Battery charger
Adaptive 4-stage charging characteristics: bulk – absorption – float – storage
The microprocessor-driven adaptive battery management system can be adjusted for various types of batteries. The adaptive function automatically adapts the charging process to battery use.
The right amount of charge: variable absorption time
In the event of slight battery discharge, absorption is kept short to prevent overcharging and excessive gas formation. After deep discharging, the absorption time is automatically extended in order to fully charge the battery.
Preventing damage due to excessive gassing: The BatterySafe mode
If, in order to quickly charge a battery, a high charge current in combination with a high absorption voltage has been chosen, damage due to excessive gassing will be prevented by automatically limiting the rate of voltage increase once the gassing voltage has been reached.
Less maintenance and ageing when the battery is not in use: The storage mode
The Storage mode kicks in whenever the battery has not been subjected to discharge for 24 hours. In the Storage mode, float voltage is reduced to 2.2V/cell (13.2V for 12V battery) to minimise gassing and corrosion of the positive plates. Once a week, the voltage is raised back to the absorption level to “equalise’ the battery. This feature prevents stratification of the electrolyte and sulphation, a major cause of early battery failure.
Two DC outputs for charging two batteries
The main DC terminal can supply the full output current. The second output, intended for charging a starter battery, is limited to 1 A and has a slightly lower output voltage.
Increasing service life of the battery: temperature compensation
The temperature sensor (supplied with the product) serves to reduce charging voltage when the battery temperature rises. This is particularly important for maintenance-free batteries, which could otherwise dry out by overcharging.
More on batteries and charging
Our book “Energy Unlimited’ offers further information on batteries and battery charging and is available free of charge on our website (see https://www.victronenergy.com/support-and-downloads/technical-information). For more information on adaptive charging, please also refer to the Technical Information section on our website.
Self consumption – solar energy storage systems
When the Multi is used in a configuration in which it will feed back energy to the grid, it is required to enable grid code compliance by selecting the grid code country setting with the VEConfigure tool. Once set, a password will be required to disable grid code compliance or change grid code related parameters. If the local grid code is not supported by the Multi, an external certified interface device should be used to connect the Multi to the grid