Alternative Energies

[Deleted]

What a lovely story. Thanks Dave.

We own three Hundai Getz, paid 2000 for one 2009, and 1000 for another, and 5000 for a third one, this on is 2010 model. We have one with only 40,000 kms but the engine dies when you rev up, nobody knows why, replaced all the sensors, but no luck. I reckon the exhaust sensor, but impossible to remove. Replaced the cat converter, no luck.



Our second car is a Great Wall, nice. It pulls our big trailer. This is a picture of our Great Wall with 12 drums in the trailer. I am going to use the drums as garden pots, for growing herbs in. 

Our third third is a RV, Holden 1985 car with lazy axle and 2.7 ton on the back. We were planning a trip around Australia before COVID hit.

And we also own 2 identical Honda CRV back at our second house, sitting in the garage, don't use them anymore. Repairs are costly and our home meachanic can't fix them easily.

SHalom

[Dave]

Battery update

41 months into my batteries - I though I needed immedite replacement

Mid December - I just stopped using the batteries - at dusk we fired up the generator
I used GTC2 Golf Cart Batteries - cheap $90 each
Dillion talked me into buying a Golf Cart Battery charger
That charger has been slaved to my batteries through the winter - when ever the generator was on - I was charging the batteries

I added water 2 different times (only once in the previous 41 months)

March 3rd - I hooked the batteries back into the system

WOW - they are like new - haven't ran the generator since

[Deleted]

Greetings Dave

It a fun thing to read all 12 pages over again. How are your batteries holding up?


Having trouble with my battery storage capacity, it is only 200 Amp/hr instead of the manufactured 500 Amp/hr.

So acting on advice I had to manually over charge them.



This is the system, two strings, one at 30 amps the other at 80 amps

I simply switch the resettable fuses on, and keep the incoming amps under 100 Amps.



The voltage comes in at 34.5V at 70 to 90 Amps depending upon weather.

I overcharge the batteries on this (no loads) for a full 8 hours.

The charging has not increased my storage capacity, so I suspect the manufacturing process is faulty.



What the system used to look like, a big 4000W inverter on the right used to run my USA Durstill water distiller (cost me US3000) but the Inverter died. Not sure why. Says overload. The heating element is too high. So I got a lower one, it's still too high.

I think they come as 1000 W and 1500 watt, both too high for my Inverter, they big Inverter died, so I have to run the Distiller off the mains supply.

Looking around for a 700 W heating element at 240 V.

We drink distilled water these days, the tank water tastes funny, got metallic taste in it?

SHalom 

[Dave]

How are your batteries holding up?
Last November or so – I thought I would have them replaced by now
But Dillon stopped by after Christmas and brought me his charger and set me up on a manual charge cycle – to overcharge and hold
Part of Dec, all of Jan and Feb – we started the generator at dusk - and it ran until we went to bed
SO – 30-40 cycles of overcharge and hold for 5-6hrs at a time
Total water replacement for 6 AGM batteries = 1200mL – about 200mL each
Sometime before March – we stopped using the generator

Today we have more electricity than we can use – same old batteries
We will see what the cold winter will bring
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Having trouble with my battery storage capacity, it is only 200 Amp/hr instead of the manufactured 500 Amp/hr.
Personally – I do not think you understand your own math
A 500 anything is only good at 80%

You think in absolutes and it is an error in thinking

The charging has not increased my storage capacity, so I suspect the manufacturing process is faulty.
Correct – nothing will increase your capacity
I just think you demand too much of your system

the Inverter died. Not sure why. Says overload. The heating element is too high. So I got a lower one, it's still too high.

All electronics die because the voltage is too low – Ohms Law and amps kill
If you do not have the voltage capacity behind it – a surge demand = increase amperage

[Deleted]

Thanks for your comments Dave

I will get back when my supplier advises me next.

D"Correct – nothing will increase your capacity
I just think you demand too much of your system

R" Actually overcharging is supposed to restore battery chemistry in NI-FE

I could run these batteries as they are, they will not get any worse, perhaps only better with a new electrolyte change.

We have out one and only frost here, winter is over and the temps are up and uping. Today is 8 degrees.