BATTERIES

All batteries can be maintenance free, but not all of them are deep-cycling batteries. Beware of batteries that are described as maintenance free only. These batteries have calcium alloyed with the lead and hold the liquid electrolyte in a sponge-like material. They are sealed and water cannot be added. Do not confuse them with true gel cell or AGM batteries—they will not hold up well to deep discharging and repeated cycling.

Gel Cell Batteries

Gel cell batteries are lead-acid batteries similar in many ways to the common wet cell battery, but differences in the chemistry and construction provide some unique features.

•No maintenance

•Low self-discharge rate

•Low internal resistance

Even though gel cells are sealed batteries, the battery compartment should still be ventilated.

Advanced AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) Batteries

This battery is lead acid but maintenance-free. The performance is similar to gel cell batteries. The charge parameters are similar to wet cell batteries.

Battery Selection

The most important feature to consider in making your battery selection is to select true deep-cycle batteries rated in amp hours (Ah) and sized to match your power requirements.

BATTERY INTERCONNECTION

In most cases, you will be using a bank of two or more batteries with your inverter/charger. You may connect batteries together in two configurations, series and parallel, depending on their voltage.

Series

Connecting two batteries in series will double the voltage of the battery bank. For instance, two 6-volt batteries connected in series will produce 12 volts. The amp-hour capacity of the battery bank will be the same as each individual battery. For example, two 6-volt 220 amp-hour batteries in series will produce one 12-volt 220 amp-hour battery bank.

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Series

Series Increase Voltage

 

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6V

6V

12V INVERTER

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EACH BATTERY

 

TOTAL BATTERY

CAPACITY:

 

BANK CAPACITY:

220

 

220

AMP HOURS

 

AMP HOURS

@ 6 VDC

 

@ 12 VDC

12