Started March 2019 and still learning about what the system is capable of.
Looks like you did a nice job on your system.
I am trying to figure out why there are two wires on the bottom right negative terminal of the battery ?
It can be very difficult to keep multiple parallel strings of batteries in balance.
Vic who comments on here a lot and knows flooded lead acid batteries very well would probably recommend numbering each individual cell and then keep a log of specific gravity readings that are taken on some kind of maintenance schedule. That is because it can help determine when absorb and float settings may need to be changed over time as the batteries age , and also to identify any cells that are not getting fully charged so that proper equalization charges can be done to try and bring them back in balance. That is especially important with multiple parallel strings of batteries because one string could be more favored than others if the wiring to them is not exactly the same. I can't tell from you photo exactly how you did it.
This is the suggested wiring scheme
http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/batt_con.html
With all your PV mounted totally vertical like that - will you have enough power in the summer ? Seems like you will miss a lot of sun when it is high in the sky. From the photo it almost looks like the three arrays of PV are shaded ?
Larry
The extra black wire is from my 4k wind charger and this does not run through the classic. It runs better in reverse to the PV for some reason.
The photo was taken about 8am and shows how I am capturing 1k on the east PV in the morning and when the sun moves to the south side around 10 am, it captures 3k of PV for the rest of the day. I will add another 1k PV to the west side soon but am getting plenty of power now as it is. Just winter - spring months are a bit lacking when we get tons of rain and snow for weeks at a time.
I mounted on the building so no snow gets piled up and it doesn't take up the yard. My son loves playing ball.
I will check the batteries and create a chart. I just topped them off with water last week and added my yearly aspirin but have not checked the balance of each cell.
You put aspirin in the cells ? Why ?
Glad you get enough power from the PV.
Larry
What, you never hear of anyone doing that? I have not researched it but a friend that has lived off grid his whole life puts one in each cell, once per year. He says his batteries have lasted twice the warranty and it helps. Now you got me wondering...
Hi Bill,
It looks like you have done some very nice work on your home and power system.
Agree with Larry about trying to be very careful in wiring parallel battery strings, and watching how well each string is and remains, when compared to the others.
As Larry noted, you will want a battery Logbook, to record your SG measurements of each cell, Distilled Water use, charge parameters, when the bank was EQed, time, voltage, initial battery current, ending battery current, etc. AND, YES, please number and letter each battery & cell with a Sharpie marker.
You will want a high quality Hydrometer (or Refractometer) so you can take accurate and repeatable SG measurements -- when you believe that the batteries are fully-charged.
RINSE, rinse, and rinse again your Hydrometer to preserve its accuracy, over time. Use only Distilled Water, for rinsing and adding to the batteries.
You will want to identify some Pilot cells (at lease one in each string of batteries). Usually these are among those cells with the lowest SG readings. These will allow you to make a quick survey of about how well the strings are being charged, and overall SOC.
Do regular EQs, never discharge the bank below about 50% SOC (IMO), and so on.
Many details, and you probably know these things.
Most battery manufacturers recommend adding ONLY Distilled Water to batteries. NEVER ANY CHEMICALS OF OTHER FOREIGN MATERIALS (like Aspirin)
Always try to follow your battery manufacturer's recommendations for charge voltages, EQ parameters, etc, for best battery performance and life.
Who knows that inactive ingredients are in your Aspirin, but, you can Google Aspirin inactive ingredients to see what is typically present.
Have never heard of the Aspirin thing. But, batteries that well tended and monitored often go beyond the Warranty period. Often far beyond … just my opinion.
FWIW, good luck. More later, Vic
Thank you Larry and Vic for the time and advice you are giving me. I have been doing this all on my own and have not really had any help. Luckily I have not shocked myself to death. LOL. I have been using a notebook to log in all my questions and data concerning the times of the year and trouble shooting. Starting a battery data log sounds like a plan. 6 months ago I took readings from every cell and wrote them all down as well as numbered every battery. I was hoping this forum would be a good place to find information or people that are willing to share tips and tricks or do's and dont's.
About the battery hook up, Is there a better way to hook them up? I am not sure what you mean about being careful with parallel battery strings.
I posted a link in one of my comments above where it explains the different wiring and explains the results of each.
One of the important things will be to get the proper setpoints figured out - if you are using a Whizbang on a shunt getting an ending amps setting figured out helps quite a bit.
I wouldn't put aspirins in the batteries. My guess is like Vic said - your friend probably takes good care of his batteries . After many years there could be some sediment from those aspirins building up at the bottom of the cells - doesn't' sound good to me.
Larry
So where does this fall in line with the diagrams in your link? 3? I changed it to the bus bar system 6 months ago.
Quote from: billmill on April 09, 2020, 09:53:29 AM
So where does this fall in line with the diagrams in your link? 3? I changed it to the bus bar system 6 months ago.
yes it looks like the third method - but all those wires going from your buss bar to batteries have to be exactly the same length .
This is the note about that from the link above
"Note that it is important that all 4 links on each side are the same length otherwise one of the main benefits (that of equal resistance between each battery and the loads) is lost. "
Larry
They are all the same length.
cant upload more than one photo
Bill, I am planning a similar set up but using GC2 golf cart batteries. Figured I would learn on cheap batteries first before I upgrade to a better quality battery bank. I will be adding blue sea disconnect switches and fuses to each parallel string. Not sure if it’s over kill or not, just trying to do it right the first time.
I don't know anything about the golf cart batteries bud. Ask yourself, If I am going to be serious about my system and need to rely on it, then why would I skimp on one of the most important parts of the system? IF this is just a hobby adventure that's one thing but If you are going to need and depend on the system, I would buy the best you can. It could end up costing you to buy more again sooner than you would expect. You would probably kick yourself in the butt wondering, since you took the effort, time and money, why did you skimp and have to do it all over again? I don't know what the cost of the batteries are and what kind of life or performance you will get. You will have to do the math. The math is very important.
Your goals should guide your actions.
Quote from: Notes on April 10, 2020, 09:00:27 AM
Bill, I am planning a similar set up but using GC2 golf cart batteries. Figured I would learn on cheap batteries first before I upgrade to a better quality battery bank. I will be adding blue sea disconnect switches and fuses to each parallel string. Not sure if it’s over kill or not, just trying to do it right the first time.
Where is the shunt in your system ? You want only the negative from the battery on one side , and every other negative on the other side so that the Whizbang will work correctly .
Larry
I'm a firm believer of using cheap golf cart batteries as a learner system.
Oh, that tree shades the PV array for 5 hours, and my expensive batteries have died.
After things are debugged, then buy the expensive batteries
I'm just new to the solar thing but have a lot of DIY experience. If a tree killed your batteries then your problem is bigger than picking which battery to use bud. The first thing I did was cut down all my trees and stacked the firewood to burn.
IF you have patience, make the time, and focus your ability, then you can save yourself some money and mistakes. Just pace and plan if your abilities don't meet your experience level. That's what forums are about. Also asking good questions and learning the content is essential to any DIY'er.