[RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer?
I'm confoosed.. . I got a call from an old client complaining that their trace meter was wacky... seems it always read like 80% or something -- never reset?.. (48V -- 4 strings of UL16 -- 5 years old -- Off Grid). I asked about the last time they equalized, and they proudly reported that they hadn't had to eq. in over a year and a half because "an industry renowned battery guru" they met at a home show advised them that they no longer needed to equalize because their new Desulphators (that he sold them), made equalizing unnecessary.. (One for every two batteries all neatly wire tied to the cables.. blinking LEDs and everything) .. .. and that their specific gravity levels were right on the money (as checked with their new refractometer Mr Battery guy also sold them).. I asked them to check Batt. hi on the trace meter, and it read like 57V .. I suggested they equalize with the Gen Set..to 61Volts.. which did make the trace meter reset.. but they never got the bank over 59 Volts.. in over 12 hrs... and the batteries were starting to get hot... so I suggested they shut down, and I planned a trip down Got on site, pulled the strings apart, and checked for dead cells.. everything checked out ok... didn't have a hydrometer with me (seems they threw theirs out .. on the advice of Mr. Battery guru).. so I took their word on the refractometer readings... reconnected everything and fired up the gen set... had 80 amp in (measured with a Fluke 337), 13 something on one string, 29 on one, 24 on another and like 14 on the last. (the two lowest were on the outside.. coolest? -- the bank was still kinda warm) ... I suggested they let the bank cool completely, and try again in a few days... (Maybe even eq each string individually as a last resort). In checking thru the set points, I noticed many were wonky.. so I called tech support folks for the latest they told me that the factory defaults for gen start / stop often resulted in "Deficit Cycling".. and that proper settings were actually like 4 Volts higher (For both the 15 min. and the 2 hr start cycles).. they also told me small desulphators were a waste of money, and that refractometers were unreliable at best... now my customer is looking at me for answers... (I'm sending them a good hydrometer).. I'm hoping you folks might set me straight (er).. thanks db Dan BrownPresidentFoxfire Energy Corp.Renewable Energy Systems(802)-483-2564www.Foxfire-Energy.comNABCEP #092907-44 Original Message Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] ecoSolargy PV modules From: Keith Cronin electrich...@yahoo.com Date: Fri, February 12, 2010 4:25 pm To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org BobThey have contacted me and seem eager to distribute their products.KeithFrom: Bob Clark bcl...@solar-wind.usTo: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.orgSent: Thu, February 11, 2010 5:02:17 PMSubject: [RE-wrenches] ecoSolargy PV modules RE-Wrenches: Does anyone have experience with ecoSolargy PV modules: http://www.ecosolargy.com/# ? Bob Clark SolarWind Energy Systems, LLC P.O. Box 1234 Okanogan, WA 98840 (509) 826-1259___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] anti islanding?
Hi Wrenches, Does anyone know where I can go to read about general information on how grid tied inver anti islanding works? I'd like to be able to describe this in better detail to our tech-savvy clients. Thanks, August August Goers Luminalt Energy Corporation O: 415.564.7652 M: 415.559.1525 F: 650.244.9167 www.luminalt.com ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] anti islanding?
Hi I hope you get an expert, but here is what I understand. Of course if the grid goes to zero it is easy to break under voltage. But if the grid has a motor particularly a synchronous motor, it can generate a sine wave, so the inverter always trys to increase the speed or frequency of the sine wave if it can, or speed up the motor it drives out of the frequency range and shuts down. also the inverter tries to raise the voltage if it can it shuts down. So the inverter is always trying to raise voltage or increase frequency, if it can it shuts down. Also in the motor case if the inverter cannot supply enougn power the motor will slow down and the inverter quits suts down. Darryl --- On Sat, 2/13/10, August Goers aug...@luminalt.com wrote: From: August Goers aug...@luminalt.com Subject: [RE-wrenches] anti islanding? To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010, 10:29 AM Hi Wrenches, Does anyone know where I can go to read about general information on how grid tied inver anti islanding works? I'd like to be able to describe this in better detail to our tech-savvy clients. Thanks, August August Goers Luminalt Energy Corporation O: 415.564.7652 M: 415.559.1525 F: 650.244.9167 www.luminalt.com ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer?
Dan, You are on the right track. I've been off the Desulphators for years because I had so many systems without them that were lasting years longer than predicted between battery swap outs. I don't know about refractometer vs hydrometer. I use and trust a glass in glass hydrometer. Are these bats Trojan L-16's? 4 strings of L-16's @ 48v seems like (32) bats. Is that correct. That doesn't sound right. In general. Battery Charge rates of between C-10 to C-20 for PV. And with an engine generator C-8 to C-12. Limit parallel strings to two (three at most in rare cases). All battery charging needs good control, proper settings, temperature comp, and somebody who understands how it all works to teach the homeowner and be there to answer questions. We teach the proper use of the hydrometer as a tool that confirms actual battery condition. We strongly recommend that batteries are fully recharged at least every week to ten days. Fully recharged means (for me) that the voltage has gotten up to 59 volts (48v system) and stayed there for a minimum of two hours (confirm effectiveness of time and battery charge level with TriMetric meter amp function here, should have tapered down below 12 amps on a typical 48v battery bank with voltage still at absorb level (59), can confirm more definitively with a hydrometer here). Of course individual systems, and battery types, vary. Properly programmed, and understood, TriMetric monitoring is very useful here. Use hydrometer to check on how this is all working out for the system. Frequency of hydrometer use varies with owner's experience level and system age. Check for all cells to be charged and within 15 basis points, highest to lowest, to be confirmed as fully charged. I find that a TriMetric monitor helps with the teaching and troubleshooting process. Different end users understand it and learn how to use it with varying degrees of success. Helps in a high percentage of our off-grid systems. Sent via BlackBerry by ATT -Original Message- From: d...@foxfire-energy.com Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:04:03 To: RE-wrenchesre-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Subject: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer? ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] Utility External Disconnect Switch
Hello Wrenches -- Did anyone else here attend the online conference last week regarding UEDS , held by Solar ABCs? I would be very interested to hear your thoughts, as I am writing an article regarding this topic. Contact me off-list, or on-list if you think this is appropriate here and want your thoughts to be known. I was impressed by the seminar (er, webinar) and found their points (NREL and IREC) in favor of eliminating UEDS requirements quite compelling. DAN FINK ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer?
Have any of us here ever heard of a world renowned battery guru? You have to wonder why, if they are world renowned, they have to do home shows. Refractometers have been used quite commonly in labs, but those are in the $500 an up range. Some pretty decent ones for home use are in the $75-$150 range. I have seen some for sale for under $40 but have no idea how accurate they are. Refractometers are pretty commonly used in beer brewing and in salt water fish tanks. One thing you have to be very careful of with Refractometers is bubbles and/or any particles which will throw the readings way off. You also need to rinse them in distilled water between uses, but that goes for most hydrometers also. But all that said, it kind of sounds more like a wiring, wire size, or connection problem with the widely varying amperage you are getting. .. Northern Arizona Wind Sun - Electricity From The Sun Since 1979 Solar Discussion Forum: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/ .. - Original Message - From: d...@foxfire-energy.com To: RE-wrenches Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 6:04 AM Subject: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer? I'm confoosed.. . I got a call from an old client complaining that their trace meter was wacky... seems it always read like 80% or something -- never reset?.. (48V -- 4 strings of UL16 -- 5 years old -- Off Grid). I asked about the last time they equalized, and they proudly reported that they hadn't had to eq. in over a year and a half because an industry renowned battery guru they met at a home show advised them that they no longer needed to equalize because their new Desulphators (that he sold them), made equalizing unnecessary.. (One for every two batteries all neatly wire tied to the cables.. blinking LEDs and everything) .. .. and that their specific gravity levels were right on the money (as checked with their new refractometer Mr Battery guy also sold them).. I asked them to check Batt. hi on the trace meter, and it read like 57V .. I suggested they equalize with the Gen Set..to 61Volts.. which did make the trace meter reset.. but they never got the bank over 59 Volts.. in over 12 hrs... and the batteries were starting to get hot... so I suggested they shut down, and I planned a trip down Got on site, pulled the strings apart, and checked for dead cells.. everything checked out ok... didn't have a hydrometer with me (seems they threw theirs out .. on the advice of Mr. Battery guru).. so I took their word on the refractometer readings... reconnected everything and fired up the gen set... had 80 amp in (measured with a Fluke 337), 13 something on one string, 29 on one, 24 on another and like 14 on the last. (the two lowest were on the outside.. coolest? -- the bank was still kinda warm) ... I suggested they let the bank cool completely, and try again in a few days... (Maybe even eq each string individually as a last resort). In checking thru the set points, I noticed many were wonky.. so I called tech support folks for the latest they told me that the factory defaults for gen start / stop often resulted in Deficit Cycling.. and that proper settings were actually like 4 Volts higher (For both the 15 min. and the 2 hr start cycles).. they also told me small desulphators were a waste of money, and that refractometers were unreliable at best... now my customer is looking at me for answers... (I'm sending them a good hydrometer).. I'm hoping you folks might set me straight (er).. thanks db Dan Brown President Foxfire Energy Corp. Renewable Energy Systems (802)-483-2564 www.Foxfire-Energy.com NABCEP #092907-44 Original Message Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] ecoSolargy PV modules From: Keith Cronin electrich...@yahoo.com Date: Fri, February 12, 2010 4:25 pm To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Bob They have contacted me and seem eager to distribute their products. Keith From: Bob Clark bcl...@solar-wind.us To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Thu, February 11, 2010 5:02:17 PM Subject: [RE-wrenches] ecoSolargy PV modules RE-Wrenches: Does anyone have experience with ecoSolargy PV modules: http://www.ecosolargy.com/# ? Bob Clark SolarWind Energy Systems, LLC P.O. Box 1234 Okanogan, WA 98840 (509) 826-1259 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings:
[RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer?
We have retired the Hydrometer and now use only refractometer. We have used them for 4+ years now. Our clients that do their own battery maint. Are so impressed that we have sold quite a few to that crowd too. They are safer and less intrusive: you only use a drop of electrolyte. Faster to use than a Hydrometer. Appear to be a more accurate reading VS. the Hyd…. Will check propylene and eythethlene glycol concentrations. Are 1/10 as susceptible to getting broken in a work truck or situation. 1/3 the size of a hydrometer and live in a padded case. Calibrated to distilled H2O and we have never had to re-adjust the setting. And best of all they are easy to keep clean and do not drip battery acid for days even if the hydrometer is washed out. A hands down winner in my book - $100-125 at your local plumbing wholesale. You may want to get an extra plastic flap lid, we have had a couple come apart. Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc www.solarwork.com E - d...@solarwork.com V - 970.626.5253 F - 970.626.4140 C - 970.209.4076 I will be the shift in how the world uses power! - Dana Orzel ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer?
Sounds like: A) the batteries are getting old, and are not paralleled properly. B) The desulphators aren't that great. I have some pics of one that completely short circuited, melted, and caught on fire. I would never put those in, myself. C) I no longer recommend monthly EQing, but I think its a good idea when either the bank has not reached full charge for several weeks, or battery voltages, string currents, or specific gravity readings indicate EQing is necessary. New controllers with temp compensation, PWM, and 3 stage charging take much better care of the batteries. Monthly EQing IMHO is a relic from the C30 days, and now results in unnecessary over heating and over watering. Are these perhaps a Rolls L 16? R. Walters r...@solarray.com Solar Engineer On Feb 13, 2010, at 10:14 AM, d...@independentpowerllc.com wrote: Dan, You are on the right track. I've been off the Desulphators for years because I had so many systems without them that were lasting years longer than predicted between battery swap outs. I don't know about refractometer vs hydrometer. I use and trust a glass in glass hydrometer. Are these bats Trojan L-16's? 4 strings of L-16's @ 48v seems like (32) bats. Is that correct. That doesn't sound right. In general. Battery Charge rates of between C-10 to C-20 for PV. And with an engine generator C-8 to C-12. Limit parallel strings to two (three at most in rare cases). All battery charging needs good control, proper settings, temperature comp, and somebody who understands how it all works to teach the homeowner and be there to answer questions. We teach the proper use of the hydrometer as a tool that confirms actual battery condition. We strongly recommend that batteries are fully recharged at least every week to ten days. Fully recharged means (for me) that the voltage has gotten up to 59 volts (48v system) and stayed there for a minimum of two hours (confirm effectiveness of time and battery charge level with TriMetric meter amp function here, should have tapered down below 12 amps on a typical 48v battery bank with voltage still at absorb level (59), can confirm more definitively with a hydrometer here). Of course individual systems, and battery types, vary. Properly programmed, and understood, TriMetric monitoring is very useful here. Use hydrometer to check on how this is all working out for the system. Frequency of hydrometer use varies with owner's experience level and system age. Check for all cells to be charged and within 15 basis points, highest to lowest, to be confirmed as fully charged. I find that a TriMetric monitor helps with the teaching and troubleshooting process. Different end users understand it and learn how to use it with varying degrees of success. Helps in a high percentage of our off-grid systems. Sent via BlackBerry by ATT -Original Message- From: d...@foxfire-energy.com Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:04:03 To: RE-wrenchesre-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Subject: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer? ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer?
I am inclined to agree with that. We are in the process of revising our recommendations on equalizing. It perhaps made sense to do so every month or so 20 years ago, but I am wondering if that really is a good idea with the current state of battery chargers and controllers. .. Northern Arizona Wind Sun - Electricity From The Sun Since 1979 Solar Discussion Forum: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/ .. - Original Message - From: R Ray Walters r...@solarray.com To: d...@independentpowerllc.com; RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 2:42 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer? Sounds like: C) I no longer recommend monthly EQing, but I think its a good idea when either the bank has not reached full charge for several weeks, or battery voltages, string currents, or specific gravity readings indicate EQing is necessary. New controllers with temp compensation, PWM, and 3 stage charging take much better care of the batteries. Monthly EQing IMHO is a relic from the C30 days, and now results in unnecessary over heating and over watering. Are these perhaps a Rolls L 16? R. Walters r...@solarray.com Solar Engineer On Feb 13, 2010, at 10:14 AM, d...@independentpowerllc.com wrote: Dan, You are on the right track. I've been off the Desulphators for years because I had so many systems without them that were lasting years longer than predicted between battery swap outs. I don't know about refractometer vs hydrometer. I use and trust a glass in glass hydrometer. Are these bats Trojan L-16's? 4 strings of L-16's @ 48v seems like (32) bats. Is that correct. That doesn't sound right. In general. Battery Charge rates of between C-10 to C-20 for PV. And with an engine generator C-8 to C-12. Limit parallel strings to two (three at most in rare cases). All battery charging needs good control, proper settings, temperature comp, and somebody who understands how it all works to teach the homeowner and be there to answer questions. We teach the proper use of the hydrometer as a tool that confirms actual battery condition. We strongly recommend that batteries are fully recharged at least every week to ten days. Fully recharged means (for me) that the voltage has gotten up to 59 volts (48v system) and stayed there for a minimum of two hours (confirm effectiveness of time and battery charge level with TriMetric meter amp function here, should have tapered down below 12 amps on a typical 48v battery bank with voltage still at absorb level (59), can confirm more definitively with a hydrometer here). Of course individual systems, and battery types, vary. Properly programmed, and understood, TriMetric monitoring is very useful here. Use hydrometer to check on how this is all working out for the system. Frequency of hydrometer use varies with owner's experience level and system age. Check for all cells to be charged and within 15 basis points, highest to lowest, to be confirmed as fully charged. I find that a TriMetric monitor helps with the teaching and troubleshooting process. Different end users understand it and learn how to use it with varying degrees of success. Helps in a high percentage of our off-grid systems. Sent via BlackBerry by ATT -Original Message- From: d...@foxfire-energy.com Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:04:03 To: RE-wrenchesre-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Subject: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer? ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Utility External Disconnect Switch
Hello Dan, Many of us have worked hard to eliminate the UEDS requirement. Unfortunately, each utility and building planning jurisdiction will have to be convinced by local contractors. Some will have to be re-convinced when the next authority gets into power. Please, someone tell me that I am wrong. Joel Davidson - Original Message - From: Dan Fink dan...@hughes.net To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 9:57 AM Subject: [RE-wrenches] Utility External Disconnect Switch Hello Wrenches -- Did anyone else here attend the online conference last week regarding UEDS , held by Solar ABCs? I would be very interested to hear your thoughts, as I am writing an article regarding this topic. Contact me off-list, or on-list if you think this is appropriate here and want your thoughts to be known. I was impressed by the seminar (er, webinar) and found their points (NREL and IREC) in favor of eliminating UEDS requirements quite compelling. DAN FINK ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] tyco connector tool
I'm in the market for a Tyco connector tool . (I already have the MC tool) Any recommendations ? thanks, jay peltz power ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] tyco connector tool
Jay, You might want to consider a multi-purpose tool: http://solarprofessional.com/article/?file=SP2_3_pg20_TheWire_5search= Best, David On 2/13/10 4:57 PM, jay peltz j...@asis.com wrote: I'm in the market for a Tyco connector tool . (I already have the MC tool) Any recommendations ? thanks, jay peltz power ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Utility External Disconnect Switch
Hello Joel -- Well, you can be assured that both NREL and IREC are on your side. They were very convincing about dropping UEDS requirements at this seminar. Funny how utilities can require UEDSs, but none of them have the procedures, personnel or infrastructure to actually *use* them. Imagine a 'green neighborhood' with PV on each of four dozen homes. Figure at least 10 minutes each for the utility to locate and tag / lock out each UEDS...and the same to re-commission them after the incident. And how many utility trucks carry 4 dozen locks? I won't go into any more UEDS issues here, but I will be writing about them soon and publish the link here on the list. DAN FINK Joel Davidson wrote: Hello Dan, Many of us have worked hard to eliminate the UEDS requirement. Unfortunately, each utility and building planning jurisdiction will have to be convinced by local contractors. Some will have to be re-convinced when the next authority gets into power. Please, someone tell me that I am wrong. Joel Davidson ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] anti islanding?
Hi August I felt I was a little to cryptic in my answer, so here is a longer answer. The inverter always tries to increase the frequency if it is connected to a grid, it could never speed up all those billions of tons of rotating equipment, so the frequency stays the same. If two inverters see themselves they will both try to increase the frequency, they will succeed and if the frequency is greater than the 60.5 HZ the inverter shuts off. If there is a load that can stabilize frequency such as a synchronous motor they will either speed up the motor or they will not be able and the motor will slow down. Either way the frequency changes and the inverter shuts down for frequency out of specification which is 60.5 or 59.3 else the inverter shuts down. The inverter also looks at a voltage, and to sell power it wants to raise voltage, necessary to put power into the grid. Unless the load exactly matches the inverter power the voltage will rise or fall if the load is to large and it will fall out of voltage specification shutting the inverter down. One Last feature, the inverter is voltage commutated, and it looks for voltage to add its power to. if you had purely a resistive load, both inverters would wait for the voltage from the other inverter, and nothing would get done. Think of it this way, for the system to last for 10 seconds, the speed of this strange device (synchronus motor) cannot change speed more than 0.5% per 10 second and it would coast for 30 minutes before stopping, and this motor would have to be doing no work. --- On Sat, 2/13/10, August Goers aug...@luminalt.com wrote: From: August Goers aug...@luminalt.com Subject: [RE-wrenches] anti islanding? To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010, 10:29 AM Hi Wrenches, Does anyone know where I can go to read about general information on how grid tied inver anti islanding works? I'd like to be able to describe this in better detail to our tech-savvy clients. Thanks, August August Goers Luminalt Energy Corporation O: 415.564.7652 M: 415.559.1525 F: 650.244.9167 www.luminalt.com ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] Concordes / desulphator / Lithium ion?
A bit of a follow up on a thread of about three months ago where we had taken over an orphaned bank of Concorde 12V VRLA, 10 parallel banks of 4. Thanks for all the input on this! Efforts to revive via fixed amperage charging have not proven successful. These batteries had been sorely abused. A friend recommends to try a Pulse tech desuphator, swears by them. Any experience with one of these? Going with some big Surettes for replacements. Maybe soon we'll have some 1000 amp hour Lithium Ion cells and can put all this lead acid stuff behind us! Conrad Cotuit Solar _ From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dana Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 3:43 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: [RE-wrenches] Refractometer vs Hydrometer? We have retired the Hydrometer and now use only refractometer. We have used them for 4+ years now. Our clients that do their own battery maint. Are so impressed that we have sold quite a few to that crowd too. They are safer and less intrusive: you only use a drop of electrolyte. Faster to use than a Hydrometer. Appear to be a more accurate reading VS. the Hyd.. Will check propylene and eythethlene glycol concentrations. Are 1/10 as susceptible to getting broken in a work truck or situation. 1/3 the size of a hydrometer and live in a padded case. Calibrated to distilled H2O and we have never had to re-adjust the setting. And best of all they are easy to keep clean and do not drip battery acid for days even if the hydrometer is washed out. A hands down winner in my book - $100-125 at your local plumbing wholesale. You may want to get an extra plastic flap lid, we have had a couple come apart. Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc www.solarwork.com E - d...@solarwork.com V - 970.626.5253 F - 970.626.4140 C - 970.209.4076 I will be the shift in how the world uses power! - Dana Orzel ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
