My three battery banks. Your thoughts?

Discussion in 'Off Grid Living' started by Kamchuka, Oct 28, 2016.


  1. Kamchuka

    Kamchuka Grease Monkey

    I have a choice of these three banks. Tell me what you think. Pros, cons, etc. Thanks!
    6 trojan L16 6v.....2520ah
    30 12v sealed LA....3300ah
    95 1.2v nicad wet cell....2850ah

    Off grid house 10k Gen 6x240w panel array. Array will be scaled to meet needs.

    20161028_103705.

    20161028_103722.

    20161028_103713.
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2016
    Motomom34 likes this.
  2. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    I would go with the L16HDs if I were you.... I have a 1200AmpHour 24Vdc Battery Bank of L16HDs that power my Cabin using a Trace SW4024....
     
  3. azrancher

    azrancher Monkey +++

    There is really no choice, the NiCads are not made to be deep discharge. The UB battery stands for Universal Battery meaning it can fill any application poorly. The Trojan L16 is the only one that is typically use for a solar battery array.

    Rancher
     
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  4. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    I agree with every comment above. An array of the L16HD's will provide years of reliable service, given they are maintained properly. This means checking battery connections, put a meter across the connections bi-monthly, breaking down the battery interconnections cleaning and reconnecting the array to the proper torque and using dielectric silicone grease on the terminals and connecter lugs. In my mind, this should be done annually.
     
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  5. Kamchuka

    Kamchuka Grease Monkey

    Thanks everyone. Ya kind of know the answer sometimes when you ask questions. But there are people much smarter than I am. Thought I'd throw it out there. I'll keep the sealed ones for my r.v. the little ones for remote lighting on my property and add a couple more Trojans. Thanks again.
     
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  6. Seepalaces

    Seepalaces Monkey+++

    So, mea culpa, this isn't my field. Is there a reason you haven't considered the tesla wall? When I priced one of your battery banks, it looks like it's a similar price (in fact, the bank you listed is more expensive), but I priced it on amazon.
     
  7. Kamchuka

    Kamchuka Grease Monkey

    Yeah these particular batteries I scavenged. The Trojans are my current bank, the sealed ones came out of an emergency light bank. The others got ordered wrong so I did them a favor by "disposing" of them.
     
  8. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    It all depends on the charging & loads , not the storage .
    Your working sideways

    Size Matters also
    L16's for sure , Why even ask on AH's ?
    What is your way of destroying them ??

    Sloth
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2016
  9. Asia-Off-Grid

    Asia-Off-Grid RIP 11-8-2018

    Trojans, and add an auto fill system to them, as well.
     
  10. Kamchuka

    Kamchuka Grease Monkey

    Sloth,
    Not sure what ya mean I'm working sideways. By "destroy" I meant they had to get rid of them so I snagged em.
     
  11. Asia-Off-Grid

    Asia-Off-Grid RIP 11-8-2018

    Lucky dog. Hope you find something to do with 'em all.
     
  12. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

  13. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    My first in my bank getting started was a Gell cell ,built as a UPS system for my computer. It was OK but not great.
    When I started working on boats, I was given year old 12 volt deep cycle batteries, customers had me replace for them on their boats, and my boss had no problem with it.
    I met a couple that had done extensive traveling by motor home, through out the whole continent, including south America and Canada .
    Their motor home came with a big 24 volt truck battery and it took long to charge and last very long, so they switched to the trojan deep cycle golf cart batteries, and were happy ever sense.
    Learning this, I too went to using the same battery bank system ever sense.
    Any battery system, needs to be in a place that has easy access, away from freezing and excessive heat. wiring larger than minimum requirements and fuses , fuses, fuses,
    All of my solar/mill/gen , and batteries pass through simple switching 20 amp 3 position switches . I have panel meters for reading their values at random and for isolating if necessary any component in the system. I know using 20 amp switching acts as a choke but with all batteries connected the combined contact seems to work out well for my purposes.
    For the 10 KW inverter, I have heavier ( 02) cables to constant duty solonoid relays .
    My house is wired 110/220 AC 6/12 volt DC .mostly lighting and fans .
    Stil tied to the grid for my heavier equipment , my electric bill this last month was $24.
     
  14. Kamchuka

    Kamchuka Grease Monkey

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  15. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Two Ott Battery cables
    On a 10KW ?? Way light & im not even asking distance .
    My 12KW stacked units have 5 feet distance & are feed with 4 ott times 3 wires on each Pos & NEG from a MASSIVE battery array to the inverters .
    Now never just get by on the wire size , Always go big & don't worry , Fuse / Breaker on the end , stay low for the math of the system .

    So after lots of reading on the other sites , You should know your loads first & work that way out to batterys that can store the harvest & give power out for (x amount of days) to inverter or loads .

    Sloth
     
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  16. Kamchuka

    Kamchuka Grease Monkey

    Sloth, I'm kind of new but isn't 2 gauge heavier than 4?
     
  17. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Yes, but CS is specific to 2/0 and 4/0 ("ott" = "aught") When you get that large, the numbers reverse. In context, aught is "zero" as often used, tho' Webster won't necessarily support that use.
    wire size chart - Google Search
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2016
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  18. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    If you are looking for Battery Bank Wire, or Bank to Inverter Wire, I recommend going to your local Welding Supply Outfit, and asking the Service Folks if they have any Old Welding Leads, with Burns in the Insulation, that they do not need. These make GREAT Battery Bank Wire.... Pick up some Lugs, and Shrink Tubing, and make up your own....
     
  19. Asia-Off-Grid

    Asia-Off-Grid RIP 11-8-2018

    Been a long time since I lived stateside. But, typical service drops for 200 amp service at a home in Georgia (where I am originally from anyway), was 4/0 - 2/0. That meant, the two (insulated) phases from the service pole was 4/0 cable. The third, bare cable, was 2/0. To give you an idea of the actual size of these cables. And, as +ghrit stated, 4/0 is larger than 2/0.

    4-0_2-0.
     
  20. Kamchuka

    Kamchuka Grease Monkey

    Thanks for the info. I reckon I haven't really needed to move up to that big so good to know!
     
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