Dan,
There are benefits and disadvantages to almost everything in this world.
Are you aware that the optical refractometer _automatically_ compensates for
temperature, something that I have not seen on any hydrometer?
The amount of electrolyte required with the refractometer is negligible
compared to the hydrometer. My Misco refractometer is also calibrated for
antifreeze (both ethylene and propylene glycol). The refractometer needs no
batteries.
Hydrometer is less expensive than both refractometer and electrical meter.
If you like the hydrometer so much why are you carrying/using an electrical
meter instead of a hydrometer? I give my battery customers a multimeter and let
them learn to use it. (This can lead to a sale of an amp -hour meter.) The
electrical meter offers the distinct advantage of not having to open up the
battery cells, a really big deal with sealed batteries! I believe it was Perez
who favored the electrical meter over the hydrometer for the flooded battery
contamination issue alone.
I don't believe I am alone in my belief that the desulfator _can_ be
beneficial. Unfortunately, these devices seem to attract more than their fair
share of snake oil based/trained salespeople.
Respectfully,
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
----- Original Message -----
From: d...@foxfire-energy.com
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 7:04 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:
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
