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Battery charging, Operation, No charging – Outback Power Systems GFX Series Inverter/Charger Operators Manual User Manual

Page 20: Bulk stage

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Operation

18

900-0114-01-00 Rev A

Battery Charging

IMPORTANT:

Battery charger settings need to be correct for a given battery type. Always follow
battery manufacturer recommendations. Making incorrect settings, or leaving them at
factory default settings, may cause the batteries to be undercharged or overcharged.

Figure 4

Charging Stages Over Time

All voltages in this section are given for a 12-volt system. For higher-voltage systems, the voltage can
be multiplied by the appropriate amount. (Factory defaults for each inverter voltage are shown
beginning on page 47.) Set points can be adjusted using the system display (see the appropriate
manual).

The inverter uses a “three-stage” battery charging process. The three stages are Bulk, Absorption, and
Float. These stages follow a series of steps, which are marked on the chart above. The points where
the dark line intersects the vertical dotted line indicate a change from one step to the next. The points
where they also intersect with a horizontal dotted line indicate that the charger has switched to a new
target voltage. The process shown here also includes the step of selling power back to the utility, as
this is integrally tied with the battery charger.

The Target Points and Time Limits cited under various steps are settable using the system display.

No Charging

If the inverter is not charging, any of the following conditions may apply:

 The unit is inverting or not connected to an AC source.
 The unit is connected to an AC source but is in a mode or stage that does not use the charger. (Silent

mode is one example.)

 The unit is connected to an AC source but the charger has been turned off.

Bulk Stage

This stage activates the charger. This is the first stage in the three-stage charge cycle. It is a
constant-current stage which drives the battery voltage up. This stage typically leaves the batteries at
75% – 90% of their capacity, depending on conditions.

Target point: Absorption Voltage setting. The default setting is 14.4 Vdc (in a 12-volt system).

Bulk

Absorption

Sell RE

Silent

Float Timer

Silent

Float

Sell RE

Absorption Set Point

Sell RE Set Point

Float Set Point

Refloat Set Point

Voltage

Time

No

Charge