Battery Charging

Battery Charging

Completely recharging wet cell deep- cycle batteries requires the battery voltage to be raised beyond what is known as the gassing point. This is the voltage at which the battery begins to bubble and gas is given off. If charging stops short of this point, sulfate is left on the plates and dete- rioration of the battery begins. The gassing point will vary with battery temperature.

Gel cell batteries must not be charged to their gassing point. In fact, high voltage charging which gasses these batteries is harmful to them. They typically require a lower bulk charge voltage and a higher float voltage. Consult the battery manufacturer for specifications.

Conventional Battery Chargers

Most conventional battery chargers are single-stage constant voltage chargers. They must stop short of the gassing point or they will overcharge the battery bank. Therefore, most 12 volt battery chargers bring the battery voltage up to about 13.8 Volts.

This presents two problems. First, since the battery voltage does not reach the gassing point, sulfate is left on the plates. Second, 13.8 volts is close enough to the gassing point that some gas will escape, and the wet cell battery will need to be frequently topped off with distilled water.

Conventional battery chargers also suffer from another inherent characteristic of design, which is a tapering output. While they will deliver their rated current into a deeply discharged battery, as the battery becomes charged and the voltage rises, the output current of the charger tapers down. This taper continues as the battery is charged, taking a very long time to reach an acceptable recharge.

Fleet Power Battery Chargers

Fleet Power battery chargers are de- signed to overcome the limitations of con- ventional chargers by utilizing 3 distinct stages, each designed for optimal recharg- ing of both wet cell and gel cell deep-cycle batteries.

90-0115-00

10/97 Fltman.pm65

2000, 2500 specifications

The Xantrex Technology 2500 is an advanced inverter/charger designed to meet the energy needs of both recreational and off-grid applications. This powerful unit combines versatility, efficiency, and reliability, making it ideal for boating, RVing, and remote living. One of the standout features of the Xantrex 2500 is its ability to produce a sine wave output, which is essential for running sensitive electronics and devices. The pure sine wave output ensures that appliances operate smoothly without interference, providing users with a safer and more reliable power source.

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