Inverter Battery Opinions

[donP]

Control Device

The outbuilding with my battery bank is about 50m away from the main house.
So, for checking the charging rate* (A) and the corresponding voltage more conveniently I installed this:

*)
The instrument says [?A], it is, however, calibrated to A (1 scale mark = 10 A).


donP

 

[chic]

i am waiting for the next generation of batteries...i believe that they have a new one.....battery so powerful it will jump start your car from your cell...phone should last two weeks. but not ready for us yet...
what will happen to deep batteries.????..

 

[windeguy]

i am waiting for the next generation of batteries...i believe that they have a new one.....battery so powerful it will jump start your car from your cell...phone should last two weeks. but not ready for us yet...
what will happen to deep batteries.????..

The new generation of batteries is unlikely to actually be a battery at all. Supercapacitors are the potential replacement for them.

Supercapacitor Information

 

[jstarebel]

What exact batteries are you using and what ? I am talking about flooded lead acid batteries like most people use for battery inverter systems here. At 22 volts a chain of four 6 volt sealed lead acid batteries are below "empty".

This is the table from the old Trace DR series (DR stands for Dominican Republic - the Viet Nam of charger/inverters) of inverter chargers found at page 107 of this manual:
http://pdf.wholesalesolar.com/inverter pdf folder/XantrexDROwnersManual.pdf

Please note that first entry in each line in for a 12 volt system, then a 24 volt system, then a 48 volt system followed by the individual cell voltages . The editor for posting on DR1 is anything by WYSIWYG:


Table B-6
Battery State-of-Charge
System Voltage ------------
% 12 24 48 Individual Cell
100% 12.7 25.4 50.8 2.12
90% 12.6 25.2 50.4 2.10
80% 12.5 25.0 50.0 2.08
70% 12.3 24.6 49.2 2.05
60% 12.2 24.4 48.8 2.03
50% 12.1 24.2 48.4 2.02
40% 12.0 24.0 48.0 2.00
30% 11.8 23.6 47.2 1.97
20% 11.7 23.4 46.8 1.95
10% 11.6 23.2 46.4 1.93
0% <11.6 <23.2 <46.4 <1.93

Can't say about your charts, but I use and have for over 15 years T105's configured in 12V with three 12v sets per bank. I have two house battery banks, and they power everything in our house (yacht) all of the time with help from a 400 watt wind generator. The wind Generator has it's own charge controller, and the Solar has it's own controller. 14.6 or 14.7 volts is as high as I would want my batteries charging to. Even an alternator (high output) only charges 14.8 volts. My solar array is 4 100amp panels.

 

[windeguy]

Can't say about your charts, but I use and have for over 15 years T105's configured in 12V with three 12v sets per bank. I have two house battery banks, and they power everything in our house (yacht) all of the time with help from a 400 watt wind generator. The wind Generator has it's own charge controller, and the Solar has it's own controller. 14.6 or 14.7 volts is as high as I would want my batteries charging to. Even an alternator (high output) only charges 14.8 volts. My solar array is 4 100amp panels.

For 12 volt battery banks the batteries are indeed charged to 14.6 volts, for 24 volt banks the batteries are charged to 29.2 volts. We are in exact agreement. The number you disagreed with before was for a 24 volt battery bank, not the 12 volt system you have. The majority of inverter/charger systems used here have 24 volt battery banks. The charts I posted from Trace(now Xantrex) work for 12 volt, 24 volt or 48 volt systems.

 

[Olly]

Windeguy

Nothing in the battery world is absolute. The specific gravity of fully charged deep-cycle batteries of the same model can range from 1.270 to 1.305; fully discharged, these batteries may vary between 1.097 and 1.201. Temperature is another variable that alters the specific gravity reading. The colder the temperature is, the higher (more dense) the SG value becomes.

However I do AGREE with you about Trojen Reds - Have had the experience of Recovering some that had been flat for five months. The "Invertor Guy said we need to change the invertor and batteries" and I suggested thet they try recharging the Batteries with an external charger . What is not commonly known it that most invertor wont switch on with the DC battery volts below about 15 Volts. These Trojan Reds were measuring 12.5 volts when it should have been 18 to 24 volts. They recovered and are good after charging with an external Charger. The invertor switched on after they were charged and has run fine ever since.

And you need to think about it!

Four NEW Trojan Reds 24,000 RDS , New invertor 20,000 RD$ and a some fitting charge - The "Electrician" sells the good batteries for abot 3000 RD$ as they were 6 months ols and the WORKING invertor for about 14, 000 RD$ - total 70,000 for the "Electrician"! so a clear RD$ 30,000 for the "electrician" ! wOW what a Scam!

Olly and the Team

 

[beeza]

An observation with the Interstate batteries, avoid the ones with the quick release caps. They get brittle and disintegrate. Get the ones with the individual caps.

I've done three back-to-back equalisation charges on my bank of 8 Interstates. I seemed to have breathed another lease of life out of them.

 

[AlterEgo]

Alter Ego ,
On the Freezer adding to the 3 Kw invertor I would only try it with one of AvTek Delay surge protector devices on the Freezer. The main problem is both compressors starting at once when you get the short break as you change over to the Invertor. The Avet device puts a delay of 3 minutes when a change over occurs with the invertor. I always recommend a 3.5 Invertor for your type of situation as the 3 is ok but a bit small! The Avetek NEvera devices are at La Serana POP for 525RD$ so not bad. Just bought one myself to replace one (Tonal ) that sacrificed itself.

Olly ( only )

Update. We bought the freezer last week, but couldn't find the AvTek delay anywhere in San Cristobal, including La Sirena. Called around to the La Sirena's in SD, and no luck. Finally found one at Ferreteria Americana [just under 800 pesos], and it works like a charm. Thanks Olly.

 

[Serge1960]

Olly

I need a New Invertor with Batteries Installed in Cabarete, complete job from Scratch, do you recommend the Electrician you used for me ? and would he travel to Cabarete? Last Question how many Kw's is Your Inverter capable of ? Thanks -Serge

 

[Olly]

Serge1960 -
I would love to be able to but it was nearly 10 years ago and they are not around any more!

It is a 5.6 kW 220/110 inverter by Easypower.

Olly

 

[karlheinz]

has anyone tried using AGM batteries here? My last set of WestMarine AGM's (type 27) 12volt lasted almost 8 years - 12v system for my small sailboat. I replaced them this last year with the Optima Blue 12V deep cycle marine and a smart charger when at the dock which keep them on trickle and engine alternator (18 hp diesel) when away. My biggest power draw is either from 12v lights and or the reefer.
Regardless - they are costly, probably twice or more the cost of wet cells - BUT I have the luxury of storing them on their sides in a small tight compartment and never having to check the fluid levels.
Time will tell as to their robustness and charge holding. If the new set lasts as long as the old ones then cost wise it's cheaper to use AGM instead of replacing both every 2 years +/-. Comments??

 

[windeguy]

Gel batteries are best for applications where spillage would be a problem or if maintenance is difficult such as in a remote location. I don't know the Gel batter specs that well, but can you get a 6V 225 AH Gel battery or do they have less capacity in general than a flooded wet cell battery?

The most economic answer for the vast majority of inverter/charger systems in the DR is the flooded lead acid battery. As people have pointed out, the Trojan Red T105 from La Sirena is a good choice.

Here is an example of a Trojan Gel Battery:

http://www.altestore.com/store/Deep...rojan-6V-GEL-6V-189AH-20HR-Gel-Battery/p9835/

The price is $344.40 for one and it is only 189 AH.

http://www.trojanbattery.com/product/6v-gel/

 

[Serge1960]

Serge1960 -
I would love to be able to but it was nearly 10 years ago and they are not around any more!

It is a 5.6 kW 220/110 inverter by Easypower.

Olly

Thanks Olly