AUSSIE

1 AUSSIE BATTERIES & solar . Complete Battery and solar e-book All you need to know about: Deep Cycle Batteries Portable solar Panels Portable Fridges Generators Battery Chargers Inverters Complete DIY solar kits FREECALL 1800 853 315. SHOP ONLINE OR VISIT THE STORE. Website: Email: i n f o @ a u s s i e b a t t e r i e s . c o m . a u 1. Store: 8 Technology Drive, Warana QLD 4575. Complete Battery and solar e-book February 24, 2020 8:57 AM. All you need to know about batteries and solar panels 2. CONTENTS. About this 4. 1. BATTERIES 5. - 5. - Flooded cell and Calcium batteries:.. 6. - AGM Deep Cycle Batteries:.. 7. - GEL Batteries:.. 8. - Lithium Batteries:.. 9. 2. BATTERY MAINTENANCE: 10. - Charging:.. 10. - Sulphation:.. 11. - Battery Levels:.. 12. - Battery Terminals:.. 13. - Linking 14. - Linking in Parallel:.. 15. - Linking in Series:.. 16. - Connecting to linked batteries:.. 17. - 240v Battery chargers:.. 18. - Charging from solar :.. 20. - I strongly recommend AGM's, But Why?

2 21. - Expected Life of 26. - What is battery cycles VS. build 26. 3. solar 28. - solar Overview:.. 28. Fixed solar Panels:.. 30. - Portable solar Panels:.. 31. - Regulators:.. 33. - PWM Pulse Width Modulation Regulators:.. 34. - MPPT Multi Power Point Tracking:.. 35. Petrol / Diesel 36. Will you need a regulator?.. 37. WATTS / VOLTS / 37. Formula:.. 37. Calculating solar and Battery 38. Technical Data 40. - 41. - Modified Sine Wave Inverter:.. 42. - Pure Sine Wave Inverter: .. 43. - Inverters Overview:.. 44. 4. REFRIGERATORS 46. - Overview:.. 46. - Compressor Fridges:.. 47. - 3-Way fridges:.. 49. 3. About this eBook The purpose of this solar bible is to help guide you, the reader, in making informed choices about solar and independent power systems. There is a lot of information in the market for people looking to move into solar power and quite often this can be conflicting and confusing. We hope that this booklet will offer some guidance and explanation of what is involved in current solar systems and help you to make an informed decision as to what will best suit you.

3 All information in this booklet is current at the time of printing but new and exciting advances in technology are taking place regularly so it's always worthwhile checking with your local solar experts, to see what new products may be available. 4. 1. BATTERIES. - Overview Batteries in essence are a portable source of power. We use them in everything from torches and radios to the space shuttles and aircraft. For solar power systems there are three main categories of batteries used and they are flooded cell batteries (including calcium batteries), AGM. (absorbed glass matting) sealed deep cycle batteries and GEL sealed batteries. Each type of battery has its own unique properties with varying pros and cons associated with it. 5. - Flooded cell and Calcium batteries: Flooded cell and calcium batteries are usually used in automotive and marine applications. They are commonly referred to as starting batteries as they usually have a high CCA (Cold Cranking Amp) rating and an internal design which allows them to produce a short sharp burst of energy such as what is required by motor vehicle engines to start.

4 These batteries have acid in their cells as their name suggests and are not sealed and so if they tip over or are damaged, they can leak corrosive acid and cause damage. Flooded cell batteries also produce hydrogen gas as they are charged and discharged. If these batteries are used within a confined space, this hydrogen can accumulate and given it's highly flammable nature, can catch alight if there is a spark or naked flame in near vicinity. Under-bonnet of cars is no problem for these batteries as there is space for the gas to dissipate, but it's strongly advised not to use them as internal batteries for caravans or motor homes etc. as there is a chance of an explosion or fire taking place. Flooded cell batteries are cheaper than AGM or GEL batteries, however the trade-off is that their service life is shorter with an average automotive battery expected to last 3 years approximately under normal usage. Giant Power 730 CCA, 90AH, 160RC. Automotive Battery 6.

5 - AGM Deep Cycle Batteries: AGM sealed deep cycle batteries are the work horse of the battery world. Their construction and design allows them to have low to medium current drawn out of them, over a long period of time. AGM batteries are still a lead-acid battery but in between the lead plates is a thin sheet of Boron-Silicate glass mat. This glass mat is what the electrolyte (acid) of the battery rests in, rather than being free flowing like its wet-cell cousin. This makes the AGM unspillable as the acid is contained by the glass mat and therefore won't leak even if tipped on its sides. This characteristic, as well as not producing gases while they charge, makes AGM batteries perfect for use in caravans, boats, RV's or as a second battery in a dual battery system. They can be placed in sealed compartments and also will handle corrugated roads or vibration because they are designed and built to withstand these conditions. AGM batteries are not designed to be cranking batteries, however using them as a cold cranking occasionally will not affect there overall service life.

6 The draw needed at start up is too high to be sustained by the battery and continued use in a cranking situation or a situation with a high draw out of the battery will affect service life. AGM and Gel batteries are also sensitive to heat and are not suited to be mounted under bonnets of vehicles unless they are in an insulated covering. 125AH 12V AGM. Deep Cycle Battery 7. - GEL Batteries: GEL batteries are very similar to AGM batteries and are quite often used for similar applications as AGM batteries. GEL batteries have the electrolyte mixed into a paste and then placed between the lead plates. They have the same properties as AGM batteries in that they are non-spilling and non-gassing and can be placed on their side or in positions that traditional wet cell batteries cannot. GEL batteries are more sensitive to voltage spikes and over charging and like to be charged at which requires a dedicated charger that specifies it can be used with GEL batteries.

7 Anything over this voltage can damage the battery and lead to a shortened life or battery failure. Giant Power 450AH 2V. Tubular Gel Battery 8. - Lithium Batteries: Lithium batteries are a technology coming to the forefront now as an exciting alternative to traditional batteries. They are smaller in size than a lead-acid battery with the same storage capacity and yet weigh less too. Make no mistake, lithium batteries are becoming the new norm and for good reason. When you compare lithium against the likes of AGM and lead acid batteries, the benefits start to stack up. Lithium batteries also maintain a higher output voltage during the discharge- charge cycle and maintain a voltage up to 13 volts at 20% SOC. Unlike the AGM/lead acid where they have a much steeper discharge curve, and have an output voltage of around at 50% SOC. With a battery that maintains a higher output voltage, you will have lights that shine brighter and fridges that stay colder for longer periods of time.

8 This is due to the higher output voltage helping appliances run more efficiently. Lithium batteries can often be up to 33%. lighter than a similar sized AGM or lead acid battery. You could argue that lithium is the way of the future, with most vehicle, caravan and motor-home manufacturers installing lithium batteries as standard. 9. 2. Battery Maintenance: - Charging: It is important to know the type of battery that you are charging and the correct voltage that it should be charged at. Over charging batteries can compromise the internal structure of the battery, shortening its life and performance. Each type of battery has a different rate of charge it prefers to be charged at and most modern battery chargers will have settings for Flooded, AGM and GEL batteries. If you're battery charger is a bit older, just make sure that it will suit the type of battery you are wanting to charge in order to avoid over charging the battery. Type of Battery: Required rate of Charging Flooded/Calcium AGM GEL 24V 20amp Ultipower Automatic Maintenance Battery Charger 10.

9 - Sulphation: Sulphation is one of the most common causes of battery failure. The sulphuric acid within lead-acid batteries reacts with the lead in the plates of the battery to form lead sulphate on the negative plates of the battery. This barrier reduces the surface area of the acid on the lead plates and over time reduces the ability of the battery to hold its charge and makes it hard to even recharge the battery. There are a few battery rejuvenation products on the market which will help in reducing the effects of sulphation on your battery and you can even buy battery chargers which will assist in preventing sulphation of your battery. Reverse Pulse Desulfation Chargers are completely different from conventional chargers you may find on the market. The reverse pulse technology helps reduce battery internal impedance while charging and will help reduce the effects of sulphation on your battery. 12V 15amp 7 Stage UltiPower Automatic Desulfation Battery Charger 11.

10 - Battery Levels: In traditional automotive batteries you can top-up the level of electrolyte within the cells of the battery by adding Distilled or deionized water. Be careful not to overfill or have the level too low and its worth checking these levels once a month or so. A growing trend in automotive batteries is to use maintenance free* batteries that don't require topping the cells up and they instead have a hydrometer which will let you know the state of the battery. It's good to keep an eye on this to make sure that your battery is in tip top condition. Giant Power 530 CCA, 60AH, 95RC Automotive Battery *MAINTENANCE FREE. 12. - Battery Terminals: Corrosion on your terminals can now be prevented with a number of sealing products. These usually come in spray can form and can be sprayed on your terminals after a battery is fitted forming an airtight barrier around the terminal and preventing corrosion. If corrosion is present on your terminals, some warm water and bi-carbonate of soda brushed over with an old toothbrush is a great way to get it off.