The batteries froze the plates migh have been damaged. The batteries were not fully charged they may have been operated under charged for a long time, they may have been sulfated. I have never liked the SW for charging, it was always a game between undercharge and over charge. I have had good luck with the Surrette batteries, but state of charge must be determined by gravity of the acid. Once the acid is dumped and new acid put in you do not know where you are at. The acid takes part in the reaction between the plates. in a charged state the sulfur is off the plates and into the acid. When the acid is at 1.265 SpGr all sulfur is gone from plates at anyother state of charge some of the sulfur is in the plates and some is in the acid, When the existing acid is dumped some sulfur is left on the plates, I do not know how to find and mix a recharge of acid. Leaving the situation as is might be as good as you can do. In a long shot. charge the batteries to 1.265 sp Gr all cells, dunp and save the acid and refill with with 1.1 acid, charge again slowly till all cells gas, continue to charge for 4 to 6 hrs, about C/50. Dump the weak acid and replace with the 1.265 acid. Good luck you will need it. Darryl Jamie might know a method, but this is the best thing I can think of. If I can help more or explain more, but I think this investment is lost.
--- On Tue, 12/28/10, Jesse Dahl <dahlso...@gmail.com> wrote: From: Jesse Dahl <dahlso...@gmail.com> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Trace inverters undercharging batteries. To: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 12:04 PM Wrenches, I have been in contact with a person living off-grid in Northern MN. She had some problems with her system and called me. I teach a solar class at a local community college and have been helping her in my free time (free of course!). Some of her batteries froze last winter and she said she dumped out the electrolyte and put new in........ (6 V Rolls) Her main concern was the batteries never fully charging. She has a very nice Kohler gen, but from what I have been told, the Trace inverters may be part of the problem with the batteries undercharging. I have limited experience with off grid applications and any help would be greatly appreciated. Jesse -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ 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
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