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Just about the only maintenance required in a solar electric system is to the battery bank. Proper care of your bank will eliminate 99% of all system problems. You will get a one page Battery Care Sheet from us with just about anything you purchase and you will receive our Battery Book for Your PV Home with the purchase of a battery bank. In any case, not using more power than you produce is the first secret to battery bank care! People often ask "How many modules do I need to charge my batteries?". The question should be "How many modules do I need to keep up with my energy use?". The definition of a properly sized system is keeping your batteries fully charged all (or at least most of) the time. You'll need a hydrometer and a digital voltmeter to monitor your system. Another very important maintenance procedure is to equalize (overcharge) your bank periodically - once a month would be ideal.
BATTERY DELIVERY
We ship batteries by common carrier. We get a volume discount from our shipper and pass the savings on to you. The freight must be prepaid and the batteries must be delivered to a business address. This could be where you work or c/o the town general store, garage, or a business where you have a friend who will accept delivery.
Throughout the greater New England the minimum freight charge is
$90 for 1 to 24 T105's. The charge rises to $100-150 for delivery to New York State depending on quantity. Appropriate sales tax will be charged on batteries shipped to RI, CT, ME and VT. Our distributor packs them on a pallet and shrink wraps them for protection during shipping. You remove them individually off the truck if the business site doesn't have a fork lift. Call us for advice.
We can now deliver batteries throughout the U.S. for about the same price as in the Northeast. Call us for details.
TROJAN T-105
6 volts 225 amp-hrs 62 lbs
720-105 Trojan T105
$149
(L) 10 3/8 in. (W) 7 1/8 in. (H ) 10 7/8 in.
The Trojan T105 battery is a top quality battery with glass mats and patented Multi-Rib separators. The Multi-Rib separator provides superior electrolyte distribution, less negative plate expansion, less water usage, reduced positive plate shedding and less maintenance. They also utilize a proprietary paste formula, known as Alpha Plus, which is another key ingredient to long life. Trojan T-105's are simply the best battery of this type and size. In fact, based on the new Battery Council International testing procedures, Trojan's T-105 was 225 cycles better than the next leading brand.
Don't buy 12 volt marine batteries for your system unless it will have only one battery. Two 6V batteries wired in series make one large 12V battery that is bigger and better than two of the 12V marine batteries.
New! Trojan RE SERIES Batteries
TROJAN T105RE
6 volts 225 amp-hrs 67 lbs
720-106 Trojan T105-RE
$149
(L) 10-5/8 in. (W) 7-1/8 in. (H) 11-3/4 in.
TROJAN L16RE-B
6 volts 370 amp-hrs 118 lbs
720-016 Trojan L16RE-B
$329
(L) 11-5/8 in. (W) 7 in. (H) 17-11/16 in.
The Trojan RE Series batteries are tougher deep cycle batteries especially designed for the alternative energy market. If you insist on a more robust, longer life battery for your bank, the Trojan RE Series are an excellent choice.
They have been redesigned and optimized for use in a renewable energy systems. The Dura-GridTM technology provides a 10-year design life and excellent charge efficiency. The MaxguardTM XL advanced desigh separator is 30% thicker and stronger, resists stratification, extends life and lowers overall maintenance time. The Alpha PlusTM paste formulation promotes longer life and optimum performance. Both batteries feature an “L” type terminal for easier battery bank connections.
Both batteries feature a two year replacement warranty. (This does NOT cover abuse of the batteries. Trojan has an RE-Series warranty sheet posted on their website.) The T105-RE has an added pro-rated 36 month warranty for a total of a 5-year warranty. The L16-RE has a pro-rated added 60 month warranty for a total 7-year warranty.
The VRS12-100C is a valve regulated, absorbent glass matt, lead acid battery designed specifically for deep cycle applications. This makes an excellent battery for alternative energy use. It also requires almost no maintenance and since it does not gas, the battery bank needs no venting. The VRS12-100C also has the ability to operate effectively in broad temperature extremes making it a good battery for use in cold locations. Each battery is fitted with "L" type terminals that have clearance holes for 1/4" bolts.
Features:
- Flame-arresting one-way pressure-relief vent for safety and long life.
- Thermally welded case-to-cover bond to ensure a leak-proof seal
- Robust plate design to extend cycle life.
- Gas recombination efficiency of up to 99% for freedom from eletrolyte maintenance
- Case and cover of high impact polypropylene with reinforced endwalls to reduce bulging.
- Valve regulated absorbent glass mat lead acid design
- No transportation restrictions
- UL recognized component
- Can be used in any orientation. Upright, side or end mounting recommended
- Float Charge Volatge: 13.62 to 13.80 VDC
- Max Charge Current per Battery: 20A
- Equalization Charge Voltage: 14.4 to 14.8 VDC
Trojan AGM Battery
12V, 100 amp-hrs, 67lbs
720-890 Trojan 27AGM Battery $239
The Trojan AGM battery employs a valve regulated lead acid (VRLA), absorbed glass mat (AGM) design. This series is specifically designed for use in an alternative energy system where cycling is the norm. The batteries are sealed using pressure relief safety valves and hence do not need venting. For those who can afford their extra cost, the 27AGM series is an excellent battery for an alternative energy user or for home backup.
- Completely sealed valve regulated construction.
- Immobilized electrolytic. Non-spillable.
- Maintenance free design. Never requires watering
- Non removable pressure regulated, flame arresting safety valves, non-proturuding.
- AGM microporous spun glass separators.
- Copolymer polypropylene case and cover.
- Wide range of operating temperatures from -40oF to 160oF.
- Low self discharge rate (approx. 1% per month).
- UL recognized systems component.
- No transportation restrictions.
- Built in handles.
Battery Anticorrosion Rings
| 721-001 | For T-105 | $ 0.40 |
| 721-002 | For L-16 | $ 0.40 |
the studs from corrosion. They are not a washer that is attached by the cable lug and nut.
We have come across a handy device for "automatically" filling batteries. Just put the filler spout into the battery filler neck and hold it there. The distilled water stops flowing at the correct level automatically. A perfect fill every time. The container holds a little more than 1/2 gallon of distilled water. Very easy to use.
Battery Cables
| 311-003 | 12" 2ga. Battery Cable | $9.00 |
| 311-004 | 18" 2 ga. Battery Cable | $10.00 |
| 311-005 | 24" 2 ga. Battery Cable | $11.00 |
| 311-006 | 12" 2/0 ga. Battery Cable | $11.00 |
| 311-007 | 24" 2/0 ga. Battery Cable | $16.00 |
| 311-008 | 36" 2/0 ga. Battery Cable | $20.00 |
| 311-009 | 12" 4/0 ga. Battery cable | $17.00 |
| 311-010 | 18" 4/0 ga. Battery cables | $19.00 |
| 311-011 | 24" 4/0 ga. Battery cables | $24.00 |
Hydrometer
721-004 Hydrometer $12.95
We sell hydrometers because our customers keep ending up with cheap ones that are grossly inaccurate. These hydrometers have a glass float calibrated with number values and a small thermometer
for temperature compensation. Buy one of these and throw the old one (with the four floating balls) away.
Battery Filler Bulb
721-005 Battery Filler Bulb $3.50
A large rubber bulb and shaft for easy and accurate adding of distilled water to batteries.Similar pricing as above.
| 328-001 | Negative 5/16" Post | $1.50 |
| 328-002 | Positive 3/8" Post | $1.50 |
Use these to make secure connections to your batteries if you don't have battery leads with crimped or soldered ring terminals or if your batteries don't have threaded studs.
| 903-007 | 12 volt | $79 |
| 903-008 | 24 volt | $79 |
| 903-009 | 48 volt | $104 |
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The Power Vent battery box ventilator is the ideal solution for venting your battery bank. It is fitted with a 12v, 24v or 48v fan using only 3 watts (6 watts for the 48v version as it has two fans). The 12 and 24v units use 2" PVC pipe sockets; the 48v version uses a 2" input with a
3" output. All versions have a back-draft damper and must be mounted vertically in an exhaust pipe. Those of you with sine wave inverters can use one of the included voltage controlled relays to switch the vent on and off. If your system doesn't have a voltage controlled relay built in, you can purchase the Power Vent as part of a battery venting kit using a Xantrex C30 for the switch. See below.Battery Venting Kit
| 722-012 | 12 volt | $199 |
| 722-024 | 24 volt | $199 |
| 722-048 | 48 volt | $225 |
Most people will be able to use a thermo-siphoning vent to satisfy the venting requirements for their battery area. For those who have a need for a more positive
method, we have a battery venting kit that is composed of a Solar Converter
VCS-2AC load disconnect device and
the Power Vent, listed above. When the battery bank reaches a voltage level where battery gassing starts, the fan is turned on. When the battery voltage drops below the gassing level, the fan is
stopped. Thus the fan is only on when the batteries are gassing, and nearly fully charged.
Two inch PVC is used for the vent pipe. We preset the connect and disconnect
points for you.
See Power Vent above.I took these pictures of various battery box designs while on a trip to Maine a few years back. We spend so much time describing battery box designs, we thought it might help if we included a few examples.
First, notice how all but one design have the batteries at waist height. (The one that doesn’t is in a crawl space.) This allows you to easily perform maintenance tasks on the bank without killing your back!
Second, all boxes have a lid to keep kids and pets away from the battery bank.
Third, notice the air inlet holes towards the bottom of the box. The boxes shown here use soffit vent covers over the holes to keep unwanted critters out.
Finally, and possibly most important, most of these boxes use a power vent fan in a 2” PVC pipe for ventilation. The fan is switched on and off at battery gassing voltage by a voltage controlled relay in either an inverter, charge controller or a special voltage controlled switch. (See our battery venting kit and battery venting fan above.) A passive thermosiphoning vent system could also be used. This could be fashioned from 2” PVC pipe running up through the house and out the roof much like a plumbing vent. The power vent pipe has the advantage of exiting the wall next to the battery box, a much easier pipe run.
