Trace Engineering DR Series User Manual

Trace Engineering DR Series Owner’s Manual - Version 3.2 - 9/7/98 - Page 18
Battery Care and Maintenance
If you have read the battery charger section of this manual, you already have a good idea of the stages
of battery charging that combine to promote fast charging and ensure long battery life. Basically, there
are five charger related considerations to properly care for your batteries.
•
Charge Rate - The maximum safe charge rate is related to the size and type of your
batteries. Standard vented lead acid batteries (with battery caps) should be charged at 20% of
their capacity (capacity/5). Small batteries may require a lower charge rate. Check with the
battery manufacturer.
•
Bulk Voltage - This is the maximum voltage the batteries reach during the normal charging
process. Gel cell batteries are usually set to a lower voltage, while non-sealed batteries are
set to a higher voltage.
•
Float Voltage - The batteries experience less gassing if they are maintained at a lower
voltage than the voltage at which they are charged. This voltage is called the float voltage.
•
Temperature Compensation: Temperature affects the optimum voltage values for the bulk
and float charging stages. The optional temperature probe automatically fine tunes these
voltages for you (Trace part number BTS/15 and BTS/35ft).
•
Equalization (Non-Sealed Batteries Only) - Every month or two batteries may need to be
“equalized.” (A fancy term for over-charged.) Since the individual battery cells are not exactly
identical, some may still have sulfate on their plates after a complete charge cycle. Or, if the
batteries never received a full charge, all plates will have sulfate left on them. If the sulfate
remains on the plates for an extended period of time, it will harden and seal off a percentage
of the plate area, reducing the capacity of the battery. By equalizing the batteries, all the
sulfate is removed from the plates. Additionally, the gassing that results stirs up the electrolyte
which tends to stratify. Stratification concentrates the sulfuric acid in the bottom of the cell
while the top becomes watery. This corrodes the plates. Equalization is accomplished by
charging batteries above a voltage of 2.5 VDC per cell. This is over 15 VDC for a 12 VDC
system, 30 for a 24 VDC system and 60 for a 48 VDC system.
CAUTION: Equalization should be done only with standard electrolyte batteries. If you have sealed or
gel cell batteries, check first with the battery manufacturer before equalizing. DC loads should be
disconnected before equalization to protect appliances from damage by the high battery
voltage involved.
Monthly Maintenance
At the minimum, check the level of the electrolyte in each battery cell once a month after the batteries
have been charged, not before. It should be about ½” above the top of the plates, but not completely
full. Most batteries have a plastic cup which the electrolyte should just touch when full. Don’t overfill
the batteries or the electrolyte will spill out of the batteries during charging. Only refill the batteries
with distilled water - “spring” water and regular tap water may have high mineral levels which can
poison the battery chemistry and reduce battery life.
Check the battery interconnections for tightness and corrosion. If any corrosion is found, disconnect
the cables and carefully clean with a mild solution of baking soda and water. DO NOT ALLOW THE
SOLUTION TO ENTER THE BATTERY. Rinse the top of the battery with clean water when finished
(Replace the caps first).
To reduce the amount of corrosion on the battery terminals, coat them with a thin layer of petroleum
jelly or anti-corrosion grease available from automotive parts stores or battery suppliers. Do not apply
any material between the terminal and the cable lugs - the connection should be metal to metal. Apply
the protective material after the bolts have been tightened.

Trace Engineering DR Series Specifications

General

Brand	Trace Engineering
Model	DR Series
Category	Inverter
Language	English