Hydrometer

Arkansasoffgrid
Arkansasoffgrid Solar Expert Posts: 117 ✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Looking for input/feedback on a good hydrometer. Have bought 2 of same brand but different styles at local parts house. The "needle" seemed stuck in one, and the other would leak electrolyte out as quick as it was sucked in. Just wondering what y'all have that's given good years of service.
8-420AH US Battery L-16s, Midnite Classic 150cc, Whiz Bang Jr, Magnum MS4448PAE inverter/charger,  4590w Canadian Solar panels. Honda EU2000i generator.
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  • waynefromnscanada
    waynefromnscanada Solar Expert Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭
    edited September 2015 #2
    I've been through quite a few over the years and was never happy with any of them. All that changed when I got this one:
    http://www.solar-electric.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=hydrovolt





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  • Mountain Don
    Mountain Don Solar Expert Posts: 494 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Love my Hydro-volt.
    Northern NM, 624 watts PV, The Kid CC, GC-2 batteries @ 24 VDC, Outback VFX3524M
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  • vtmaps
    vtmaps Solar Expert Posts: 3,741 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    I am another happy hydrovolt user. 

    Another option is to use a refractometer rather than an hydrometer.  Around here, solar professionals (who check a lot of batteries) prefer refractometers. 

    --vtMaps
    4 X 235watt Samsung, Midnite ePanel, Outback VFX3524 FM60 & mate, 4 Interstate L16, trimetric, Honda eu2000i
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  • Arkansasoffgrid
    Arkansasoffgrid Solar Expert Posts: 117 ✭✭
    #5
    Ordered last night, should be here Thursday. Thanks for the quick replies.
    8-420AH US Battery L-16s, Midnite Classic 150cc, Whiz Bang Jr, Magnum MS4448PAE inverter/charger,  4590w Canadian Solar panels. Honda EU2000i generator.
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  • Arkansasoffgrid
    Arkansasoffgrid Solar Expert Posts: 117 ✭✭
    #6
    Just received HydroVolt. On my bank of 6wk old 8-L16s 420AH I'm getting readings from 1.257 to 1.280.
    Batteries in float mode, 100% charged, and 52 volts per the midnight classic 150.
    The batteries were equalized 5 days ago at 61volts for 2hrs. What's the normal/accepted parameters?
    8-420AH US Battery L-16s, Midnite Classic 150cc, Whiz Bang Jr, Magnum MS4448PAE inverter/charger,  4590w Canadian Solar panels. Honda EU2000i generator.
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  • jcheil
    jcheil Solar Expert Posts: 722 ✭✭✭
    #7
    Not sure which L16's you have? I did not think they made a 420Ah version? I know they have the 320 and 370 (I have the L16RE-B 370's) and most of the Trojan lines have the 1.280 electrolyte in them.  So 1.280 is "100%" according to their documentation.


    Off-Grid in Central Florida since 2005, Full-Time since June 2014 | 12 X Sovello 205w panels, 9 X ToPoint 220w panels, 36x ToPoint 225w panels (12,525 watts total) | Custom built single-axis ground mounts | Complete FP2 Outback System: 3 x FM80, 2 x VFX3648, X240 Transformer, FLEXnet-DC, Mate-3, Hub-10, FW500 AC/DC | 24 x Trojan L16RE-B Batteries 1110ah @ 48v | Honda EU7000is Generator and a pile of "other" Generators | Home-Made PVC solar hot water collector | Custom data logging software http://www.somewhatcrookedcamp.com/monitormate.html
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  • waynefromnscanada
    waynefromnscanada Solar Expert Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭
    edited October 2015 #8
    Not all manufacturers fill their batteries with 1,280 electrolyte. Some, including Surrette, use 1.265,
    Generally higher SG results in higher battery capacity, but the lower SG installed electrolyte, in general results in longer battery life. And 420 AH is also not unique. This one for example has a 20 hour capacity of 468 AH.
    http://www.dcbattery.com/rollssurrette_s605.html


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  • Arkansasoffgrid
    Arkansasoffgrid Solar Expert Posts: 117 ✭✭
    #9
    They are US L16HC from US Battery. But my concern is the range of SG I'm getting, and what is min/max tolerance?
    8-420AH US Battery L-16s, Midnite Classic 150cc, Whiz Bang Jr, Magnum MS4448PAE inverter/charger,  4590w Canadian Solar panels. Honda EU2000i generator.
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  • Mountain Don
    Mountain Don Solar Expert Posts: 494 ✭✭✭
    edited October 2015 #10
    Sounds like it may be time to EQ again, take more sp gr readings, record them; .... maybe EQ some more, take more sp gr readings, record them, .... repeat until all cells come up. 



    Trojan recommends EQ when the cell differential is +/- .015 or greater. 


    The US Battery spec sheet states "Specific gravity at full charge is 1.270 minimum"


    Northern NM, 624 watts PV, The Kid CC, GC-2 batteries @ 24 VDC, Outback VFX3524M
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