My recommendation on the HUPS that I install are:
Use a refractometer!
Check your SG, & compare all cells & if highest to lowest – If 0.02 or less no
need to EQ.
If 0.04 or greater time to EQ.
I water every 8 weeks with a pump watering system, winter about 2-3 gallons per
2 months summer 4-4.5 gallons per 2 months.
IMHO – EQ is rough on most batteries & this recommendation from NWES almost
30+ years ago has served me very well.
I have many clients that have gotten 23+ years on their HUPS. I use them & I
have only had to EQ once a year for 4years.
2500 AHR @48 VDC on 6000 watts tracked in a narrow N/S canyon, 4 hours of
direct sun Nov 25-Jan 25.
Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc.
C - 208.721.7003 [email protected]
Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374
NABCEP # 051112-136 www.solarwork.com
<http://www.solarwork.com/>
"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"
P Please consider the environment before printing this email.
From: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dave
Angelini Offgrid Solar
Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2021 1:09 PM
To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery Specific Gravity versus Electrolyte Level
A main point to the choir is that each manufacturer has their own
recommendations. The US battery I often use has monthly EQ.
Looking at 30 years of batteries here and the Offgrid manufactures seem to
change what they like over time. Sometimes it is so complicated that I can't
expect my client to succeed. I dumb it down, just the basics, and they still
get 10 years or more on a set of L16's.
I think it is because battery companies are in the business of selling
batteries. I appreciate that also!
This is not rocket science though, If I had them do all of the things on that
list, well, they would not listen to me on the basics.
Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
e-mail [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
text 209 813 0060
On Tue, 9 Feb 2021 14:29:12 -0500, Ray <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> > wrote:
> Dave makes a good point; I also don't recommend opening the cells while
> they are charging at a high rate. I like to get SG readings with the
> electrolyte being mixed by bubbling, but I turn off the charging
> sources, and let it settle down for a few minutes, before opening caps.
>
> And I second Steve's comments: over charging and over filling the cells
> can both lead to more problems than EQing might solve.
>
> Ray Walters
> Remote Solar
> 303 505-8760
>
> On 2/9/21 10:35 AM, Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar wrote:
>> That does not sound best to me. I get the point but there are much
>> better
>> ways. Not good for you to be close around a bank in EQ. If you are
>> checking
>> water level every month the level should not be really low. You do this
>> in
>> case you miss a cell a month back! You should be counting as the water
>> goes
>> in to see if you have put about the same amount in. I have never noticed
>> any advantage to mixing the cells after watering. They will get mixed the
>> next day. If this concerned you, you could run a 30 minute absorb after
>> watering.
>>
>> I like to EQ before watering so my customer does not over fill and start
>> the corrosion process. Just open all of the cells and look before they
>> EQ.
>>
>> I also like to mark 2 of the lower SG cells and 2 of the good ones. This
>> makes it easier for my clients to check the bank. Once every summer or 2
>> they need to look at all of the cells. Summer is best because it is the
>> time when you can do long corrective EQ's if you find trouble.
>>
>>
>> Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
>> "we go where powerlines don't"
>> http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
>> e-mail [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>> text 209 813 0060
>>
>> On Tue, 9 Feb 2021 05:36:39 -0800, Mark Frye <[email protected]
>> <mailto:[email protected]> >
>> wrote:
>>> My Rolls manual says:
>>>
>>> "It is recommended to water the battery cells half way through the
>>> equalization. This is to
>>> assure the water is completely mixed into the electrolyte."
>>>
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