Thomas & Betts 20D Battery Charger User Manual


 
Part No. 90-0123-00
Libertycombi.p65 10/26/98
15
Battery Charging
Completely charging wet cell deep-cycle
batteries requires the battery voltage to be
raised beyond what is known as the gassing
point. This is the voltage at which the battery
begins to bubble and gas is given off. If
charging stops short of this point, sulfate is left
on the plates and deterioration of the battery
begins. The gassing point will vary with battery
temperature.
At 77 degrees F, the gassing point of a 12
volt battery is about 14.0 volts.
AGM and Gel cell batteries must not be
charged to their gassing point. In fact, high
voltage charging which gasses these batteries
is harmful to them. They typically require a
lower bulk charge voltage and a higher float
voltage than wet cell batteries. Consult the
battery manufacturer for specifications.
BATTERY CHARGING
Freedom Battery Chargers
Freedom battery chargers are designed
to overcome the limitations of conventional
chargers by utilizing 3 distinct charge stages,
each designed for optimal charging of wet, gel
cell and AGM deep-cycle batteries. Battery
type selection is made on the front panel of the
inverter/charger or through the Remote Control
Panel or a Link Instrumentation. For more
information on battery type selection, see page
7 or refer to the Remote Control Panel manual.