Water Miser Caps??

54d18
54d18 Solar Expert Posts: 81 ✭✭✭
I have been considering water miser caps for my
8 6v Interstate batteries, but after reading
about their use in the forums, I've decided not
to invest in them, I usually only add a little
less than 4L (1gal) twice a year over the whole bank.
This amounts to a little more than 1/2 cup per cell.

I'll continue this way...

Comments

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: Water Miser Caps??

    You might need to monitor the state of charge with a good quality hydrometer/thermometer kit.

    And also check your battery bank voltage with an accurate voltmeter (charging, resting, discharging) and review your Charge Controller's settings.

    It sounds like you may be undercharging your battery bank. Some water use indicates that the bank is being fully/properly charged. Adding water every two months or so is not a bad thing.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • 54d18
    54d18 Solar Expert Posts: 81 ✭✭✭
    Re: Water Miser Caps??

    I should also mention that this system is weekend
    use only, and not every weekend, and almost no
    use in the summer, the system is at full charge
    much more than not.
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Re: Water Miser Caps??

    If for nothing else, I use the caps as a handy way to open the cells, and not have 24 caps rolling around, and then I can water all the cells at once.

    (48V battery bank L-16's)
    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 ,