a
volt meter. Hydrometers
measure
the
specific
gravity
of the
electrolyte in
the
battery. This
gives you
a very accurate measurement
of the
state of charge
but has
two
significant
disadvantages.
Forone,
the
temperature of the
electrolyte will
affect
the
reading
that
you get.
Unless
you
measue
the electrolyte
temperature
and make appropriate
adjustments
you
will
not
get
accurate state of charge readings from your
hydrometer.
The
other
disadvantage
to
taking hydrometerreadings is
that the
process
tends to be
messy.
Nor
only
do
you
risk
getting
banery acid
on
your
clothes
but
you
also risk
contaminating
the battery
electrolyte with
dirt.
Contamination
in
the battery
can seriously
impair
the
performance
and
longevity.
We recommend
that
you
measure the
state of
charge
of
your
battery bank
with
a digital
volt meter
capable of
reading
to at
least tenths
and
preferably
hundredths
of a volt.
The voltage measurement must
be taken with
the
batteries
at
rest, having
been neither
charged nor
discharged
for
several
hours.
A fully charged battery
will read
about
12.6-12.8
volts at
80 degrees
F.
(30
degrees
C.)
The
voltage
of a
deep-cycle
battery that is
discharged
to
the
507o
level will be
about
12.2 volts. A
battery that is 807o
discharged will
read about 10.5
volts. These voltage measurements
are only slightly
affected by
temperature.
The
ambient air temperature will have
an affect on battery
performance.
Expect
reduced
performance
from
very cold batteries. The
rated
specifications of
a battery are true
at about 77 degrees
F. At
30 degrees
F.
the
capacity ofa battery is
reduced
by
about
3OVo. At
0 degrees F. the battery
capacity
is reduced
to about
SAVo
af
its potential.
BATTERY
CHARGING:
You may
charge
your
battery bank
from
several
different charging
sources including
engine alternators,
photovoltaic
solar
panels,
hydro
or
wind
systems, and
standard AC
op-
erated battery chargers.
It
is
not
uncommon
for more
than one of
these sources
to charge
the batteries
at
the same time. You may
operate the Heart
at all
times,
whether
charging
simultaneously or not.
You must
use a
battery bank with the
Heart. It will
not operate
on the
charging
system
alone.
PRODUCT
DESCRIPTION
The
Heart
Interface
is made
up of a
pulse
width modulation
control
circuitry
that
drives
two
banks
of
Field Effect
Transistors
(FETs)
and
a
large
transformer.
DCaorver enters the Heart
through the
battery cables and
is connected
directly
to each
bank
of FETs.
DC
is
also fed
to the
Main
Circuit
Board.
The
FET
banks
act as high
cument
switches,
one bank switches
on to create
the
positive
half
of
the
ourput and
the
olher
bank
switches the negative half.
Heart Interface
uses the latest in ruggedized
FETs,
which
have
a
very.low
resistance
when
they
are turned
on. This allows
foi trlgfr
surge capability
and
efficiency.
The
transformer
in
the Heart
is wound,
dipped
in
lacquer
and baked in
our factory.
This
transformer
is
exceptionally low in resistance
and very efficient.
The
layout inside the
unit
places
the transformer in
the cenrer
of
the
chassis. The FETs
10
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