Department Of Energy White Paper on Batteries

[Lloyd]

http://www.hss.energy.gov/nuclearsafety/ns/techstds/standard/hdbk1084/hdbk1084.pdf

Flooded lead-acid batteries can function for 10 years or longer if properly maintained. The six
general rules of proper maintenance are
1. Match the charger to the battery requirements.
2. Avoid overdischarging the battery.
3. Maintain the electrolyte at the appropriate level (add water as required).
4. Keep the battery clean.
5. Avoid overheating the battery.
6. Provide an equalizing charge periodically to weak batteries/cells.
Matching the Charger to Battery Requirements
Poor charging practice is responsible for shortening the life of a battery more than any
other cause. Charging may be accomplished by various methods, but the objective of
driving current through the battery in the opposite direction of discharge remains the same. The most important aspect of charging is matching the charger to the battery
application. When choosing a charger, it is necessary to consider the type of battery, the
way in which the battery will be discharged, the time available for charge, the temperature
extremes the battery will experience, and the number of cells in the battery (output
voltage). It is important to consult the battery manufacturer at the time of purchase to
determine the appropriate charging method.
In general, lead-acid batteries may be recharged at any rate that does not produce
excessive gassing, overcharge, or high temperatures. Discharged batteries may be
recharged at a high current initially. However, once the battery approaches its full
charge the current must be decreased to reduce gassing and excessive overcharging.
A wide variety of schemes exist for charging lead-acid batteries. Although a complete
discussion of various charging techniques is beyond the scope of this Primer, a general
description of the more common methods follows.



It's worth a read

Lloyd

[WGB]

Thanks

[Tom Reed]

That jives with what I've read. Since I have 8k in my battery set I'm babying them.

[Lloyd]

bump.......

bc bats are the center of some of the most efficient co-gens

[mobile_bob]

Lloyd:

i wholeheartedly agree!

from my discourse with the doe and epa, they really like the idea of reduction of runtimes, and when the unit
is running having it do so in the most efficient manner possible.

the only way to accomplish these goals have some form of energy storage at the core, so unless you can grid tie legally
then batteries are the reality for most successful installations.

bob g