Charging Profile

limit, based on battery size settings, charging moves on to the next stage. For flooded batteries, the absorption charge is maintained for approximately one more hour. The absorption charge stage restores the remaining 25% of the battery’s charge.

Float Charge

The float charge is a maintenance mode in which the output voltage of the Prosine inverter/charger is reduced to a lower level, typically about 13.5 volts, (27 volts for 24V models) to maintain the battery's charge without losing electrolyte through gassing. Unlike many stand-alone chargers, the Prosine inverter/charger can be left connected to your battery indefinitely without risk of overcharging. When DC loads are placed on the battery, the charger will deliver currents up to the Maximum Charge Rate setting while maintaining the float voltage.

Equalization Charge

The fourth charging step, known as the equalization charge, is manually initiated because it is not required every time the battery is recharged. Equalization is a deliberate overcharge of the battery. Equalizing your batteries will reduce sulfation and help reach and maintain the peak capacity of the battery.

During normal charging, temperature and chemical imbalances prevent some cells from reaching full charge. These reduced capacity cells accelerate sulfation (the build up of lead sulfate on the battery plates) and decrease the ampere-hour capacity of the battery. During equalization, the battery is intentionally held above the gassing voltage. Fully charged cells dissipate the charging energy by gassing while incompletely charged cells continue to charge. The rapid gassing that occurs during equalization also helps to recondition the battery. The gassing creates a stirring action which reverses electrolyte stratification (the separation of the liquid electrolyte into layers of different acid concentrations). The stirring action also helps to break up any lead sulfate which may remain after normal charging.

An equalization charge should only be performed on vented, flooded (non-sealed or "wet") batteries and only as often as recommended by the battery manufacturer. The battery section of this manual provides further information on battery types and their charging characteristics. Refer to “Operation in Equalization Mode‚” on page 61 for further details.

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Prosine 2.5/3.0 Installation & Operation Guide