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+--- Thread: Good news for solar storage (/showthread.php?tid=15673)
RE: Good news for solar storage - MarkP - 03-14-2015
Granted that my reefer/freezer is pretty darn small, but defrosting it is almost trivial. I put all the frozen goods in the reefer part, turn the temp control to "off", close that door and open the freezer door. I leave it like that for 15 minutes then wipe the water and ice out with a towel. Put everything back, reset the temp, and I'm done. The refrigerator cost me less than $200. I figure I can buy a couple more panels with the remaining $800.
I suspect that I will have to buy new batteries soon. The golf cart batteries I got from Costco are almost 3 years old now. They were not rigorously cared for when i first got them and being somewhat undersized for both the panels and my usage they get drawn down each night and charged hard the next day, that is unless it is cloudy in which case they stay at a partially charged state. I have let the water get down to the tops of the plates a couple of times which is never good My next step would logically be to go to a string of eight L16 batteries which have the same footprint as the GC batteries but are almost twice as tall and have almost twice the AH capacity. I could buy 16 GC batteries and make two strings of 8 but there can be issues of uneven discharge. I would love to be able to consider a newer technology than lead-acid.
RE: Good news for solar storage - pbmaise - 03-14-2015
One thing I want to recommend is checking for a voltage between negative posts within the bank. I was equalizing one day using my Honda and noticed one battery very hot, the other luke warm.
I did some Google searches and learned it is common that one battery in the bank tends to discharge and recharge the most. I found 8-9 mV between my batteries. Despite using bus bars. Just the extra length of cabling, and compounding the problem was the longest cable was thinner caused a different voltage drop to the bus.
That small difference creates a big stress on that one battery and now you have to replace whole bank.
I led a wire directly between posts and now have just 0.3mV between them.
Regarding refrigerators sailboats have to have the most efficient.
For doing it yourself types
instead of objecting to $1000
http://www.myboatsgear.com/marine-refrigeration
A catchment tank could be used for a water cooled system. Although I would air cool.
RE: Good news for solar storage - ericlp - 03-15-2015
kinda ironic that this guy has most of his experience in marine refrigeration. Tho, his prices have gone up almost twice as much.
http://stonecoldsolarrefrigeration.com/index.html
I have no affiliation with him, other than supporting local business. But, I agree. I think buying a HD fridge from Home Depot or Sears for 400 bucks is the way to go. DIY, cutting the defrost timer circuit. That is your own risk.
-------------------------
To email me click on Link http://is.gd/QMfVEX
RE: Good news for solar storage - VancouverIslander - 03-15-2015
My friend Craig has put significant effort into figuring out battery chemistry and various other things (waved powered electric generation, electric cars and more):
http://members.shaw.ca/Craig-C/
His battery chemistry research lead him to realizing you can revitalize and get extended life from lead acid batteries: http://members.shaw.ca/Craig-C/Na2SO4.html
And his research and experimentation with other battery chemistries is briefly summarized here:
http://members.shaw.ca/Craig-C/batts.html
But sadly his howto on the last link seems to be a dead link right now.
Just call me Mike
RE: Good news for solar storage - pahoated - 03-15-2015
Lead acid batteries will develop crystals on the plates that eventually causes them to be unable to hold a charge or even short out (thermal runaway). There is a way to decrease this crystallization but it is risky. It requires totally discharging the battery, then hooking a suitable battery charger to it with reverse polarity, then pulsing the charge voltage. This will dislodge the threadlike crystal and the cell will retain a charge again.
All this energy worry may coming to an end. Fusion has been talked about for decades and there are several large scale efforts. Lockmart has announced a truck size fusion reactor that they think will be operational within 5 years. This is not just Lockmart, it is Skunkworks Lockmart, maybe you have heard of the U2, SR-71 and Area 51.
quote:It could be all these alternative energy systems, will have been stopgap measures. There has been so much hysteria since the 80's when the realization started that the oil was running out and causing massive environmental damage at the same time. This hysteria started becoming fueled by the western mindset that the Earth must come to an end. This "end of the world" brainwashing has been propagandized for over half a century now. How about the possibility that there is no end, and that we continue to increase in population with the subsequent increase in need of resources, for the next 30,000 years instead? Yes, there are problems ahead but how about applying logic, reason and rationality to it rather than filling it with panic-ridden emotional hysteria decisions all the time.
http://aviationweek.com/technology/skunk-works-reveals-compact-fusion-reactor-details
Skunk Works Reveals Compact Fusion Reactor Details
Lockheed Martin aims to develop compact reactor prototype in five years, production unit in 10
"Aloha also means goodbye. Aloha!"
RE: Good news for solar storage - kalakoa - 03-15-2015
Lead acid batteries will develop crystals on the plates
Desulphation can be done electronically in a live system: add a Solar Converters BD-2.
RE: Good news for solar storage - OnoOno - 03-16-2015
quote:Just get a generator that uses both gasoline and propane (Costco has them).
Originally posted by pahoated
Lead acid batteries will develop crystals on the plates that eventually causes them to be unable to hold a charge or even short out (thermal runaway). There is a way to decrease this crystallization but it is risky. It requires totally discharging the battery, then hooking a suitable battery charger to it with reverse polarity, then pulsing the charge voltage. This will dislodge the threadlike crystal and the cell will retain a charge again.
All this energy worry may coming to an end. Fusion has been talked about for decades and there are several large scale efforts. Lockmart has announced a truck size fusion reactor that they think will be operational within 5 years. This is not just Lockmart, it is Skunkworks Lockmart, maybe you have heard of the U2, SR-71 and Area 51.
quote:It could be all these alternative energy systems, will have been stopgap measures. There has been so much hysteria since the 80's when the realization started that the oil was running out and causing massive environmental damage at the same time. This hysteria started becoming fueled by the western mindset that the Earth must come to an end. This "end of the world" brainwashing has been propagandized for over half a century now. How about the possibility that there is no end, and that we continue to increase in population with the subsequent increase in need of resources, for the next 30,000 years instead? Yes, there are problems ahead but how about applying logic, reason and rationality to it rather than filling it with panic-ridden emotional hysteria decisions all the time.
http://aviationweek.com/technology/skunk-works-reveals-compact-fusion-reactor-details
Skunk Works Reveals Compact Fusion Reactor Details
Lockheed Martin aims to develop compact reactor prototype in five years, production unit in 10
"Aloha also means goodbye. Aloha!"
The objection to fusion will stop it cold it in tracks no matter how safe it is (and I don't know if it is safe or not), because it represents empowering people, and that just can't be allowed in the mind of certain "types".
Ono - So Fast - So Tasty!
RE: Good news for solar storage - terracore - 03-17-2015
Objections or not, existing fission reactors aren't powerful enough for the Navy's next generation aircraft carriers which will use power hungry lasers and magnetic rail guns. The real reason compact fusion is just around the corner, and coming from the world's largest defense contractor, is because the US military wants it.
RE: Good news for solar storage - kalakoa - 03-17-2015
Just get a generator that uses both gasoline and propane (Costco has them).
Note that the output rating is based on gasoline as fuel; subtract 15% if running propane.
RE: Good news for solar storage - OnoOno - 03-17-2015
quote:10-4
Originally posted by kalakoa
Just get a generator that uses both gasoline and propane (Costco has them).
Note that the output rating is based on gasoline as fuel; subtract 15% if running propane.
Ono - So Fast - So Tasty!