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Lead-Antimony:
Antimony cells are rugged and provide long service life with deep discharge capability.
However, these batteries self-discharge much faster and the selfdischarging increases up to
five times the initial rate as the battery ages. Charging the antimony battery is typically from
14.4V to 15.0V, with a 120% equalization overcharge. While the water loss is low when the
battery is new, it will increase by five times over the life of the battery.
There are also combinations of plate chemistries that offer beneficial tradeoffs. For exam-
ple, low antimony and selenium plates can offer fairly good cycling performance, long life,
and reduced watering needs.
NOTE: Consult the battery manufacturer for the recommended charging settings for the
battery being used.
7 .3 L-16 Cells
One particular type of flooded battery, the L-16 group, is often used in larger renewable
systems. The L-16 offers good deep-cycle performance, long life, and low cost.
The L-16 battery has some special charging requirements in a renewable system. A study
found that nearly half of the L-16 battery capacity can be lost if the regulation voltage is too
low and the time between finish-charges is too long. One standard charging program in the
SunStar is specifically for L-16 batteries, and it provides for higher charging voltages and
more frequent equalizations. Additional equalizations can also be done manually with the
pushbutton.
NOTE: The best charging algorithm for flooded, deep-cycle batteries depends on the normal
depth-of-discharge, how often the battery is cycled, and the plate chemistry. Consult the
battery manufacturer for the recommended charging settings for the
battery being used.
7 .4 Nicad and NiFe Batteries
The W4B-120C is compatible with Nicad (nikel-cadmium), NiFe (nikel-iron) and alkaline type
batteries which must be charged to a higher voltage level to achieve a full charge. When
Nicad mode is selected, the equalization process is disabled.
