Re: [RE-wrenches] Electrolyte level measurement

[William Miller via RE-wrenches]

Todd:

This is about batteries that exist.

William Miller
Miller Solar.com
805-438-5600
www.millersolar.com


On Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 1:23 PM Todd Cory via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Another option for grid tied with battery based systems, is to use flooded
> lead calcium batteries which last 20 years and only need about 20 ml/ cell,
> added every 3 years.
>
> Todd
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, February 28, 2024 12:35pm, "Roy Butler via RE-wrenches" <
> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> said:
>
>
> And to add to Steve's good advice, make sure the sprayer has a plastic
> wand. Some are made with brass
> wands and that can add a degree of excitement that I can live without.
>
> I also only fill when the batteries are mostly charged. That lessens the
> chance of the cell being overfilled
> as the state of charge increases. Oh...and a headlamp helps to see the
> fluid level, just cock you head
> and you'll find just the right angle to see the fluid.
>
> Roy Butler Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC 8902 Route 46
> ,
> Arkport, NY 14807
>
>
>
> Sent from Finest Planet WebMail.
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Electrolyte level measurement

[Todd Cory via RE-wrenches]

Another option for grid tied with battery based systems, is to use flooded lead 
calcium batteries which last 20 years and only need about 20 ml/ cell, added 
every 3 years.

Todd



On Wednesday, February 28, 2024 12:35pm, "Roy Butler via RE-wrenches" 
 said:
 
And to add to Steve's good advice, make sure the sprayer has a plastic wand. 
Some are made with brass
 wands and that can add a degree of excitement that I can live without.

 I also only fill when the batteries are mostly charged. That lessens the 
chance of the cell being overfilled
 as the state of charge increases. Oh...and a headlamp helps to see the fluid 
level, just cock you head
 and you'll find just the right angle to see the fluid.

Roy ButlerFour Winds Renewable Energy, LLC8902 Route 46, Arkport, NY 14807


Sent from Finest Planet WebMail.
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Electrolyte level measurement

[Roy Butler via RE-wrenches]

And to add to Steve's good advice, make sure the sprayer has a plastic 
wand. Some are made with brass

wands and that can add a degree of excitement that I can live without.

I also only fill when the batteries are mostly charged. That lessens the 
chance of the cell being overfilled
as the state of charge increases. Oh...and a headlamp helps to see the 
fluid level, just cock you head

and you'll find just the right angle to see the fluid.

Roy Butler
Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC
8902 Route 46, Arkport, NY 14807

Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you 
don’t.

“The less people know, the more stubbornly they know it.”

Although no trees were killed in the sending of this message,
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.




On 2/28/2024 3:05 PM, Steve Higgins via RE-wrenches wrote:

Here is my cheap version of a water-filling kit...

Get yourself a new weed sprayer from a hardware store 1-2 gallons will 
work the best.


Cut the nozzle off to 8-10 inches in length (or whatever works for 
you) so the water comes out as a stream instead of a spray.


Mark the Nozzle with colored electrical tape for the depth of the fill 
tube +  1/4 to 1/2 an inch.  I would suggest the length of the fill 
tube + 1/2 an inch for Rolls batteries.)  For example, the Rolls L16's 
fill tube is 1 inch so I would make the mark 1.5 inches.


Now, when you go to fill your batteries, you line the mark up with the 
top of the battery, and while looking into the cell, when the water 
level touches the bottom of the nozzle, you shut off the flow and move 
to the next cell.


Some people have attached a small LED light to the wand, but I use a 
headlamp when working in a battery room.


Here is a link to one that I'd use...

https://www.amazon.com/Chapin-International-2-1-Gallon-Translucent/dp/B000E28UQU/ref=sr_1_4?crid=TEWUZPEEE5WX&keywords=1+gallon+weed+sprayer&qid=1707149489&s=home-garden&sprefix=1+gallon+wee%2Cgarden%2C250&sr=1-4 



One last thing... the sprayer must be new. You cannot use one that has 
already had chemicals in it.   This is not perfect, but its easier 
than using a funnel...





Steve Higgins ⋅ Technical Services Manager
t+1.902.597.4020 m +1.206.790.5840
f+1.902.597.8447 est...@surrette.com


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On Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 11:59 AM William Miller via RE-wrenches 
 wrote:


Friends:

In spite of all of this talk about Li batteries, I still maintain
a whole lot of flooded cells.  I have always struggled with
getting accurate measurements of the electrolyte level.  Staring
past a flashlight down into a cell looking with one eye through
scratched safety glasses, it is hard to see just how high (or low)
the level is.  I am cogitating on a few ideas to make this easier
and more accurate, but in the meantime, what are your favorite
tricks for this?

TIA

William

Miller Solar

17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422

805-438-5600

www.millersolar.com 

CA Lic. 773985

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Re: [RE-wrenches] Electrolyte level measurement

[Jay via RE-wrenches]

Hi williamFor checking level the best trick I’ve ever seen is a solid glass rod. I can’t remember if you have to grind one end flat or not. When you put the end into the water the top end your looking at changes color. The side you look at would be the one you grind. Mark the rod with tape or use an adjustable stop and you can fill or check the water exactly to the level you want. Easily adjustable to different batteries. For filling. The one steve recommended is classic. The other technique is to use surgical tubing inserted into the end of a 2.5 gallon jug or drill a hole in the top of a 1 gallon. The correct size tubing won’t leak. And your fingers can start/stop the flow. On Feb 28, 2024, at 12:59 PM, William Miller via RE-wrenches  wrote:Friends: In spite of all of this talk about Li batteries, I still maintain a whole lot of flooded cells.  I have always struggled with getting accurate measurements of the electrolyte level.  Staring past a flashlight down into a cell looking with one eye through scratched safety glasses, it is hard to see just how high (or low) the level is.  I am cogitating on a few ideas to make this easier and more accurate, but in the meantime, what are your favorite tricks for this? TIA William Miller Solar17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422805-438-5600www.millersolar.comCA Lic. 773985  
___List sponsored by Redwood AlliancePay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.orgList Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.orgChange listserver email address & settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.orgThere are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.orgList rules & etiquette:http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htmCheck out or update participant bios:http://www.members.re-wrenches.org___
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Electrolyte level measurement

[Steve Higgins via RE-wrenches]

Here is my cheap version of a water-filling kit...

Get yourself a new weed sprayer from a hardware store 1-2 gallons will work
the best.

Cut the nozzle off to 8-10 inches in length (or whatever works for you) so
the water comes out as a stream instead of a spray.

Mark the Nozzle with colored electrical tape for the depth of the fill tube
+  1/4 to 1/2 an inch.  I would suggest the length of the fill tube + 1/2
an inch for Rolls batteries.)  For example, the Rolls L16's fill tube is 1
inch so I would make the mark 1.5 inches.

Now, when you go to fill your batteries, you line the mark up with the top
of the battery, and while looking into the cell, when the water level
touches the bottom of the nozzle, you shut off the flow and move to the
next cell.

Some people have attached a small LED light to the wand, but I use a
headlamp when working in a battery room.

Here is a link to one that I'd use...

https://www.amazon.com/Chapin-International-2-1-Gallon-Translucent/dp/B000E28UQU/ref=sr_1_4?crid=TEWUZPEEE5WX&keywords=1+gallon+
weed+sprayer
&qid=1707149489&s=home-garden&sprefix=1+gallon+wee%2Cgarden%2C250&sr=1-4

One last thing... the sprayer must be new. You cannot use one that has
already had chemicals in it.   This is not perfect, but its easier than
using a funnel...



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steve Higgins ⋅ Technical Services Manager
t +1.902.597.4020  m +1.206.790.5840
f +1.902.597.8447  e st...@surrette.com










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taking of any action in reliance upon this information is prohibited. If
you receive this email in error, please contact the sender and delete or
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On Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 11:59 AM William Miller via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Friends:
>
>
>
> In spite of all of this talk about Li batteries, I still maintain a whole
> lot of flooded cells.  I have always struggled with getting accurate
> measurements of the electrolyte level.  Staring past a flashlight down into
> a cell looking with one eye through scratched safety glasses, it is hard to
> see just how high (or low) the level is.  I am cogitating on a few ideas to
> make this easier and more accurate, but in the meantime, what are your
> favorite tricks for this?
>
>
>
> TIA
>
>
>
> William
>
>
>
> Miller Solar
>
> 17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422
>
> 805-438-5600
>
> www.millersolar.com
>
> CA Lic. 773985
>
>
>
>
> ___
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the
> other:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
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>
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>
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[RE-wrenches] Electrolyte level measurement

[William Miller via RE-wrenches]

Friends:



In spite of all of this talk about Li batteries, I still maintain a whole
lot of flooded cells.  I have always struggled with getting accurate
measurements of the electrolyte level.  Staring past a flashlight down into
a cell looking with one eye through scratched safety glasses, it is hard to
see just how high (or low) the level is.  I am cogitating on a few ideas to
make this easier and more accurate, but in the meantime, what are your
favorite tricks for this?



TIA



William



Miller Solar

17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422

805-438-5600

www.millersolar.com

CA Lic. 773985
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