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Xantrex RV Series Inverter/Charger Owner’s Manual
11
It is also good to check the battery interconnections for tightness and corrosion. If any corrosion is
found, disconnect the cables and carefully clean with a mild solution of baking soda and water.
DO NOT ALLOW THE SOLUTION TO ENTER THE BATTERY. Rinse the top of the battery with
clean water when finished.
To reduce the amount of corrosion on the battery terminals, coat them with a thin layer of
petroleum jelly or anti-corrosion grease available from automotive parts stores or battery
suppliers. Do not apply any material between the terminal and the cable lugs—the connection
should be metal to metal. Apply the protective material after the bolts have been tightened.
Battery Installation
WARNING: 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 supplier’s 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 on the tops. At least 2 feet of clearance above is recommended. They
must be located as close as possible to the inverter, but cannot limit the access to the inverter and
the inverter’s over-current protection device. With the RV Series inverter, the batteries are best
located to the left of the inverter.
The over-current protection device must be located per code within 18” of the battery installation,
and must be covered to prevent possibility of a short circuit.
Battery Enclosures
The batteries must be protected inside of a ventilated enclosure. 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.
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 backup
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 be kept in the batteries to
keep them 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 that 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