3
LINK 20
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations!
You have purchased the world's only
Dual Watch
tm
battery monitor.
In order to understand, use, and install it, PLEASE read this manual. It provides important
information. Please contact us with suggested improvements. For
Link 20
installation,
operation, warranty support, and repair questions, please contact Xantrex.
The
Link 20
provides instrumentation of two banks of batteries. The
Link 20
does not
control an inverter/charger. For installations involving a Freedom Inverter/Charger and two
battery banks, Xantrex recommends the Link 2000. If a Freedom Inverter/Charger and one
battery is anticipated, Xantrex recommends the Link 1000. For instrumentation of a single
battery bank with no inverter/charger controls, the Link 10 is ideal.
This symbol is used to point out very important sections of this manual or to indicate
items that may need to be changed through Set Up routines. Please take the time to read
these sections.
The following warnings must be considered during the installation of the
Link 20
.
Failure to read and follow these special notes can lead to damage to the
Link 20
or other
electrical equipment.
POWER CONNECTION WARNINGS
1.
When installing your
Link 20
, make all shunt and ground connections
BEFORE
applying power to the unit.
2.
The wires connecting the battery to the dual shunt, and from the dual shunt to your
system ground, will carry large current. Size the wire appropriately. Large batterry
banks contain enough energy to start a fire if improperly sized wire is used.
3.
Disconnect all charging sources during the installation process.
IMPORTANT BATTERY FACTS
1.
An
amp hour (Ah)
is 1 amp of current flowing for one hour, or 2 amps for
1/2 hour, or 4 amps for 1/4 hour, and so on.
2.
Many batteries designed for deep-cycling service are rated at their
20-hour rate
.
This means a 12-volt, 100 amp-hour battery will sustain 5 amps for 20 hours before
its voltage under load drops to 10.5 volts. A 12 V lead-acid battery which will not
maintain 10.5 volts under load is considered "dead"—it's completely discharged.
3.
Our
Mid-Capacity Rule
says discharging more than 50% of a battery's capacity
shortens life. Charging more than 85% takes too long with an engine-driven charging
system. So, 35% of the battery capacity is all that is normally available. If you regularly
need 100 amp hours of energy, your battery capacity should be about 300 amp hours.
