NiFe Electrolyte Refurbishment/Replacement 8-20128 (& DIY battery inverter )

[bcroe]

I'm not sure I can perform another change out in 10 years, it's a job for 2 younger men, not an old fart with a replacement shoulder.

While bolting the tie links in, I left a couple out, so if something untoward happened, it would not have the whole bank behind it

2 very good ideas. Impressive but way more work than I would want to do. Bruce Roe

[Mike90250]

It's one string, done mostly right, but so long, it wraps around the room.

[sdold]

Thanks for posting these, it's an impressive setup, especially compared to a lot of the hokey stuff I see on the web.

[Mike90250]

..... I get that you are up to your eyeballs in chemicals at the moment so NO pressure, Best regards Dave.

Well, the bank is back in operation, shoulder is sore from a day with the big torque wrench. I'm not sure I can perform another change out in 10 years, it's a job for 2 younger men, not an old fart with a replacement shoulder. Otherwise, I love not having to worry in the winter if they are charged enough to not sulfate. Panels ARE cheap, having installed the 2nd array for SWMBO morning toast, also provides an redundant array and CC.

The terminal bolts are 20mm with 30mm nuts:
20180805_080540.png

While bolting the tie links in, I left a couple out, so if something untoward happened, it would not have the whole bank behind it, and I also us a marine battery disconnect switch in the middle of the bank, by the door, as an emergency shutdown.

20180731_094659.png

[Colesy]

Hi Mike, first I will say I hope that the fires are not causing you immediate risk. We have them here too and there are shocking. I've just joined solar panel talk and I found you. A rare species that actually uses NiFe batteries. I'm embarking on an off grid build myself for retirement and I'm in a bit of a quandary about batteries. Despite all the bad stuff spoken about NiFe batteries I have been leaning in that direction for a while but the Lithium scenario is throwing a curved ball at me. Efficiency doesn't worry me a great deal as PV panels are now quite inexpensive and I intend to have a wind gen too as the site is quite favourable. It means that I can probably have less capacity and more input. I guess I'm asking would you still go with NiFe. Given your background I suspect your opinion is really worth having and you are after all walking the walk. I have a pretty useful skill set and watering etc. doesn't phase me too much and I think my 2nd leaning would be towards flooded lead. Gel etc seem to be for those that want to set and forget - generalisation I know. Any thoughts would be much appreciated, and I get that you are up to your eyeballs in chemicals at the moment so NO pressure, Best regards Dave.

[Mike90250]

About 3:30 pm, I finished all the bolts and cable re-connections, and switched back to the NiFe bank. Mercifully, it was uneventful. (no earth shattering Ka-Boom )
Re-programed all the chargers again, and we're charging back up to full power. Might take a couple days, got a lot of smoke blowing in, today was very hazy, but the haze may extend my charge time till 6pm from all the bright scattered ambient light.

Off-sunlight hours, I keep the 4 marine batteries on float with a honda EU-2000, about 80 hours, and 8 gallons of fuel

[jflorey2]

How about a used EV battery?

Should be a lot of them in 10 years. The local EV shop is already selling used 57 volt Tesla modules that would work nicely in a 48V system. (Assuming your charge controller will go all the way to 62 volts.)

[littleharbor]

Got it. Among other things, I've been accused more than once of sometimes taking myself all too seriously. I try to keep the persistence of such comments in mind. I just took a deep breath.

.No worries.

I'll use the correct font in the future when appropriate

[J.P.M.]

JPM, none whatsoever. Just adding to the humorous side of this post.
Sorry if you didn't see it for what it was. Guess I should have used the Comic Sans font.

Got it. Among other things, I've been accused more than once of sometimes taking myself all too seriously. I try to keep the persistence of such comments in mind. I just took a deep breath.

[littleharbor]

JPM, none whatsoever. Just adding to the humorous side of this post.
Sorry if you didn't see it for what it was. Guess I should have used the Comic Sans font.

[J.P.M.]

Some threads around here run their course, then lose focus, others outright Crash and Burn.

Don't like a post, or several, ignore it/them. If someone wants to get the thread back on track, they usually post something germane to the original topic of the thread.

You got anything constructive to add with respect to NiFe electrolyte ?

[littleharbor]

Some threads around here run their course, then lose focus, others outright Crash and Burn.

[Garrett]

[J.P.M.]

Are you trying to get rid of her ? Fred will get a kick out of this.

No, but thinking about it, it might be the other way around.

Reality: SWMBO & I have a deal. Doesn't matter where you get your appetite as long as you're home for dinner. Or, you don't have to eat at the restaurant, but you can always peruse the menu. We're married, not dead.

But that's not to say Fred's reduced to the equivalent of a roast beef sandwich either. No disrespect intended.

Best to Fred.

[littleharbor]

Take my wife, please.jpg