| Operating a genverter based power is not difficult, | | | | lost. The most expensive part of charging it |
| and really isn't technical. In our home, our kids | | | | getting the batteries over that last 10% of |
| knew how to read the meter, and start the | | | | charge. Many times we stop before then, but not |
| generator since they were about 11 years old. | | | | always as explained below.maintenance operation |
| The real key to operating the system correctly, is | | | | Deep cycle batteries have a wear out mechanism |
| to have and understand the metering between | | | | that occurs when they stay below 75% charge |
| the batteries and the charging system.silent mode | | | | for any length of time. It is called sulfating, and is |
| When the system starts off with fully charged | | | | covered in detail elsewhere on Its ironic, that |
| batteries, you have power in what I call "silent | | | | batteries last the longest if you never discharge |
| mode". You can have lights and other creature | | | | them, that is, use them! This third mode of |
| comforts without using any gas, since the inverter | | | | genverter operation is used to keep the batteries |
| is converting the stored battery power into | | | | healthy and to extend their life. |
| normal home AC. You may have certain large | | | | During normal operation, we like to do what is |
| loads that may not be appropriate during this time | | | | called an equalize charge for our lead acid |
| because they would drain the stored energy | | | | batteries. It is a small investment that will help the |
| quickly. In our home these are items like the | | | | battery bank last extra years. The charging |
| dishwasher, the well pump, and Jackie's favorite | | | | system is run and the voltage is permitted to go |
| electric iron. | | | | to a higher than normal voltage for a few hours. |
| Having a device or meter that measures power | | | | For example on a 12V battery bank, we let it go |
| flowing into or out of the battery bank is very | | | | up to 14.5V and watch the electrolyte in the |
| important. With the meter counting the | | | | batteries bubble some. This helps break up the |
| Amp-Hours or "juice" flowing out of the battery | | | | sulfation that occurs during normal operation. This |
| bank, it is easy to see when we've used 30-40% | | | | operation does take extra fuel, but is a good long |
| of the total capacity. When this level is reached, | | | | term investment |
| its time to make sure we start charging in a | | | | Sometimes it is possible if we leave a few days in |
| serious way by starting up our generator charging | | | | the summer, to let our solar charging and solar |
| source.free power mode | | | | controller to automatically do the equalize charge |
| After charging a short while, it becomes free | | | | for us! Basic genverter operation can be broken |
| power time, since the generator is not fully loaded | | | | up into 3 modes; silent mode, free power mode, |
| with the task of battery charging. This is the time | | | | and maintenance mode. Your power consumption |
| to run those big loads mentioned above. We call it | | | | at any time should match the genveter mode. |
| free, because for the most part, this extra | | | | Having and monitoring your charging meter will |
| power not used in charging will be lost! As | | | | help determine how your system should be |
| batteries get some charge, they accept less | | | | operated at any given time. |
| current and more generator power potential is | | | | |