OFF GRID POWER; various thoughts on...

[OlJarhead]

Cool!  I'm finding that the 240AH I am using of my 360 (still gotta balance that last one) is MORE than the 660ah I had before by a long shot   and I can see much better performance this winter when there is less sun which means less generator run time

I'm stoked!  Heck, I need to get back up and work on that soon!

[OlJarhead]

Nice!  I do find they recharge much faster!

[Dave Sparks]

 If you go with lower charge rates, this increases charge time, and if you have batteries in parallel, having a bit higher rate gives you more time for the absorb cycle to balance the bank, especially if it's an open-loop comms system.   If open-loop and you have 2, 3, or 4 parallel strings, the longer 30-60 mins absorb timers allow for better balancing between the parallel strings. Might be a good thing to shut down a string or 2 of PV once in a while for better balance.

Sorry to hear about Glen. Appreciate the update Don.

[OlJarhead]

If you go with lower charge rates, this increases charge time, and if you have batteries in parallel, having a bit higher rate gives you more time for the absorb cycle to balance the bank, especially if it's an open-loop comms system.  If open-loop and you have 2, 3, or 4 parallel strings, the longer 30-60 mins absorb timers allow for better balancing between the parallel strings. Might be a good thing to shut down a string or 2 of PV once in a while for better balance.

Sorry to hear about Glen. Appreciate the update Don.

Hmmm.....

So the batt co tells me to set the Charge Controllers at a specific voltage with no absorb or float time difference (same voltages) because the BOM's manage the batteries anyway.  

I'm not sure, and will find out next week I think, but I'm thinking my batteries are finally balanced as I saw them all accepting almost the same amperages when I kicked on my generator though they were not the same and that confused me.

I need to hook up my LiFePo4 battery charger so I can use it separately and disco the batteries so I can see if they are, indeed balanced and if not, charge up the 1 or 2 that aren't.

I'm running 3 24v batteries in parallel (FYI)

[JRR]

This is probably not an original thought, but has any system of multiple batteries been hooked up .. not in hard-wired parallel .. but in parallel only in orientation, and by using switching relays .. only one battery is in circuit at a time?  By proper measurements and controlling, all batteries would see similar loading and charging.  An additional up front investment, but it works around the problem of batteries not matching exactly .. at least, I would think.

[OlJarhead]

Don, are your batteries in a warm environment?  Have heaters?

I'm in a bit of a panic as Big Battery told me to get my batteries into a warmer space ASAP as we're likely going to see minus temps at the cabin later this week (as in two days)....seems anything below 23F isn't good for them but if they are warmed to over freezing that day they should be fine...but if they aren't and they drop even colder I'm told they could be damaged (cell damage) and after $3600 investment I'm going to be driving back shortly to move them into the back room!!!

[OlJarhead]

Interesting.

I had conflicting information on mine as it states they can discharge down to -22F but storage is +23F

When I asked about this I was told they can discharge much lower than storage temps but it isn't always good and the cells can get damaged at those low temps.

Here's what BigBattery says about mine:

[OlJarhead]

Turns out that is an error -- it should be -4 not -22