 Sun Xtender® Battery Installation & Battery Bank ConfigurationBe sure there is adequate ventilation in the area where the batteries are to be installed. Batteries may be installed in any orientation except upside down (i.e., terminals facing the earth). The space surrounding adjacent batteries should be at least 0.25 inch to permit airflow around each battery. Always use batteries of the same size and condition in multi-battery installations. When replacing batteries, it is best to replace the entire set of batteries so they remain balanced. Connect batteries using cabling that is sized for the maximum load of the system. The voltage drop on the cables during charging should not exceed 0.2 volts at full output. Protect the battery terminals from shorting during installation. Batteries may be connected in series (voltage adds, capacity stays the same), in parallel (capacity adds, voltage stays the same), or a combination of series and parallel (voltage and capacity adds). Each of these connection options are illustrated below.  Series Connection  Parallel Connection  Series/Parallel Connection Connection options for 4-terminal batteries are illustrated below. For low rate applications (current levels less than 400 amperes), only two of the four terminals need to be connected, but it is still best to use all four terminals for redundancy. For high rate applications (current levels greater than 400 amperes), all four terminals should be connected.  Series Connection for 4-Terminal Batteries (Low Rate Applications Only)  Series Connection for 4-Terminal Batteries (Low or High Rate Applications, Option A)  Series Connection for 4-Terminal Batteries (Low or High Rate Applications, Option B)  Series/Parallel Connection for 4-Terminal Batteries (Low Rate Applications Only) NOTE: Cables A, B and C carry different current levels and should be sized accordingly. In this example, the current in Cable B is 2 times that of Cable A and the current in Cable C is three times that of Cable A.  Series/Parallel Connection for 4-Terminal Batteries (Low or High Rate Applications) | |
