Trace Engineering DR Series User Manual

Trace Engineering DR Series Owner’s Manual - Version 3.2 - 9/7/98 - Page 20
Battery Installation
CAUTION: Batteries can produce extremely high currents if they are short circuited. Be very
careful when working around them. Read the important safety instructions at the start of this
manual and the battery suppliers precautions before installing the inverter and batteries.
Battery Location
Batteries should be located in an accessible location with nothing restricting the access to the battery
caps and terminals. At least 2 feet of clearance above is recommended. They must be located as
close as possible to the inverter, but can not limit the access to the inverter and the inverter’s
disconnect. With the DR series inverter, the batteries are best located to the left end. This is where the
DC connections are located. Do not locate the inverter in the same compartment with non-sealed
batteries (sealed batteries are all right). The gasses produced by these batteries during charging are
very corrosive and will shorten the life of the inverter.
Battery to inverter cabling should be only as long as required. For 12 VDC systems, do not exceed 5
feet (one way) if 4/0 AWG cables are used. For 24 VDC systems, do not exceed 10 feet (one way) if
4/0 AWG cables are used.
Battery Enclosures
The batteries must be protected inside of a ventilated, lockable enclosure or room to prevent access
by untrained personnel. The enclosure should be ventilated to the outdoors from the highest point to
prevent accumulation of hydrogen gasses released in the battery charging process. An air intake
should also be provided at a low point in the enclosure to allow air to enter the enclosure to promote
good ventilation. For most systems, a 1 inch diameter vent pipe from the top of the enclosure is
adequate to prevent accumulation of hydrogen. A sloped top can help direct the hydrogen to the vent
location and prevent pockets of hydrogen from occurring. The enclosure should also be capable of
holding at least one battery cell worth of electrolyte in case a spill or leak occurs. It should be made of
acid resistant material or have an acid resistant finish applied to resist the corrosion from spilled
electrolyte and fumes released. If the batteries are located outside, the enclosure should be rainproof
and include mesh screens over any openings to prevent insects and rodents from entering. Before
placing the batteries in the enclosure, cover the bottom of the enclosure with a layer of baking soda to
neutralize any acid which might be spilled in the future.
Battery Temperature
The effective capacity of a battery is reduced when cold. This phenomenon is more significant with
lead acid type batteries compared to alkaline types. When the internal temperature of a lead acid
battery is 32°F (0°C) the capacity can be reduced by as much as 50%. This effectively reduces the
size of the system’s “gas tank”, requiring more frequent “refueling” by the back-up source (usually a
generator). This should be considered when designing the system. If extremely cold temperatures are
expected at the location of a system, either a heated equipment room or alkaline batteries should be
considered.
If the system is located in an unheated space, an insulated enclosure is highly recommended for the
batteries. During the charging process, the batteries release heat due to the internal resistance of the
battery. If the batteries are insulated, the heat can help keep the batteries warmer. This will
substantially increase the performance of the system.
Insulated battery enclosures also ensure that the temperatures of the individual battery cells are more
consistent, preventing unequal charging which can cause battery failure (some cells will be
overcharged while others are undercharged).
The batteries should also be protected from high temperature as well. This can be caused by high
ambient temperatures, solar heating of the battery enclosure, or heat released by a closely located
generator. High battery temperatures will result in short battery life and should be avoided by
ventilating the enclosure and reducing the external heat sources by shading and insulation.

Trace Engineering DR Series Specifications

General

Brand	Trace Engineering
Model	DR Series
Category	Inverter
Language	English