Brown electrolyte in batteries :cry:

mike95490
mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
I know it can't mean anything good :cry:

About half my batteries have 1 cell, with brown electrolyte. Other cells in same battery are nice and crystal clear.

Any guesses as to how long before I have to get new batteries ?
Powerfab top of pole PV mount | 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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Comments

  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,891 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Brown electrolyte in batteries :cry:

    Mike,
    How is the SG ? balanced between cells? Are you being hygenic? Have you ever uncovered the plates? Last, did you get the e-mail on how to mod your XW for single phase? Is it 5 o'clock yet... oh yea, are you sure the electrolyte is dark?
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Brown electrolyte in batteries :cry:

    Likely it's caused by eroded plate material that settles to the bottom getting stirred up by pieces of plate dropping off; plate failure.

    Run 'em 'til they drop.
    Which could be today. :cry:
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Brown electrolyte in batteries :cry:
    Dave Sparks wrote: »
    Mike,
    How is the SG ? balanced between cells?
    Are you being hygenic?
    Have you ever uncovered the plates?
    Last, did you get the e-mail on how to mod your XW for single phase?
    Is it 5 o'clock yet... oh yea,
    are you sure the electrolyte is dark?

    Did not test SG.
    I took a dip in the creek, but I had a rash for several days afterwards
    Batteries were used, AFIK, plates always covered
    Got the email
    It's 5 o'clock somewhere
    electrolyte is a murky muddy brown. Other cells, are crystal clear as I would expect. 8ea, 6V batt in series.

    I'll run them till they fail .
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | 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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  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,891 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Brown electrolyte in batteries :cry:

    If you did not test the SG Mike, how do you know the electrolyte is dark? Did you remove some with an eye dropper? I understand that when you look into the cell it is dark, and I really understand it is 5 o'clock somewhere, but I do not understand yet if the electrolyte is dark? There is a reason but you have to play along until 5.
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

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