What do I do to shut down my system for long period absence?

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  • Caymaniac
    Junior Member
    • Jul 2013
    • 2
    #1

    What do I do to shut down my system for long period absence?

    I am setting up a small system to provide our place in the South Texas desert with basic service (lights, fan, etc.) We will only be there for 1 - 2 months in the winter. What should I do to put the system to bed for the 10 months we aren't there?
    Tags: None
  • Sunking
    Solar Fanatic
    • Feb 2010
    • 23301
    #2
    Take the batteries with you.
    MSEE, PE

    Comment

    • mega man
      Junior Member
      • Jul 2013
      • 15
      #3
      lol to carry them would be ok, if he's not gonna use them why not just make a shut off switch, and make sure they are in a cool place for the time he's away.

      Comment

      • russ
        Solar Fanatic
        • Jul 2009
        • 10360
        #4
        Originally posted by mega man
        lol to carry them would be ok, if he's not gonna use them why not just make a shut off switch, and make sure they are in a cool place for the time he's away.
        Can't just leave them - the charge has to be maintained or they will be dead when he wants them again.
        [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

        Comment

        • Sunking
          Solar Fanatic
          • Feb 2010
          • 23301
          #5
          Originally posted by mega man
          why not just make a shut off switch, and make sure they are in a cool place for the time he's away.
          Because when he comes back his batteries will be dead and only useful as a boat anchor.

          Batteries have a self discharge rate characteristic of about 10%/month. Batteries have to be kept fully charged.
          MSEE, PE

          Comment

          • Mike90250
            Moderator
            • May 2009
            • 16020
            #6
            top the cells off with distilled, disable Equalize on the charger, and let them float. Maybe check them in 3 or 4 months to see if they need any water. But you have to keep batteries charged.
            Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
            || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
            || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

            solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
            gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

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            • Caymaniac
              Junior Member
              • Jul 2013
              • 2
              #7
              Originally posted by Sunking
              Because when he comes back his batteries will be dead and only useful as a boat anchor.

              Batteries have a self discharge rate characteristic of about 10%/month. Batteries have to be kept fully charged.
              Originally posted by russ
              Can't just leave them - the charge has to be maintained or they will be dead when he wants them again.
              What if I disconnect the big panels and controller and leave the batteries on a solar trickle charger? Any danger or harm to the batteries in that?

              Comment

              • inetdog
                Super Moderator
                • May 2012
                • 9909
                #8
                Originally posted by Caymaniac
                What if I disconnect the big panels and controller and leave the batteries on a solar trickle charger? Any danger or harm to the batteries in that?
                As long as the trickle charger (actually a battery maintainer) produces enough current during the day to offset the self discharge (work out the numbers assuming 10% of the battery AH capacity is lost each month, as Dereck said) AND is either voltage controlled to the float voltage or is current limited to not exceed the self discharge amount by much.
                Note that the float voltage and self-discharge current will both vary with temperature when the batteries are left in an uncontrolled environment.
                SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.

                Comment

                • Sunking
                  Solar Fanatic
                  • Feb 2010
                  • 23301
                  #9
                  Originally posted by Caymaniac
                  What if I disconnect the big panels and controller and leave the batteries on a solar trickle charger? Any danger or harm to the batteries in that?
                  Yoou can disconnect all but 1 panel and Set the CC Bulk = Adsorb = Float = 13.5 volts. Top off the battery and hope for the best.

                  Just hope none of my friends come by and help themselves as batteries and copper are hot items today for SRCAP value. A 200 pound set of batteries is worth a gram of Meth. Cells sites and construction sites are getting hit hard right now.
                  MSEE, PE

                  Comment

                  • Cal Dan
                    Member
                    • Apr 2013
                    • 52
                    #10
                    If you leave them, do it safely. Don't leave battery terminals exposed, etc.
                    The "Croy Rd Fire" wich was originally said by the media to be probably started by meth cookers, was in fact started by the nicest (non drug) people who left their solar system unattended for weeks at a time. Maybe a rat did something. Maybe the wind. I don't know. But think of anything and everything that could possibly happen while your away.

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