HOW LONG CAN MY BATTERY POWER THE INVERTER?
As how long as you want your load to run? The load to be supported by the inverter can be determined. After this is known, specific calculations can be made to determine the proper battery bank size.
WHAT TYPES OF BATTERIES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR MY INVERTERS?
There are two principal types of batteries: starting and deep-discharge. Batteries can be either sealed or non-sealed (vented).
Deep discharge types
The battery types recommended for use in an inverter system are: Flooded Lead Acid
(FLA), Sealed Gel Cells (GEL), Sealed Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM); and alkaline types
such as Nickel-iron (NiFe) and Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad).
Starting Automotive (starting) batteries
Are designed to provide high starting current for short periods of time and are not appropriate for inverter applications.
Deep-cycle Flooded Lead Acid (FLA)
Description- A flooded lead acid battery is designed to be deep-discharged before being recharged, making it suitable for inverter applications. Flooded batteries require periodic maintenance consisting mainly of adding distilled water to the cells.
Sealed Batteries (Gel and AGM)
Description- Gel Cell and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries are sealed and do not require the addition of distilled water. Since these batteries are valve regulated, over-charging can
cause irreversible damage.
NiCad and NiFe Batteries
These types of batteries can be used but may not be the best for your inverter for the
following reasons:
• Alkaline batteries, such as NiCad and NiFe types, have a nominal cell voltage of 1.2
volts per cell, whereas most inverters and battery chargers are optimized for use with lead acid
batteries having a nominal 2.0 volts per cell (that is, 12 cells for a 24-volt system and
24 cells for a 48-volt system).
• Alkaline batteries require a higher charge voltage to fully recharge, and drop to a
lower voltage during discharge compared to a similarly sized lead-acid type battery.
Battery Capacity Ratings
Amp-hour capacity-
Every deep cycle battery has a capacity which is measured in amp hours. Amp hours are a measure of current flow over time. An amp-hour figure is derived simply by multiplying
current (amperes) by the amount of time the current flows (hours) andare frequently referred to by the abbreviations A-h
As how long as you want your load to run? The load to be supported by the inverter can be determined. After this is known, specific calculations can be made to determine the proper battery bank size.
WHAT TYPES OF BATTERIES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR MY INVERTERS?
There are two principal types of batteries: starting and deep-discharge. Batteries can be either sealed or non-sealed (vented).
Deep discharge types
The battery types recommended for use in an inverter system are: Flooded Lead Acid
(FLA), Sealed Gel Cells (GEL), Sealed Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM); and alkaline types
such as Nickel-iron (NiFe) and Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad).
Starting Automotive (starting) batteries
Are designed to provide high starting current for short periods of time and are not appropriate for inverter applications.
Deep-cycle Flooded Lead Acid (FLA)
Description- A flooded lead acid battery is designed to be deep-discharged before being recharged, making it suitable for inverter applications. Flooded batteries require periodic maintenance consisting mainly of adding distilled water to the cells.
Sealed Batteries (Gel and AGM)
Description- Gel Cell and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries are sealed and do not require the addition of distilled water. Since these batteries are valve regulated, over-charging can
cause irreversible damage.
NiCad and NiFe Batteries
These types of batteries can be used but may not be the best for your inverter for the
following reasons:
• Alkaline batteries, such as NiCad and NiFe types, have a nominal cell voltage of 1.2
volts per cell, whereas most inverters and battery chargers are optimized for use with lead acid
batteries having a nominal 2.0 volts per cell (that is, 12 cells for a 24-volt system and
24 cells for a 48-volt system).
• Alkaline batteries require a higher charge voltage to fully recharge, and drop to a
lower voltage during discharge compared to a similarly sized lead-acid type battery.
Battery Capacity Ratings
Amp-hour capacity-
Every deep cycle battery has a capacity which is measured in amp hours. Amp hours are a measure of current flow over time. An amp-hour figure is derived simply by multiplying
current (amperes) by the amount of time the current flows (hours) andare frequently referred to by the abbreviations A-h
Discharge rate
Deep cycle batteries have their amp-hour rating expressed as "at the x-hour rate". This is
an average rate of current flow that would take x number of hours to discharge the
batteries. Common amp-hour figures are at the 6-hour rate, the 20-hour rate and the 100-
hour rate. A battery is classified as having fewer amp-hours if is being discharged at a
faster rate, such as the 6-hour rate. There is an inevitable amount of heat associated with
the flow of current through a battery. The higher the amount of current, the greater the
amount of heat generated. The heat is energy which is no longer available to the battery to
power loads. Hence, at a higher discharge rate, the batteries effectively have fewer amp
hours available. Generally the 20-hour rate is the most common one.
CCA rating-Starting batteries are rated in CCA (Cold Cranking Amps), or other types of "cranking
amps". This expresses battery capacity in terms of its ability to provide large amounts of
current instantaneously to start an engine. It has no time factor, such as hours, taken into
account. This is one reason that starting batteries are not appropriate for inverter systems.
However, batteries such as marine starting batteries, are rated in both CCA and amp
hours. This type is appropriate.
Running time and size
The battery bank’s size determines the length of time the inverter can supply AC output
power. The larger the bank, the longer the inverter can run and the longer the recharge
time.
Depth of discharge. In general, the battery bank should be designed so the batteries do not discharge more than 50% of their capacity on a regular basis. Discharging up to 80% is acceptable on a limited basis, such as a prolonged utility outage. Totally discharging a battery can reduce its effective life or permanently damage it.
Deep cycle batteries have their amp-hour rating expressed as "at the x-hour rate". This is
an average rate of current flow that would take x number of hours to discharge the
batteries. Common amp-hour figures are at the 6-hour rate, the 20-hour rate and the 100-
hour rate. A battery is classified as having fewer amp-hours if is being discharged at a
faster rate, such as the 6-hour rate. There is an inevitable amount of heat associated with
the flow of current through a battery. The higher the amount of current, the greater the
amount of heat generated. The heat is energy which is no longer available to the battery to
power loads. Hence, at a higher discharge rate, the batteries effectively have fewer amp
hours available. Generally the 20-hour rate is the most common one.
CCA rating-Starting batteries are rated in CCA (Cold Cranking Amps), or other types of "cranking
amps". This expresses battery capacity in terms of its ability to provide large amounts of
current instantaneously to start an engine. It has no time factor, such as hours, taken into
account. This is one reason that starting batteries are not appropriate for inverter systems.
However, batteries such as marine starting batteries, are rated in both CCA and amp
hours. This type is appropriate.
Running time and size
The battery bank’s size determines the length of time the inverter can supply AC output
power. The larger the bank, the longer the inverter can run and the longer the recharge
time.
Depth of discharge. In general, the battery bank should be designed so the batteries do not discharge more than 50% of their capacity on a regular basis. Discharging up to 80% is acceptable on a limited basis, such as a prolonged utility outage. Totally discharging a battery can reduce its effective life or permanently damage it.
Battery Configurations
The battery bank must be wired to match the inverter’s DC input voltage specifications. In
addition, the batteries can be wired to provide additional run time. The various wiring
configurations are:
The battery bank must be wired to match the inverter’s DC input voltage specifications. In
addition, the batteries can be wired to provide additional run time. The various wiring
configurations are:
1. Series Wiring batteries in series increases the total bank output voltage. This voltage MUST
match the DC requirements of the inverter or inverter and/or battery damage may occur.
2. Parallel Wiring the batteries in parallel increases the total run time the batteries can operate the AC loads. The more batteries connected in parallel the longer the loads can be powered from
the inverter.
3. Series-Parallel Series-parallel configurations increase both the battery voltage (to match the inverter’s DC requirements) and run-time for operating the AC loads. This voltage must match the DC requirements of the inverter.
match the DC requirements of the inverter or inverter and/or battery damage may occur.
2. Parallel Wiring the batteries in parallel increases the total run time the batteries can operate the AC loads. The more batteries connected in parallel the longer the loads can be powered from
the inverter.
3. Series-Parallel Series-parallel configurations increase both the battery voltage (to match the inverter’s DC requirements) and run-time for operating the AC loads. This voltage must match the DC requirements of the inverter.
3 comments:
good and informative details are given in simple language
I am very glad to knew about NiCad and NiFe Batteries information I just first time knew from your blog so thanks for sharing nice information about some ups maintenance solution.
ups maintenance
Inverter Battery is used where discharging and charging occurs frequently.
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