Is it okay to add some more batteries to my two year old bank?
Lead-acid batteries age in service. The new batteries will be dragged down to the performance level of the worst cell in the bank. Different battery types have different life expectancies, so we really need to consider how long the bank should last. For instance, it would be acceptable to add ...
- How do I prevent being low on power and battery damage?
Get a decent system monitor. Nothing kills of your batteries faster than repeated excessively deep cycles. A digital volt meter is the minimum monitoring equipment you need. The volt meter is comparable to the gas cage in your car. You can operate without it, but youre running blind and may ...
- I live in a very cold climate; how do I keep my batteries from freezing, and what if they do?
Freezing is usually fatal for lead-acid batteries. The expanding ice crystals bend internal plates, puncture separators, and push active lead material off the plates. There usually isnt much left after a hard freeze. The good news is that batteries dont freeze easily. At full charge it takes ...
- What cautions should I take while working on my batteries?
Protect your eyes with goggles and hands with rubber gloves. Battery acid is a slightly dilute sulfuric acid. It will burn your skin after a few minutes of exposure, and your eyes almost immediately. Keep a box or two of baking soda and at least a quart of clear water for 15 minutes and then ...
- Should I wait to invest in the great new battery technology that will make lead-acid batteries obsolete?
There are several dozen battery technologies under intense development now. Some of them look very promising, but none of them are going to give lead-acid a run for your money within the foreseeable future. Several of these new technologies are bearing fruit now for cell phones, laptops, and ...
- How Big a Battery Do I Need for a PV System?
Ideally, a battery bank should be sized to be able to store power for 5 days of autonomy during cloudy weather. If the battery bank is smaller than 3 day capacity, it is going to cycle deeply on a regular basis and the battery will have a shorter life. System size, individual needs and expectati ...
- How much Battery Capacity do I need to run an appliance?
Most electrical appliances in the United States are rated with wattage, a measure of energy consumption per unit of time. One watt delivered for one hour equals one watt-hour Wattage is the product of current (amps) multiplied by voltage. watt = amps x volt One amp delivered at 120 volts is t ...
- What if I find a significant difference between cells on the hydrometer test?
The first question is how much difference? At 10 to 20 points difference, you might just need a good equalizing charge. Run your batteries up to about 15.0 volts (thats for 12-volt systems, you folks at higher voltages can figure it out) and hold them at between 15.0 and 15.5 volts for three t ...
- What do I do to get my batteries ready for winter?
Check the water level in your batteries after charging and fill to proper level with distilled water. Batteries use more water when theyre being fully charged every day, like hopefully youve been doing all summer. Do not use tap water! The trace mineral can poison the battery. Dont fill befo ...
- Should I start with a big battery bank for my PV System?
Yes and No You should start with a slightly larger battery bank than you need. You will be finding more and more items to power up with your system. But we recommend not to invest heavily on batteries if its your first system. Trail and error will teach you some important dos and donts you mig ...
- What are the types of Lead-Acid batteries?
Starting Batteries Shallow cycle automotive battery not suitable for Photovoltaic Systems. RV or Marine "Deep-Cycle"12 volt batteries usually 80 and 160-amp hour capacity. A compromise between shallow and true deep cycle batteries. Life expectancy is about 2 to 3 years. Lead-Calcium Batteries O ...
Sun X Tender PV System Battery (4)
