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- Dec 30, 2021
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I live off grid in Upstate NY. I have a 14400KW solar array, 4x Midnight solar charge controllers, 2x8048 Outback radians and a (1500 A/H, 6000 lbs,) 48 volt BBI "forklift" battery. and a 30KW Isuzu diesel generator
I was having issues with one cell always being 6 points lower (SG 1.22 vs 1.28) than the other 23. I could equalize the battery, but when I did, the other 23 cells would go up to SG 1.3 and hang there for hours waiting for the weak cell to catch up. The other 23 cells got very warm and I would shut down the equalization without truly equalizing. After the EQ was finished?? I'd have 23 cells at 1.29 and 1 cell at 1.26. I was looking for a way to charge the one weak cell at 2.5 to 2.6 Volts DC, without subjecting the other 23 to this voltage. 2.6 vdc applied to a single cell is "Equalize voltage".
Low and behold I found a company called Hindlepower out of Easton PA. They make a single cell battery charger that you can use while the battery is in service.....hooked up and powering your home. I was skeptical, but I bought one. It adjusted it to 2.6 volts / 10 amp output per instruction. Before I actually hooked it up to the weak cell....i thought....."at only 10 amps, this probably wont the moxie to bring the weak cell to 2.6 volts". Anyway, the weak cell was at SG 1.21 at this time and the other 23 were SG 1.25. I hooked it up to the weak cell and I was only getting 2.38 vdc going into the weak cell. I thought I had wasted 465 dollars. I left it charging the weak cell all day long. The test day was partially sunny, but far from clear, as far as solar charging goes. When the sun went down, I checked the SG's and I was shocked. The "weak" cell was now at 1.28 was the other 23 were at 1.27. IT WORKED. I can't honestly say it ever brought the weak cell to 2.6 volts........but I dont care. It did its job. It brought the weak cell inline with the others. That was one week ago and the weak "cell" still runs neck in neck with the other 23. I do think the weak cell is probably a weak cell by definition and will probably have to do this again every month or so (especially in the winter). I wont however, have to subject the other 23 to high temp and high voltage for hours in an attempt to bring the weak cell inline. Hopefully this can help someone out there dealing with a delinquent cell or two.
Single-Cell Charger · HindlePower; Model: BB0442-01. ...........Hindlepower will not sell to us lil guys directly. I bought it thru Dowd Battery in Buffalo NY and paid $465 for it.
I was having issues with one cell always being 6 points lower (SG 1.22 vs 1.28) than the other 23. I could equalize the battery, but when I did, the other 23 cells would go up to SG 1.3 and hang there for hours waiting for the weak cell to catch up. The other 23 cells got very warm and I would shut down the equalization without truly equalizing. After the EQ was finished?? I'd have 23 cells at 1.29 and 1 cell at 1.26. I was looking for a way to charge the one weak cell at 2.5 to 2.6 Volts DC, without subjecting the other 23 to this voltage. 2.6 vdc applied to a single cell is "Equalize voltage".
Low and behold I found a company called Hindlepower out of Easton PA. They make a single cell battery charger that you can use while the battery is in service.....hooked up and powering your home. I was skeptical, but I bought one. It adjusted it to 2.6 volts / 10 amp output per instruction. Before I actually hooked it up to the weak cell....i thought....."at only 10 amps, this probably wont the moxie to bring the weak cell to 2.6 volts". Anyway, the weak cell was at SG 1.21 at this time and the other 23 were SG 1.25. I hooked it up to the weak cell and I was only getting 2.38 vdc going into the weak cell. I thought I had wasted 465 dollars. I left it charging the weak cell all day long. The test day was partially sunny, but far from clear, as far as solar charging goes. When the sun went down, I checked the SG's and I was shocked. The "weak" cell was now at 1.28 was the other 23 were at 1.27. IT WORKED. I can't honestly say it ever brought the weak cell to 2.6 volts........but I dont care. It did its job. It brought the weak cell inline with the others. That was one week ago and the weak "cell" still runs neck in neck with the other 23. I do think the weak cell is probably a weak cell by definition and will probably have to do this again every month or so (especially in the winter). I wont however, have to subject the other 23 to high temp and high voltage for hours in an attempt to bring the weak cell inline. Hopefully this can help someone out there dealing with a delinquent cell or two.
Single-Cell Charger · HindlePower; Model: BB0442-01. ...........Hindlepower will not sell to us lil guys directly. I bought it thru Dowd Battery in Buffalo NY and paid $465 for it.