Xantrex Technology XM 1800 manual Alternators and Charging Systems, Charging System Requirements

C Alternators and Charging Systems

Appendix C provides guidelines for recharging batteries from an alternator, from AC power, and from alternate energy sources.

A good charging system is important for the health of your batteries. Poor recharging methods can quickly damage batteries.

Charging System Requirements

Your charging system should be capable of delivering a charging current equal to 25% of the amp-hour capacity of your battery. For example, if you have a 200 Ah battery, the charging system should be able to deliver 50 amps. The charging system must also be able to charge each 12 volt battery up to approximately 14.4 volts and then drop back to a “float” voltage of 13.5–14 volts (or shut off).

CAUTION

Never operate the inverter directly from an alternator. To work properly, the inverter must be connected to a battery or a well-regulated, high-current DC power supply.

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