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d design · 23-07-2014, 03:16

wait what!? 450 good sized cycles and only one balance!? Im seriusly considering LiFe now! Im more afraid of trying to know how much juice you have left in the batteries since the discharge voltage curve is so strange. AH counting must be required....hmmm

tdoster · 23-07-2014, 09:19

There are some awesome new technologies that are well past proof of concept stage, but none are past getting the costs per watt low enough to be truly viable in the next couple of years and probably not within the first couple years of GA or until the R&D costs are realized.

So, if we are 2 years from GA, we are 5 years from being a viable option for you and I as a general rule going back to grade school economics.

tdoster · 23-07-2014, 09:44

What I would really like to see is a consistent lifetime cost per watt on LI

tomfl · 23-07-2014, 11:07

What ever type of batteries the OP gets I would suggest flexible solar panels. Huge advantage in weight on top of the arch. I am a flooded guy and happy with them.

As an aside someone in the harbor mentioned something about an add on for flooded batteries that automatically added water as needed. Anyone know about that. It sure would make my life easier.

**a64pilot** · 23-07-2014, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomfl

As an aside someone in the harbor mentioned something about an add on for flooded batteries that automatically added water as needed. Anyone know about that. It sure would make my life easier.

There are a couple of semi-auto watering systems out there, Trojan for example has a valve on a float in each cell and them tied together with a tube, you add water until it won't take anymore in one single point and then they are all correctly topped off as the float close off each cell.
I assume you could leave a bottle connected to it and as long as a float valve didn't leak it would auto water, but it looks so easy to do with visual indicators and all, why bother? Just connect distilled water once a month for a minute or two and then disconnect, your done no cap removal, nothing.

**a64pilot** · 23-07-2014, 11:53

HydroLink Watering System | Trojan Battery Company

colemj · 23-07-2014, 11:57

They aren't automatic. They consist of float valves permanently connected to the top of your battery caps with a single tube leading from them. You pump water into them with a squeeze bulb and they all fill up until their floats shut them off. When you can't pump any more water, they are full.

I suppose you could set it up with a gravity fed tank and it would be automatic.

It does make watering batteries very simple - particularly if they are located in a difficult space.

Search for Hydrolink and FlowRite (probably others also).

Mark

neelie · 23-07-2014, 12:52

S.V. Third Day

Just looking at your 400AH pack.

I'm curious .. No cell monitor? No BMS?

Obviously a conscious decision. I'd be interested to hear your reasoning.

hellosailor · 23-07-2014, 13:26

Rich-
"Basically the “Black Box Controller” will have input lugs for Solar, Wind, Alternator, and Battery charger going to the battery"
Will this be the "one ring to rule them all" that I've kept saying the world needs? Or just dumping them all together and letting the silicon kids fight it out for who's boss?

And as long as you are taking flack...you didn't regulate the battery bolts. They're supposed to be oriented all alike, all with the flats oriented the same way, all in unison. Aesthetics are the hallmark of a true professional, you know. (VBG)

Gunsmiths, watchmakers, electricians, machinists...aesthetics count!

sailorboy1 · 23-07-2014, 13:44

these batteries made of gold sound like a lot of trouble to keep track of

SV THIRD DAY · 23-07-2014, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

these batteries made of gold sound like a lot of trouble to keep track of

I wouldn't call $1700 for a 400AH bank made of gold...but as my wife tells me I spend company R&D money like she spends at a Mexican flea market...way too easily.

SV THIRD DAY · 23-07-2014, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by neelie

S.V. Third Day

Just looking at your 400AH pack.

I'm curious .. No cell monitor? No BMS?

Obviously a conscious decision. I'd be interested to hear your reasoning.

Whooooo That's just a work in progress photo...so don't panic.
BMS being built and cells being monitored....

That's the danger in sharing on the fly photos.....

I'll keep ya'll updated but so far so good.

sailorboy1 · 23-07-2014, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

I wouldn't call $1700 for a 400AH bank made of gold...

I would! I can replace my $450 460ah set almost 4 times for that price and not be stressing about abusing them.

(and it doesn't matter that my 460AH bank is only 230AH usable since they are charging for "free" on solar and normally are only down 50-100AH in the morning)

SV THIRD DAY · 23-07-2014, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I would! I can replace my $450 460ah set almost 4 times for that price and not be stressing about abusing them.

(and it doesn't matter that my 460AH bank is only 230AH usable since they are charging for "free" on solar and normally are only down 50-100AH in the morning)

So what's the problem....some wouldn't buy a water maker because they can get water for FREE at the local dock in 5gal jugs. As for stressing about the batteries....WHO's stressing? Not me...maybe you...but to me it's just a fun project. Now where did I put my gold plated screw driver to drive the internet folks crazy.....?

(PS: and if you have a $450 460AH bank and are not stessing about them while living aboard full time...ha ha ha...then I got some Beach Front land in Arizona for ya)