Solar Battery information

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Solar Battery Rants and Raves...

WHY I HATE BATTERIES !!!!!

#1
They are heavy and hard to deal with, to place them you have to consider free air space for cooling, and gas ventilation. Hydrogen sulfide and other gases form due to the electrolysis going on in the battery when it’s charging.

#2
This lovely gas smells like rotten eggs, so another reason I hate batteries is the odor. DO NOT put the battery bay under the bed in the RV or van, boat, or cabin etc. and of course you need to put a plastic pan under the batteries to catch the lovely juice that eventually accumulates. On that note, keep the battery tops clean and dry, they last longer.

#3
The crusty white and blue salt that may crop up, is eating away at your batteries' charge ability and causing you to slowly lose power due to a crusty, imperfect union. The positive wire in most cases is the one that has the most problems, and can bring a good system to its knees for no apparent reason. The battery post can actually sulfate inside and when you go to check it, the whole battery post is loose in the battery case. Crusty unions on an inverter will let the thing work voltage wise, but it faults and won’t push a load.

#4
When the batteries are new, clean and wire brush terminals and connections to the battery. Dry the connection and take petroleum jelly (Thank you to Solar Toby for this tip) and wipe a thin coat of PJ on the post and inside the clamp or union. Tighten them well for a solid mechanical grab. This will not only make them water tight it, it makes them gas tight, as well. Remember the lovely gas... This can directly apply to your automobile too, yup; the ugly smelly thing in the corner of every car's engine compartment.

Other unions can be sealed easily with clear spray lacquer.

#5
Have you ever worked with a battery and later discovered a huge hole where your shirt ounce was. I have allot of Sunday shirts and pants… they are very holey.

#6
Alternatives are few and expensive; another reason I hate batteries. You have fuel cells and bat caps; a new untried storage system (batcap.net) now in use by folks powering massive stereo equipment systems capable of blasting the car that it’s in to the moon. How they may work in the solar world is yet to be determined. The charge rate and reserve energy is different.

#7
Their massive lead plates are heavy, I have a saying “the bigger the battery the, bigger the forklift. Don’t kid yourself…get help before you move them. Whatever you put them on must be very solid too. Shelves need to very strong and not too tall for ease of service.

#8
If you ever have dropped a tool across the battery posts you know about the light show you will get. The arc flash can be dangerous for two reasons, one the arc itself burning you and the lovely gas which is flammable to boot. Wear eye protection and cover the opposite terminal with something non-conductive (rag or plastic).              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The darn truth is that batteries go with us everywhere, hearing aids to moon shots; you will travel with a battery. Try to start your car without one! We love our I Pods and fancy cell phones, and all need stored power. Newer battery technology is coming with electric cars and renewable energy you will see advances here, so learn what you can.

The lithium storage technology is coming along nicely and is said to be eatable, I hope nobody gets that desperate! It does point to a great environmental advantage though, and they are very powerful.

On another positive note it has been brought to light that 97% of lead acid batteries manufactured are recycled. Now, compare that to 55% of all aluminum cans manufactured.
Source:
History Channel recycling segment    2008-2009 (“The history of lead”)

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More to come.

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Energy Saving Tip:
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Have a Power Boss
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Consistently turning off appliances that are not in use can be done anywhere you live. Delegating a POWER BOSS puts children or family volunteers to the task of keeping the home trimmed of electrical waste. Have them police the simple appliances left on when nobody is using them.

Incentive: Establish a base minimum payment. The promise of more when a measurable improvement is seen on the power bills, will spark creativity.

I paid my teenager in extra phone time when I saw an improvement in my power bill. This will give them the feeling of achievement and involvement. It also brings home the point not to be wasteful.

Adopting the POWER BOSS stragety may actually reduce both the power and water bill significantly.