Maybe one way to express it would be hydrocaps are great if you use the the
same charging parameters no matter what the age, condition of the battery is.
This seems to be critical to sizing the HCs properly. And you (or the "always
attentive and willing" customer) don't (doesn't) mind removing (and replacing)
the hydrocaps for every equalization for the rest of eternity. I wonder if
part of this debate doesn't center on the frequency of equalizations. Many
battery brands, systems require more frequent eqs than others.
Maybe you can tell I've gone back to regular caps after using HCs
Bill
Feather River Solar Electric
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Loesch
To: al...@positiveenergysolar.com ; RE-wrenches
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 4:17 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery Automatic Watering
Another person's opinion...
With all due respect, Allan, if you understand how the Hydrocap works
(properly sized, removal when equalizing, as detailed in the instructions) and
use distilled (or equivalent) water to top off the electrolyte much more
infrequently than regularly, Hydrocaps provide a close second to a recombinant
battery at a fraction of the cost of the real thing. Moreover, they are
reusable (unless you blow them up).
I know of nothing, nothing that competes with the Hydrocap. The yellow flip
caps provide a marginal convenience in terms of filling, however there is no
comparison in performance. Have any Homepower articles ever reviewed either of
these things back in the Dark Ages?
The use of a suitable battery enclosure to contain the potential results of
_any_ battery mishap should be defacto procedure.
I will send George a copy of this thread and will post his reply, if he
chooses to comment. I believe it was Windy who commented the biggest hassle of
the Hydrocaps was dealing with George and evidently Joel can echo that
experience.
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
314 631 1094
MO Licensed Professional Engineer
Saint Louis County (MO) Licensed Water Heater Specialist
----- Original Message -----
From: Allan Sindelar
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 4:01 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery Automatic Watering
One person's opinion, here...
Avoid Hydrocaps. You need to remove them to equalize. They can clog up and
plug the battery up, leading to an explosion from pressure. I have seen it.
<![endif]-->
Allan Sindelar
al...@positiveenergysolar.com
NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Positive Energy, Inc.
3201 Calle Marie
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
505 424-1112
www.positiveenergysolar.com
wind...@wind-sun.com wrote:
Hydrocaps - they run around $30 each last I checked. We used to sell them
but gave up when lead times went from weeks to months.
..................................................................................................
Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The Sun Since 1979
Solar Discussion Forum: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/
..................................................................................................
----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew Truitt
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 1:07 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery Automatic Watering
Has anyone ever used the recombination caps that combine the released
hydrogen with oxygen and return the pure water to the cells? I am considering
them for a large ([98] 2200Ah Surrettes) battery system that we installed a
while ago, but I think they run about $200 a piece.
Andrew Truitt
Standard Solar Inc.
On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 1:33 PM, Joel Davidson
<joel.david...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Than you Roy, Jay, Jeff, and ...
I'm glad I checked my email before going to Pep Boys to buy an
automotive battery filler. Great idea! I've been buying and selling batteries
for over 35 years and this is the first time I've heard about using a garden
sprayer to fill batteries. The RE-Wrenches knowledge base scores again!
Happy Holidays.
Joel Davidson
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