Chargers FAQ's

Can my Charger be used with lead acid and gel batteries?
Possibly. Some chargers can be adjusted manually to recharge either conventional Lead acid or sealed Gel batteries. This is usually done by means of an output adjustment screw or toggle switches. If your charger is not suitable the batteries will fail prematurely. If you are in any doubt you should contact the charger manufacturers.

Can a standard automotive charger be used with my batteries?
If you are recharging a car or van the answer is yes. If you want to recharge large commercial batteries you must ensure the charger output is sufficiently high enough before charging commences. If you are reaching deep cycle or traction batteries the answer is no. Deep cycle and traction wet lead acid batteries require a higher charging voltage and charge current than the average automotive charger can produce.

How long will it take my batteries to fully recharge?
The amount of time it takes a battery to charge depends on the type of battery and on how long it took to discharge (slow or fast). As a rule of thumb you can divide the battery capacity by the maximum charge capacity and add four hours. The four hours is for the so-called after-charging time, where the battery determines how much more current it needs to get back to its fully charged state. For example, an empty 200 Ah battery connected to a 40A battery charger would take about 200 divided by 40 = 5 + 4 hours to charge, 9 hours in total. If the battery had been only 50% discharged the calculation would be: 100 divided by 40 = 2 + 4 hours, 6 hours in total.

When do I need to perform an equalization charge?
Equalizing should only be performed on vented wet lead acid bateries. How often this might occur with your battery will vary depending on your application. You will need to monitor your battery voltage and specific gravity to determine when equalization is needed. For example, it is time to equalize if the measured specific gravity values are below manufacturer's recommended values after charging (recommended value for Trojan Deep Cycle batteries is 1.277 +/- .007 at 80o F). Equalizing is also required if the specific gravity value of any individual cell varies 30 points or more. Reduced performance can also be an indicator that equalizing is necessary. Equalization should also be performed when individual battery voltages in a battery pack range greater than 0.15 volts for 6 volt batteries or 0.30 volts for 12 volt batteries. A good rule of thumb is to perform equalize charging once every 10 cycles.

What type of charger should I buy?
An automatic charger offers the greatest convenience. Just plug the battery into the charger and the charger does the rest. Manual chargers, although equally effective at charging batteries, require a greater level of attention.

What size charger should I buy?
A properly sized charger takes into account battery capacity and the time interval between charges. In applications where cycling is infrequent, such as weekend users, or infrequent or seasonal usage, a charger with an output current rating between 10 and 13% of the battery's rated 20-hour capacity will suffice. In applications where battery recharge must be accomplished within 8 to 10 hours, a three stage, automatic charger, rated at 20% of the battery capacity, may be required.

Inverter FAQ'S

Can I use my inverter in parallel with the generator or shore power?
Definitely not! If you have a generator on board or a shore connection you must install a Masterswitch. The switch is available with various applications, but its main function is to switch automatically and safely between shore, generator and inverter power.

Can I run a computer on the inverter?
Yes, you can. All Studer sine wave inverters can easily and safely supply a computer. In fact the output voltage from an inverter is often better than that from the electricity grid. A Studer inverter, combined with a battery charger and a battery set, is often used as a back-up system on shore in places where the grid connection voltage is contaminated or unreliable.

Can I run a microwave on an inverter?
Yes. You can connect any model of microwave to your inverter, but keep in mind that a 800 watt microwave consumes 1200 to 1300 watt from the 230V system, so you must make sure you choose the inverter rating sufficiently large.

How much battery capacity do I need with an inverter?
As a rule of thumb you can assume the minimum battery capacity for a 12V installation is about 20% of the inverter capacity. For a 24V installation this would be 10%. In other words the minimum battery capacity for an AJ801 is 160Ah.

Are there any appliances that cannot be run on an inverter?
In general you can connect almost any appliance to an inverter, with a few practical exceptions. While the inverter can easily supply a heavy load like an electric heater, the battery capacity is often too low to maintain the supply for any great length of time. The same applies to air conditioning units. As long as the battery capacity is high enough you can use a large inverter to run a washing machine, a large single cooking element or a small two-ring electric cooker.

How much power does an inverter consume?
If you connect a 850W coffee machine to a Studer sine wave inverter, consumption will be 850W divided by the voltage of the electrical system (12V) = 70 Amperes. Add another 8% (100%-92% =8%) to this total for the inverter consumption. The total power consumption is then 70 Amperes + 6 Amperes = 76 Amperes. Of course a coffee machine is only in use for about 10 minutes so the actual Ampere consumption is relatively low (76 x 10 min = 13Ah).

Solar FAQ's

How does solar equipment work?
The solar panels turn day and sunlight into electricity. The absorption of light in the solar cells builds up electric voltage (volts), as solar cells do not store any electricity all energy gained is fed through a regulator to the battery and stored there.

How long do solar modules last?
Each module has a 25 year output gaurantee. All parts are designed for outside use, even seawater, hail and storms can't damage a Solenttech module.

Do solar panels need maintenance?
The only maintenance a solar panel requires is cleaning with a damp cloth from time to time, no other maintenance is needed. However, if lead acid batteries are used the acid levels need to be checked every six months and topped up if necessary.

How do I measure the size of equipment required?
Quite simply: you work out your average comsumption per day: Add that to the specified power of an appliance (watts) and multiply it with the daily running hours.

For example:

Are re-placeable by-pass diodes fitted in the solar panels?
Re-placeable by-pass diodes are fitted in all Solenttech modules.

For any further questions please contact us.