Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1344 |
G'day Guy's, Just saw this thread and 4 pages already.... Anyway last year we scored bank of 1000AH 24 volt traction batteries only 3 years old. Now for the auto watering system the caps when sealed hold about 2 psi of pressure and each cell is linked by a water pipe in series, so if any cell needs fluid when the pressure on the cap reduces water is let in until the pressure reseals the cap. I got a 20 litre jug of deminned water sitting ontop of my RE shed and on the clear plastic hose is a visual flow meter and the connection is a quick release fitting that closes when disengaged. I put that 20 litre jug up about 2 months ago and it hardly dropped the level at all. Now where our 600AH sealed batteries are starting to show some wear and when they are online the genset has to be run every couple of days. With the 1000AH array once a month I run the genset until I got the array on float then leave it running for a couple of hours. In this last month we have only had to run the genset on 2 occasions ( mainly to keep the other 1/2 happy) so this traction array was a good score I reckon. Cheers Bryan |
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fillm Guru Joined: 10/02/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 730 |
Heres the link to " Rainbow Power Company " they list the BAX 009 , http://www.rpc.com.au/catalog/gefo-hydrometer-p-60.html . Link to digital Hydrometers - http://eepowersolutions.com/products/digital-hydrometers/ look very expensive though ! PhillM ...Oz Wind Engineering..Wind Turbine Kits 500W - 5000W ~ F&P Dual Kits ~ GOE222Blades- Voltage Control Parts ------- Tower kits |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
Very interesting. I reckon the cost might be a bit prohibitive. I wonder if say a 50mm syringe (or similar) was used to draw up a fixed amount of electrolyte and a load cell and mcu used to weigh the unit and contents and display in grammes per litre? Anyone game to try it? David M. |
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| fillm Guru Joined: 10/02/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 730 |
Is this throwing out a challange, there is someone who might !!! PhillM ...Oz Wind Engineering..Wind Turbine Kits 500W - 5000W ~ F&P Dual Kits ~ GOE222Blades- Voltage Control Parts ------- Tower kits |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
You could say that. Mind you, there must be other ways of doing it - conductivity perhaps? I know that if I had a hydrometer that I didn't have to tap to get to settle in all the bubbles or squint at because the eyes aren't what they used to be, I certainly would use one. If it were to be done on conductivity then one processor could monitor a bank of cells. I don't know if the conductivity changes that much. Anyone got a TDS meter? Perhaps a pH meter????? Ideas  David M. |
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| Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
I ain't bitting. Yes both, but dont know if i would want to stick my tool in battery acid. Pete Sometimes it just works |
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norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
If your inverter has logging and diagnostic capabilities, it is capable of showing charge percentage. This gives a very good indication of the health of your batteries and the rest of your system. Unfortunately it does not replace the hydrometer but compliments it. Because it is a quick way of checking (only needing to start the software on your PC), you do it often. Anything out of the ordinary in its readings and its out with the hydrometer. I was not aware of this capability for many years after commisioning my solar system. I have learnt to really appreciate it since connecting the inverter to the PC. If you can get a hydrometer like the one Yahoo2 is chasing(looks much like mine but mine also has a alcohol temp gauge incorporated) you`ll find there is very few bubbles to contend with. I think the larger tube in the top section makes them much easier to use. We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| MOBI Guru Joined: 02/12/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
I have a 2.5KW Selectronic which has the in built diagnostics but never have hooked up. Also the PL40 charge controller can do the same SOC battery health measurement, but once again not hooked up. Perhaps I should get off my bottom, bum, ass, toosh or whatever you call it and just do it? It would be nice to have an electronics shop just down the road - maybe this living in the country buisiness is trying to tell me something. David M. |
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| Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Yes Ebay is your friend.  Sometimes it just works |
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| Georgen Guru Joined: 13/09/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 462 |
Yes Ebay is your friend.
Sorry to say this but "Rainbow Co" is bit over my level, but E-Bay isn't George |
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