Dan, You are correct, they can get to too high a voltage now. The comment applied to the olden days before MPPT controllers. Now they can get too high a voltage because we are running panels at much higher voltages than we did 15 or so years ago. Thanks for the correction; I didn't think about the MPPT controllers that exist now.
Later, Bob Ellison -----Original Message----- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Exeltech Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 11:19 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Nickel-Iron Batteries Bob is correct in his warning about the Chinese Ni-Fe cells. As I recall, they had a translucent white case, but there may have been others .. and as Bob mentioned, they did indeed have a very high failure rate. Thanks Bob for remembering this. Mine are (and were) Edison cells, and were imprinted with the word "Edison" on the caps and the cell cases. A quick word of advice ... You *can* get the charge voltage (and subsequently current) too high in the sense the cells out-gas hydrogen and oxygen just like lead-acid, and will do so vigorously when fully charged. The plates won't warp due to heat as will lead-acid, but the risk of of an H2 explosion is still very real. This also causes the electrolyte to be deposited all over the tops of the cells and elsewhere. It's oily and difficult to clean up. Dan --- On Mon, 5/7/12, bob ellison <reelli...@gmail.com> wrote: > From: bob ellison <reelli...@gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Nickel-Iron Batteries > To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> > Date: Monday, May 7, 2012, 4:38 AM > > The bigger warning is with the "Chinese" NiFe cells. > > There was a company importing them 15-20 years or so ago. > The failure rate was very high and the factory support was almost > nonexistent. Unless you're a tinkerer, they are great cells to stay > away from! > > I know people who use the original Edison cells in power systems and > have seen people just using them as a DC source. > Don't worry, you can't get the voltage too high when charging them. > They just take it. They don't freeze and if I remember correctly, temp > does not alter the output either. There are plenty of the original > Edison Cells still out there. > > Later, > Bob Ellison _______________________________________________ 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
