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Battery Charging Reference
Equalize Charging
Many battery manufacturers recommend periodic equalize charging
to counter cell charge imbalance and capacity-robbing electrolyte
stratification. Equalizing helps to improve battery performance and
lifespan by encouraging more of the battery material to become
active.
Battery equalization is a controlled overcharging method that mixes
up stratified electrolyte and reactivates unused areas of the plate
material. Periodic equalizing can help to regularly restore batteries to
a full and healthy state of charge.
Consult the battery manufacturer's recommendation for equalize
charging settings. Sealed batteries should never be equalized.
Consult the battery manufacturer for optimal charging procedures
when using sealed batteries.
When Equalize mode is enabled, the battery is charged from bulk
to absorption, and then to the equalize phase. The Freedom SW will
transition from the absorption phase to equalize if:
• the DC charge current is below 2% of the configured battery
capacity (for example, 8.8A for 440Ah)
• the absorption time is exceeded (for example, 180 min)
After absorption, the maximum charge DC current is set to 10% of
battery capacity (for example, 44A for 440Ah). See Figure 37. This
constant current charge will continue until the voltage has increased
to the equalize voltage at which point the battery will be regulated at
the temperature-compensated equalize voltage.
NOTE:
When the charge cycle is interrupted, the charger will restart charging at
the beginning of the multistage algorithm.
Exit Current Threshold can be effectively disabled by programming the
amp-hour capacity to the minimum. In this case, absorption will only exit
once the Max Absorption timer expires.
Charge current during equalize state (optional state not shown here) is
normally limited to 10% of the programmed amp-hour capacity setting. If
this setting is programmed to the maximum, the charge current during
equalize is instead limited to whatever is programmed for the max current
limit of the unit.
Synchronized charge states are active when more than one charging
device is connected in the system via the Xanbus network.
• The first unit to enter bulk, causes all other chargers to enter bulk.
• The first Freedom SW to enter absorption causes all other Freedom
SWs to enter absorption.
• The last Freedom SW ready to exit absorption triggers all Freedom
SWs to exit absorption and exit charge.
Freedom SW 3K2K InvChg Owners Guide.book Page 67 Thursday, July 31, 2014 1:42 PM