Battery Care

Battery Bank Equalization

December 3, 2016

Routine equalization charges are vital to the performance and life of a flooded lead acid battery… particularly in a solar, wind and less so in a micro-hydro power system. During battery discharge, sulfuric acid is consumed and soft lead sulfate crystals form on the plates. Learn more about making your battery bank last as long […]

0 comments Read the full article →

The Evolution of the Solar Charge Controller

December 3, 2016

A charge controller is a piece of equipment designed to prevent the batteries in your system from overcharging. It is similar to the voltage regulator in a car. However, unlike a voltage regulator in an automobile, charge controllers have advanced in ways never even imaginable to the hippies in Northern California, USA in the 1970s… […]

0 comments Read the full article →

What Voltage Should My Battery Bank Be? 12, 24, or 48.

August 14, 2015
Thumbnail image for What Voltage Should My Battery Bank Be? 12, 24, or 48.

The most common question I get as a solar consultant is… What voltage should I use for my battery bank? And Why? Almost everyone who is new to solar, wind or micro-hydro assumes that 12 volts is the way to go. It seems obvious. You can buy 12 volt lighting, 12 volt coffee makers, 12 […]

39 comments Read the full article →

Why 120/240 Volt 60hz (or 230 Volt 50hz) Generators Are Not Great Battery Chargers

January 13, 2015
Thumbnail image for Why 120/240 Volt 60hz (or 230 Volt 50hz) Generators Are Not Great Battery Chargers

Using a 120 volt or 120/240 volt (or 230 volt) single phase generator to charge your batteries is very common, inexpensive to purchase and horribly expensive to operate. BUT you must expect to pay anywhere from $2.50 to $5.00 per kWh when using a single generator to operate your home and charge your batteries. If […]

11 comments Read the full article →

Our Steam Engine / Battery Charger

December 8, 2014
Thumbnail image for Our Steam Engine / Battery Charger

We bought a stream engine in 2011 with the hopes of someday using it as a backup for charging batteries if gas and oil were ever to become in short supply. Our biggest problem has been to find a wood boiler that can produce enough steam to operate the engine for long periods of time. […]

4 comments Read the full article →

Using Your Generator to Charge Your Batteries

September 28, 2013
Thumbnail image for Using Your Generator to Charge Your Batteries

There are going to be many times when the sun isn’t shining, the wind isn’t blowing and your batteries are low. The only choice you might have is to charge your batteries using your fossil fueled generator. As you may already know, there is not a more expensive method of battery charging than using a […]

6 comments Read the full article →

How to Find the Defective Battery in Your Battery Bank

September 24, 2013
Thumbnail image for How to Find the Defective Battery in Your Battery Bank

It only takes one bad battery to bring your off grid power system to a complete halt. Even in systems that have 8, 16, 24 or even more batteries, one defective battery can drain every good battery and leave you powerless. Unfortunately it is not always easy to find the battery causing all the trouble. […]

26 comments Read the full article →

The Best Choices for Your First Solar Battery Bank

September 18, 2013
Thumbnail image for The Best Choices for Your First Solar Battery Bank

You will make a lot of mistakes in the beginning of your “off grid” adventures and your batteries will pay the price whether they are deluxe and expensive models or decent quality and cost effective. If your solar installer/designer tries to sell you a “high end” (and very expensive) battery bank for your first energy […]

13 comments Read the full article →

How To Make Your Batteries Last as Long as Possible

September 12, 2013
Thumbnail image for How To Make Your Batteries Last as Long as Possible

Your battery bank will likely be one if the most expensive components of your “off the grid” energy system. They are also the only piece of the system that will need replacing on a regular basis. Every extra day you can squeeze out of your battery bank will reduce the overall cost of your renewable […]

26 comments Read the full article →

Battery AH Ratings. C5, C20 and C100. What Does This Mean?

September 9, 2013
Thumbnail image for Battery AH Ratings. C5, C20 and C100. What Does This Mean?

Why Are Batteries Rated in Amp Hours (AH) and How Can One Battery Have Different AH Ratings? Part of designing an independent power system is calculating the amount of amp hours (AHs) your battery bank will need to keep your system operating between charges. All manufacturers provide amp hour ratings for their deep cycle batteries […]

37 comments Read the full article →

Are My Batteries Really Full? How Can I Be Sure?

September 5, 2013
Thumbnail image for Are My Batteries Really Full? How Can I Be Sure?

You would think that knowing your batteries are completely charged is straightforward. However the state of charge a.k.a. SOC of your battery/battery bank it is not even close to being simple. This short article will explain why. Here are some of the common industry practices: BATTERY “AT REST” VOLTAGE Using the common “at rest” voltage […]

1 comment Read the full article →

Skystream Automatic Disconnection

April 22, 2013
Thumbnail image for Skystream Automatic Disconnection

Southwest Windpower’s Skystream can be used to charge batteries but a circuit must be present that will shut the turbine down as the batteries reach a full state of charge or a circuit to dump the extra power. If you could hire someone inexpensively to shut the breaker off as the batteries “top off” that […]

0 comments Read the full article →

Add a Diversion Load to a SkyStream

April 18, 2013
Thumbnail image for Add a Diversion Load to a SkyStream

There are a few methods to add a diversion load to your Skystream. The best methods are shown below (option #1 or option #2) but it assumes you either have a charge controller/ inverter with a programmable relay driver/output or you will purchase a diversion controller. Outback Power, Schneider Electric and Magnum Energy. Midnite Solar, […]

1 comment Read the full article →

Skystream Battery Charging How To

April 18, 2013
Thumbnail image for Skystream Battery Charging How To

The Skystream made by Southwest Windpower is a grid tie wind turbine that is designed to produce 240 volts AC at 60HZ (or 50HZ)  no matter what speed the wind is blowing. It does this by taking the wild AC from the alternator, rectifying it to DC and inverting back to AC. It is quite […]

3 comments Read the full article →

Dump Load / Diversion Load Intro

April 16, 2013
Thumbnail image for Dump Load / Diversion Load Intro

Since there is a lot of confusion about diversion loads, we will discuss what they are and why they are used. A dump load is nothing more than a resistor (heating element) that is used for dumping electricity when it is not needed or to prevent your battery bank from being overcharged. It could be […]

8 comments Read the full article →