Xantrex Technology C60, C35, C40 owner manual Sealed Batteries

Battery Types

Vented batteries usually have battery caps. The caps may appear to be sealed, but are not. The caps should be removed periodically to check the level of electrolyte. When a cell is low, distilled water should be added after the battery is fully charged. If the level is extremely low, add only enough distilled water to cover the plates before recharging. The electrolyte volume increases during the charging process and the battery will overflow if it is filled all of the way up before recharging. Use only distilled water because impurities will reduce battery performance.

A popular and inexpensive deep-cycle battery is the “golf cart” battery. It is a 6-volt design, typically rated at

220 amp hours. RV and marine deep-cycle batteries are also popular for small systems. They are usually referred to as Group 24 or Group 27 batteries and are rated at 80 to 100 amp-hours at 12 volts. Many larger systems use L16 batteries, which are usually rated at 350 amp-hours at 6-volts each. They are 17 inches high and weigh about 130 pounds. 8D batteries are available with either cranking or deep-cycle construction. Purchase only the deep-cycle version. The 8D is typically rated at 220 amp hours at 12 volts.

Sealed Batteries

Another type of battery construction is the sealed gel cell. They do not use battery caps. The electrolyte is in the form of a gel rather than a liquid, which allows the batteries to be mounted in any position. The advantages are no maintenance, long life (800 cycles claimed) and low self-discharge. Absorbed glass mat (AGM) electrolyte batteries are also acceptable. Their electrolyte is contained in mats between the battery plates.

Sealed batteries reduce the maintenance requirements for the system and are good for remote applications. They are much more sensitive to the charging process and can be ruined in as little as a day of overcharging.

975-0004-01-02 Rev D 75