battery bank Amp hours, and charging rate

ssmith
ssmith Registered Users Posts: 1
I have 8 - 6 volt 225 ah batterys in a 48 volt system. How do i calculate the amp hours, and the optimum charging rate?

Comments

  • rplarry
    rplarry Solar Expert Posts: 203 ✭✭
    Re: battery bank Amp hours, and charging rate

    Your system is a 225ah battery bank. When using a series connected battery bank you use the amperage of one battery. When using a parallel connected battry bank you add up the ah rating of all the batteries in the bank. The rate of charge is usually 5 to 13% of the banks capacity, so in your case about 12 to 25 amps charge rate.
    Hope this helps
    Larry
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    Re: battery bank Amp hours, and charging rate

    Just to clarify:

    Batteries connected in series; Voltage increases, Amp hours remain the same.
    Batteries connected in parallel; Voltage remains the same, Amp hours increase.

    Explanation of of equivalent power on different system Voltages: http://forum.solar-electric.com/showthread.php?15989-Battery-System-Voltages-and-equivalent-power

    Also the recommended charge rate rplarry mentions is net, not gross, meaning any loads that are drawing at the same time as charging occurs need to be taken into account. This is particularly true if the rate is closer to the minimum 5% peak.