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
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. It appears no one on this list has.
William
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
al...@sindelarsolar.com
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
