Alternating Current (AC) - An electric current that reverses direction at regular intervals. Sources of alternating current are shore power, generator power, inverter power or household current.
Ampere (Amp, A) -The unit of measure of electron flow rate of current through a circuit.
Ampere-hour (Amp-Hr., AH) - A unit of measure for a battery's electrical storage capacity, obtained by multiplying the current in amperes by the time in hours of discharge (Example: a battery which delivers 5 amperes for 20 hours delivers 5 amperes times 20 hours, or 100 Amp-Hr. of capacity.)
AH Capacity - The ability of a fully charged battery to deliver a specified quantity of electricity (Amp-Hr., AH) at a given rate (Amp, A) over a definite period of time (Hr.). The capacity of a battery depends upon a number of factors including: active material, weight, density, adhesion to grid, number, design and dimensions of plates, plate spacing design of separators, specific gravity and quantity of available electrolyte, grid alloys, final limiting voltage, discharge rate, temperature, internal and external resistance, age and life of the battery (bank).
AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) Battery - A lead acid, maintenance-free battery.
AWG (American Wire Gauge) - A standard used to measure the size of wire.
Circuit - An electric circuit is the path of an electric current. A closed circuit has a complete path. An open circuit has a broken or disconnected path.
Circuit (Series) - A circuit which has only one path for the current to flow. Batteries arranged in series are connected with the negative of the first to the positive of the second, negative of the second to the positive of the third, etc. If two 6 Volt batteries of 50 ampere-hours capacity are connected in series, the circuit voltage is equal to the sum of the two battery voltages, or 12 Volts, and the ampere-hour capacity of the combination is 50 ampere-hours.
Circuit (Parallel) - A circuit which provides more than one path for current flow. A parallel arrangement of batteries (of like voltage and capacity) would have all positive terminals connected to a conductor and all negative terminals connected to another conductor. If two 12 Volt batteries of 50 ampere-hour capacity each are connected in parallel, the circuit voltage is 12 Volts, and the ampere-hour capacity of the combination is 100 ampere-hours.
Current -The rate of flow of electricity or the movement rate of electrons along a conductor. It is comparable to the flow of a stream of water. The unit of measure for current is ampere.
Cycle - In a battery, one discharge plus one recharge equals one cycle.
Direct Current (DC) - Current that flows continuously in one direction such as that from batteries, photovoltaics, alternators, chargers and DC generators.
Equalize Charge - A controlled overcharge of the batteries which brings all cells up to the same voltage potential, extends the battery life, restores capacity and mixes the electrolyte. This can only be done using the Freedom Remote Control Panel or a Link Instrument.
Electrolyte - in a lead acid battery, it is a dilute solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and water.
Gel Cell Battery -A type of battery that uses a gelled electrolyte solution. These batteries are sealed and are virtually maintenance-free. Not all sealed batteries are the gel cell type.
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) - A protective device that rapidly de-energizes a circuit when current to ground exceeds a predetermined value.
Ground - The reference potential of a circuit. In automotive use, the result of attaching one battery cable to the body or frame which is used as a path for completing a circuit in lieu of a direct wire from a component. This method is not suitable for connecting the negative cable of the inverter to ground. Instead, route the cable directly to the negative terminal of the battery.
Hydrometer - a tool used to measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte solution.
NEC - National Electric Code
Negative - Designating or pertaining to electrical potential. The negative terminal is the point from which electrons flow during discharge.
Ohm - A unit for measuring electrical resistance.
Ohm's Law - Expresses the relationship between Voltage (V) and Current (I) in an electrical circuit with resistance (R). It can be expressed as follows: V=IR. If any two of the three values are known, the third value can be calculated by using the above formula.
Open Circuit Voltage - the voltage of a battery when there is no load attached (not receiving or delivering energy). This measurement is best taken when the battery has been at rest for at least 6 hours.
Parallel Connection - a method of wiring batteries together by connecting the positive terminal of the first battery to the positive terminal of the second and the negative terminal of the first to the negative of the second. The capacity for batteries connected in parallel becomes additive, while the voltage remains the same as the individual battery.
Primary Battery - an energy storage device that can deliver energy but cannot be recharged.
Positive - Designating or pertaining to electrical potential; opposite of negative. The positive battery terminal is the point where electrons return to the battery during discharge.
Power Sharing - The feature of the charger to reduce its output when the AC power being consumed by the charger and external AC loads connected to the output of the inverter are in excess of the input breaker rating.
Secondary Battery - an energy storage device that can deliver energy and can be recharged.
Separator - a divider made of porous material that is placed in between the positive and negative plates in a battery cell and allows current flow through it while preventing direct contact between the plates which would cause a short circuit.
Series Connection - a method of wiring like batteries together by connecting the positive terminal of one battery to the negative terminal of an other. The voltage for batteries connected in series is additive, while the capacity remains the same as the individual battery.
Series-Parallel Connection - a method of wiring batteries together in a combination of series and parallel connections.
Specific Gravity - the density of a solution relative to the density of water.
Stratification - a condition where the concentration of acid is greater at the bottom of the battery than at the top. This condition is caused by undercharging, and if not corrected can cause premature failure of the battery. This condition can be prevented by periodic equalization.
Sulfation - the formation of lead sulfate on both the positive and negative electrodes in a lead acid battery results during the discharge portion of the charge/discharge cycle and is a normal part of the battery process. If the battery is allowed to remain in a discharged state for a prolonged period of time, these sulfate crystals continue to grow. These larger crystals reduce the effective plate area and are difficult to dissolve back into solution with normal charging. Thus, they reduce the overall capacity of the battery. This condition can be prevented by effectively recharging the battery immediately following a discharge. This condition can also be prevented by periodically equalizing the battery.
TSC - Abbreviation for Temperature Sensitive Charging. The ability of the charger to adjust its charging voltage based on the temperature sensed at the battery bank if a temperature probe is used.
Volt - The unit of measure for electric potential.
Watt - The unit for measuring electrical power, i.e., the rate of doing work, in moving electrons by or against an electric potential. (Watts = Amperes x Volts)
Watt-Hour (Watt-HR, WH) - The unit for measuring electrical energy which equals Watts x Hours.
Wet Cell Battery - A type of battery that uses liquid as an electrolyte. The wet cell battery requires periodic maintenance; cleaning the connections, checking the electrolyte level and performing an equalization cycle.
All Trademarks acknowledged as the property of their respective owners. Product information, specification and prices as supplied by the Manufacturers and subject to change without prior notification. Images for illustrative purposes only. E. & O.E.
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