TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Page
102
2001 Xantrex Technology, Inc.
5916 - 195th Street N. E.
Arlington, WA 98223
Telephone: 360/435-8826
Fax: 360/435-2229
www.traceengineering.com
SW Series Inverter/Charger
Part No. 2031-5
Rev. C: February 2001
BATTERY BANK SIZING
EXAMPLE
Complete the steps that follow to calculate your inverter’s battery bank capacity. No two installations will
require exactly the same battery bank capacity. The following example provides a guide for determining
your needs. Read through the example and then complete the worksheet on the following page.
STEP 1-4: Determine your Average Daily Watt-Hours Needed.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
AC APPLIANCE
APPLIANCE RUNNING
WATTS
(X) HOURS USED
EACH DAY
(X) DAYS USED
EACH WEEK
(
÷
7 = ) AVERAGE DAILY
WATT-HOURS NEEDED
Microwave
600
0.5
7
300
Lights (x4)
40
6
7
240
Hair Dryer
750
0.25
3
81
Television
100
4
7
400
Washer
375
1
2
107
Refrigerator*
480/3 = 160
24
7
3840
Vacuum cleaner
1200
1
1
171
STEP 1:
Determine what appliances the inverter will power and enter the Appliance Running Wattage
of each appliance.
* -
Refrigerators and icemakers typically only run about 1/3 of the time, therefore the running
wattage is 1/3 of the total wattage of the appliance.
STEP 2:
Determine the number of hours (or fractions of hours) you will use the appliance each day;
STEP 3:
Multiply the number of days you will use the appliance during the week; this is your Weekly
Watt Hours Needed;
STEP 4:
Divide your Weekly Watt Hours Needed by 7 to obtain the Average Daily Watt Hours
Needed;
STEP 5:
Total Average Daily Watt Hours Needed to determine your Total Daily
Watt Hours Needed.
Total Daily Watt Hours Needed
5,139
STEP 6:
Multiply your Total Daily Watt Hours Needed (Step 5) by the number of
anticipated days of autonomy (days between charging, usually 1 to 5)
to determine your Autonomy Battery Size (example used 3 days).
Autonomy Battery Size
(Watt Hours)
15,417
STEP 7:
Multiply your Autonomy Battery Size (Step 6) x 2 to allow for a 50%
maximum battery discharge in normal operation and an additional
50% for emergency situations to obtain your Rough Battery Size in
watt-hours.
Rough Battery Size (Watt Hours)
30,834
STEP 8:
Multiply your Rough Battery Estimate x 1.2 to allow for an efficiency of
80%. This number is your Safe Battery Size in watt-hours.
Safe Battery Size (Watt Hours)
37,001
STEP 9:
Convert your Safe Battery Size to amp-hours. Divide Safe Battery Size
by the DC system voltage (i.e., 12, 24 or 48 VDC; example used 24-
volts). This number is your Safe Battery Size in amp-hours, which is
the battery bank capacity needed before recharging.
Safe Battery Size (Amp Hours)
1,542
Summary of Contents for SW Series
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