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Old 01-11-2017, 05:01 PM   #21
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Side note. I recommend a good battery load tester. Here's the one I have:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00316K61S..._UJRDybBYG7H46
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Old 01-11-2017, 06:17 PM   #22
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I like to check a battery with a refractometer like this Leica model.

https://www.amazon.com/8100000-Reich...+refractometer
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Old 01-11-2017, 07:00 PM   #23
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It is always good to have two of those refractometers, then you can compare the results or use one on one battery and the other on the second battery, eliminate that chance of cross contamination. Sulfuric acid worms I believe is the big problem. At $160 each they do last a long time.

I like and have used successfully the Innova, cost is $9 or 11 depending on the day. Good recommendation Eric.
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Old 01-11-2017, 08:06 PM   #24
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Dang it Paul, you told me I needed 3 of those Leica's for a true reference check. You mean now I wasted money on that 3rd one instead of buying beer?
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Old 01-11-2017, 08:20 PM   #25
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Cheapest Leicas I've ever seen.
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Old 01-11-2017, 09:52 PM   #26
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Cheapest Leicas I've ever seen.
I had no idea they made anything other than really good survey equipment and monetary black holes disguised as cameras.
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Old 01-11-2017, 10:03 PM   #27
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monetary black holes disguised as cameras.
My M4 is worth probably three times what I paid for it, despite the dents and missing black paint. My greatest regret is trading in two of my three M4 bodies on an M5.

B&H Photo has a M digital rangefinder ( body only ) on sale now for only $6,595. Not sure if that's CAD or USD.
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Old 01-11-2017, 11:09 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
My M4 is worth probably three times what I paid for it, despite the dents and missing black paint. My greatest regret is trading in two of my three M4 bodies on an M5.

B&H Photo has a M digital rangefinder ( body only ) on sale now for only $6,595. Not sure if that's CAD or USD.
..........can buy lots of beer for $6,595, CAD or USD, I don't care who you are......
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Old 01-11-2017, 11:22 PM   #29
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My M4 is worth probably three times what I paid for it, despite the dents and missing black paint. My greatest regret is trading in two of my three M4 bodies on an M5.
...and yet none of those three them will provide an accurate battery voltage or a decent jpg. Just saying

batteryuniversity.com has got a lot of good first hand info.
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Old 01-11-2017, 11:30 PM   #30
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I've come to the conclusion that the more accurate your instruments for measuring battery voltage, the higher your stress level.
Same with black and grey tank levels.
Ignorance can be bliss.
Need to get out that blood-pressure instrument soon to confirm my theory.
I'll shoot some pix with my iPhone.
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Old 01-13-2017, 07:25 PM   #31
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Update

So the last 2 days have been cloudy, but I still checked the panel anyway. Yesterday the solar panel read 90% and this afternoon about 4PM EST, when I checked again, it was back up to 100%.

So to me, the moral of my story is that if I don't want to ruin my batteries, and don't want to disconnect them, I DO want to keep my solar panel cleared of snow. However, you'd be best advised to choose your own moral to the story. Mine aren't always grounded in reality!
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Old 01-13-2017, 07:46 PM   #32
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I've got a buddy with an off-the-grid cabin in northern Wisconsin. He has solar panels and a substantial battery bank, all professionally installed to provide his electricity. He also has a composting toilet that uses a 12V fan for ventilation and drying. He has a back-up 3KW Honda generator for this system.

A few winters ago we had a period of something like 26 straight days of cloudy conditions. Snow, also. And of course cold. His solar panels stayed covered with snow, the toilet fan ran his batteries down and they froze, ruining them. A $2,000 learning lesson. I guess a low voltage cut-off device on the batteries or fan could prevent this.

Stuff happens.
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