An example on how to figure what size Battery Bank you might need for your alternative

energy system.

HOW TO SIZE AND USE YOUR BATTERY BANK

Introduction.
Glacier Bay manufactures a cm!lete line f A"# D"# en$ine an% &y%raulically %ri'en refri$eratin
systems( Unli)e manufacturers *& s!eciali+e in ne ty!e f system# Glacier Bay can !r'i%e
*&ate'er is mst a!!r!riate fr t&e a!!licatin( ,rm e-!erience# *e &a'e fun% t&e .est system fr
t&e 'ast ma/rity f cruisers t .e a D" %ri'en system cu!le% *it& a !r!erly %esi$ne% .attery .an)
an% c&ar$in$ system(
We encura$e yu t i$nre sme 0cn'entinal *is%m0 n ener$y mana$ement# $ain yur *n
clear un%erstan%in$ f D" stra$e an% c&ar$in$ systems an% a!!ly t&at )n*le%$e t yur .at( By
%in$ s# yu can re%uce t&e en$ine run time re1uire% .y yur refri$eratin system t 234 t 534
less t&an *ul% .e nee%e% *it& a %irect en$ine6%ri'en system( Als remem.er# t&e mney an% effrt
yu !ut int yur .attery an% c&ar$in$ system .enefit t&e entire .at# nt /ust t&e refri$eratin system(
What size battery bank should you have?
If yu are a cruiser t&e ans*er t t&is ne is 1uite sim!le 6 T&e lar$est ne yu can affr% in terms f
s!ace# *ei$&t an% mney( T&is is e1ually true n matter *&at t&e electrical la% is7 T see *&y# let8s
ta)e a l) at t* %ifferent a!!rac&es t estimatin$ t&e 0crrect0 .attery ca!acity(
nergy Analysis ! the conventional wisdom.
It is cmmn !ractice amn$ t&e ener$y $urus t !erfrm an ener$y analysis f a cruisin$ .at an%
a%'ise a .attery .an) ca!acity .ase% n t&e results( T !erfrm suc& an analysis# assum!tins are
ma%e a.ut t&e len$t& f time t&e li$&ts# a!!liances# na'i$atinal e1ui!ment# *ater ma)er# etc( *ill .e
!eratin$ an% t&e amunt f current t&ey *ill %ra* *&ile t&ey are n( An am!6&r 9current %ra* -
!eratin$ time: ttal 'er a ;< &ur !eri% is t&en calculate% fr e'ery %e'ice *&ic& cnsumes
electrical ener$y( ,r e-am!le=

Assumption "alculation #sage per $% hrs
T&ree rea%in$ li$&ts %ra*in$ > am!
eac& *ill .e use% an a'era$e f
?(2 &urs !er %ay(
9? - >: - ?(2 @ >3(2 >3(2 am!6&rs
T&e refri$eratr %ra*s A am!s
*&ile it8s runnin$ an% runs an
a'era$e f >5 &rs !er %ay(
A - >5 @ BA BA am!6&rs

Ca)in$ accurate estimates fr sme items is relati'ely easy# fr t&ers suc& as electric aut!ilts it is
nearly im!ssi.le( Ne'ert&eless# t cm!lete t&e analysis# t&e ttal estimate% ener$y cnsum!tin f
all suc& %e'ices is a%%e% t$et&er t !r'i%e an estimate% a'era$e ttal %aily ener$y cnsum!tin in
am!6&rs( As yu can ima$ine# t&e ttals 'ary tremen%usly frm .at t .at( H*e'er# fr illustratin
!ur!ses# let8s assume t&at ur !articular cruiser calculates a ttal estimate% use f ><3 am!6&rs !er
;< &urs(
In t&e ne-t ste! f t&e analysis it is assume% t&at ur cruiser *ill nt *ant t %isc&ar$e t&eir .atteries
mre t&at 234 since it is cmmnly .elie'e% t&at %in$ s *ill %is!r!rtinately s&rten t&eir life
s!an( T&e cruiser must n* %eci%e &* ften t&ey *is& t run t&eir en$ine r $eneratr rec&ar$e
t&eir .atteries( T&is# in cm.inatin *it& t&eir estimate% %aily ener$y cnsum!tin t&en frms t&e
.asis fr calculatin$ t&e .attery .an) si+e re1uire%( ,r e-am!le=

&echarge 're(uency )esired Bank *ize &e(uired
t*ice !er %ay ><3 am!6&r
nce !er %ay ;53 am!6&r
nce e'ery t* %ays 2A3 am!6&r
nce e'ery t&ree %ays 5<3 am!6&r

S it is seen t&at# .y usin$ t&e ener$y analysis met&%# t&e calculatin f a!!r!riate .attery .an)
si+e is ma%e !urely n t&e .asis f ener$y usa$e an% t&e fre1uency f rec&ar$e cycles( Sun%s
$%( S *&at8s t&e !r.lemD
Why energy consumption is irrelevant when sizing your battery bank.
W&ile it can .e &el!ful t &a'e an i%ea f &* muc& ener$y yu are li)ely t use in a %ay# it s&ul% nt
frm t&e .asis fr si+in$ yur .attery .an)( W&yD Because it lea'es ut t&e sin$le mst im!rtant
cnsi%eratin in .attery .an) si+in$ 6 t&e rec&ar$e# r acce!tance# rate( T&e ener$y cnsum!tin
analysis $i'es yu an i%ea f &* ften yu *ill nee% t run yur c&ar$in$ en$ine .ut $i'es n
in%icatin f &* ln$ t&e en$ine *ill nee% t .e run( ,r mst cruisers# !articularly t&se *& &a'e
alrea%y &a% t&e e-!erience f sittin$ in t&eir islan% !ara%ise ami%st t&e %iesel fumes *aitin$ fr t&eir
.atteries t rec&ar$e# minimi+in$ t&eir en$ine run time is t&e t! !ririty(
+he proper size alternator for the battery bank.
T fully a!!reciate *&y t&e acce!tance rate is s im!rtant it is first necessary t $ain an
un%erstan%in$ f t&e relatins&i! .et*een alternatr si+e .attery .an) si+e( It is nly !ssi.le t
select ri$&t alternatr9s: after t&e ca!acity an% ty!e f .attery .an) &a'e .een %etermine%(
Capacity -
W&ile t&e !*er ut!ut f a .attery is rate% in se'eral *ays# t&e nly ratin$ $enerally useful t t&e
cruiser als &a!!ens t .e t&e mst cmmn an% is referre% t as t&e ;3 &ur am!6&r ratin$( T&is
num.er re!resents t&e ttal amunt f ener$y t&at t&e fully c&ar$e% .attery can release *&en
%isc&ar$e% at a sta.le rate 'er a ;3 &ur !eri%( A $% 1uality 5D si+e 9;30->>0->30: lea%6aci% ty!e
%ee! cycle .attery *ul% &a'e a ;3 &ur ratin$ f ;;3 am!6&rs E >; 'lts( Gelle% electrlyte ty!e
.atteries 9$el cells: an% a.sr.e% $lass mat .atteries 9AGC: are usually sli$&tly less *it& a.ut ;33
am!6&rs in an 5D si+e( Remem.er# *&en %eterminin$ t&e ca!acity f yur .attery .an) use t&e
manufacturers ratin$s an% a%% t&e am!6&r ratin$ f all .atteries *&ic& are cnnecte% in !arallel an%
%isc&ar$e% an% rec&ar$e% as a sin$le .an)( If yu c&se t use multi!le &use .an)s 9nt
recmmen%e%: cunt nly t&se .an)s *&ic& are %isc&ar$e% an% rec&ar$e% simultaneusly( D nt
sim!ly a%% u! t&e ratin$s f all t&e .atteries n yur .at(
Type -
T&is is nt a 1uestin f .ran% name .ut ne f electrlyte ty!e( Yur c&ice &ere is cmmn lea%6
aci%# $elle% lea%6aci% 9$el cell: r a.sr.e% $lass mat 9AGC:(
"alculating your battery bank,s acceptance rate.
T&e acce!tance rate is t&e ma-imum rate at *&ic& a .attery .an) can .e rec&ar$e%( T&e acce!tance
rate f t&e .an) is %etermine% .y it8s ca!acity# ty!e an% state6f6c&ar$e( Since *e )n* 9r can
%etermine: t&e ca!acity an% ty!e f t&e .an)# *e *ill nee% t ma)e an assum!tin as t it8s a'era$e
state f c&ar$e un%er cruisin$ cn%itins( Batteries *&ic& are %ee!ly %isc&ar$e% &a'e a &i$&er
acce!tance rate t&an t&se *&ic& are mre fully c&ar$e%( Sur'eys &a'e s&*n t&at cruisers ty!ically
cycle t&eir .atteries .et*een 234 an% 534 f full c&ar$e un%er mst cn%itins( "ruisers *& &a'e
lar$e ca!acity .an)s in cm!arisn t t&eir ener$y nee%s ten% t cycle .et*een F34 an% B34# *&ile
t&se *it& small .an)s ten% t cycle .et*een <34 an% F34(
,r t&e sa)e f t&is e-ercise# *e *ill estimate at t&e a'era$e acce!tance rate *&en cyclin$ t&e
.atteries .et*een 234 an% 534 f full c&ar$e( Un%er t&ese cn%itins lea%6aci% .atteries &a'e .een
s&*n t &a'e an acce!tance rate e1ual t ;24 f t&eir ttal ;3 &ur am!6&r ratin$( State% ant&er
*ay# a lea%6aci% .attery .an) cnsistin$ f t&ree 5D si+e >; 'lt .atteries E ;;3 am!6&rs eac& 9AA3
am!6&rs ttal: *ul% &a'e an acce!tance rate f >A2 am!s(
One a%'anta$e in $el cell ty!e .atteries is t&at t&ey &a'e a &i$&er acce!tance rate t&an % t&e
cmmn lea% aci% ty!e( Acce!tance rate calculatins ma%e *it& $el cell .atteries s&ul% .e .ase% n
<34 f t&eir ;3 &ur am!6&r ratin$ rat&er t&an t&e ;24 fi$ure use% *it& lea% aci%(
Because f t&eir l*er ;3 &ur ratin$# t&e .an) f t&ree 5D .atteries %escri.e% in t&e e-am!le a.'e
*ul% &a'e a ttal ca!acity f nly A33 am!6&rs 9rat&er t&an AA3 *it& lea% aci%:( H*e'er# t&ey *ul%
&a'e an acce!tance rate f ;<3 am!s instea% f >A2 am!s(
T&e &i$&est acce!tance rate is .taine% *it& a.sr.e% $lass mat .atteries 9AGC:( Acce!tance rate
calculatins ma%e *it& AGC .atteries s&ul% .e .ase% n >334 f t&eir ;3 &ur am!6&r ratin$ rat&er
t&an t&e ;24 fi$ure use% *it& lea% aci% r <34 use% *it& $el cells( Our .an) f t&ree 5D .atteries 9as
%escri.e% in t&e t&er e-am!les: *ul% &a'e a ttal ca!acity f A33 am!6&rs /ust as *ul% t&e $el
cells( H*e'er# t&ey *ul% &a'e an incre%i.le acce!tance rate f A33 am!s instea% f >A2 am!s
9lea% aci%: r ;<3 am!s 9$el cell:(
As yu can see# nce yu )n* t&e ca!acity an% ty!e f yur .attery .an) yu can calculate it8s
acce!tance rate( Sim!ly multi!ly t&e ttal ca!acity .y ;24 fr lea% aci% .atteries# <34 fr $el cells r
>334 fr AGCs(
What about the alternator?
Since t&e acce!tance rate %escri.e% t&e ma-imum rate at *&ic& a .attery .an) can .e rec&ar$e%# it
stan%s t reasn t&at t&e !r!er si+e alternatr can nly .e selecte% nce t&e acce!tance rate &as
.een %etermine%( It is *aste% mney t c&ar$e a .attery .an) t&at &as an acce!tance rate f F3
am!s *it& a >A2 am! alternatr( Gi)e*ise# usin$ a >33 am! alternatr t c&ar$e a .attery .an) *it&
an acce!tance rate f ;<3 am!s is !intlessly sl* an% inefficient( T&e $al is t $et t&e ut!ut f
yur alternatr 9un%er actual c&ar$in$ cn%itins: t matc& t&e acce!tance rate f yur .attery .an)
as clsely as !ssi.le( Cst alternatr manufacturers *ill !r'i%e yu *it& t&e ut!ut cur'e f t&e
alternatr yu are cnsi%erin$ un%er &t cn%itins an% at a 'ariety f s!ee%s( An alternatr rate% at
>23 am!s *ill li)ely nly !ut ut >?3 am!s nce it $ets &t an% *ill nly % t&at runnin$ at full s!ee%(
Un%er realistic c&ar$in$ cn%itins# yu may nly .e runnin$ yur en$ine at >>33 6 >;33 r!ms( If yur
alternatr is .elte% at a ; t > rati it *ill .e s!innin$ at t*ice t&at s!ee%# r ;;33 6 ;<33 r!ms( It is
1uite !ssi.le t&at >23 am! alternatr is n* nly $in$ t !uttin$ ut 53 am!s r s(
Gi'en t&is# &* is it !ssi.le t $et ;33 t ?33 am!s f real c&ar$in$ ca!a.ilityD Smetimes it isn8t#
.ut %n8t $i'e u! t 1uic)ly( Hery lar$e alternatrs *it& ut!uts ;33I am!s are n* 1uite cmmn(
A%%itinally# it is ften 'ery !ractical t use t* r mre alternatrs t c&ar$e a sin$le .an)( Sme
.ats are alrea%y set u! t &a'e ne alternatr c&ar$e t&e en$ine start .attery an% a secn% t
c&ar$e t&e &use .an)( Usually t&e en$ine start .attery nee%s little if any c&ar$in$( An autmatic
.attery .an) cm.iner can .e use% t all* .t& alternatrs t c&ar$e t&e &use .an)(
-ow much difference does this approach to battery sizing make?
Occasinally nne# .ut ften t&e results are sur!risin$( Ta)e a l) .ac) at ur 'ery first e-am!le
*&ere ur cruiser *as re1uire% t re!lace ><3 am!6&rs f ener$y !er %ay( Get8s assume t&at# usin$
t&e ener$y analysis a!!rac&# &e %etermine% t&at runnin$ t&e en$ine nce !er %ay *ul% .e )( He
*ul% t&en .e a%'ise% t install a lea%6aci% .attery .an) f ;53 am!6&rs ca!acity 9ie( 234 ma-
%isc&ar$e:(
N*# usin$ yur )n*le%$e f acce!tance rate calculatin# yu )n* t&at t&e ma-imum rate at *&ic&
t&is .an) can .e rec&ar$e% F3 am!s 9.an) ca!acity - ;24:( T&erefre# it *ill ta)e t* &urs f
en$ine run time !er %ay t re!lace t&e electricity t&at t&e cruiser is usin$ 9F3 am!s - ; &urs @ ><3
am!6&rs:(
If# n t&e t&er &an%# t&e cruiser *ants t minimi+e t&eir en$ine run time# t&ey cul% increase t&eir
.attery .an) t far in e-cess f t&at recmmen%e% .y t&e ener$y analysis a!!rac& t# say A33 am!6
&rs( Wit& t&is .an) t&e acce!tance rate *ul% n* .e >23 am!s# ma)in$ it !ssi.le t re!lace t&e
same ><3 am!6&rs in less t&an ne &ur# r nly J t&e time re1uire% .y t&e smaller .an)( If all t&at
sun%s $reat .ut yu %n8t &a'e rm fr t&at many .atteries# use $el cells r AGCs( Yu8ll .e a.le t
$et t&at &i$& c&ar$e acce!tance rate in a muc& smaller .an)(
By $ainin$ a $% un%erstan%in$ f .attery acce!tance rates# it is clear &* lar$e &use .attery
.an)s can .e use% t re%uce t&e en$ine run time( It is e1ually easy t see *&y t&e !!ular !ractice f
se!aratin$ &use .atteries int multi!le .an)s is nt t&e mst efficient use f ener$y(
Battery life.
One cannt really %iscuss 0.attery life0 *it&ut first %efinin$ t&e term( T&e same ener$y $urus *&
!rmte t&e ener$y analysis met&% f .attery .an) si+in$ usually %escri.e .attery life .y t&e num.er
f cycles 9ie( %isc&ar$e an% rec&ar$e: *&ic& can .e %ne .efre t&e .attery fails( T&ru$& t&eir
effrts# mst !e!le n* rec$ni+e t&at %e!t& f %isc&ar$e &as a %irect im!act n t&e num.er f
%isc&ar$eKrec&ar$e cycles a .attery can %( As a result# many cruisers en%ea'r t cycle t&eir
.atteries as 0s&all*ly0 as !ssi.le(
H*e'er# t&e num.er f cycles is nly ne measure f a .attery8s life an% !r.a.ly nt t&e .est(
Ant&er *ay t l) at .attery life is .y l)in$ at t&e ttal num.er f am!6&rs *&ic& a .attery *ill
stre .efre failure( W&en 'ie*e% in t&is *ay# 1uite a %ifferent !icture emer$es as can .e seen in t&e
c&art .el*(

+ypical "ycle .ife
/011 amp2hr +ro3an )eep "ycle Battery4
)epth of discharge 5umber of cycles
+otal amp!hrs provided
during service life
>34 A#;33 A;#333
;34 2#;33 >3<#333
?34 <#<33 >?;#333
<34 ?#F33 ><5#333
234 ;#B33 ><2#333
A34 ;#<33 ><<#333
F34 ;#333 ><3#333
534 >#F33 >?A#333

,rm ur !re'ius l) at acce!tance rate *e )n* t&at .atteries can .e rec&ar$e% muc& faster
*&en t&ey are !ermitte% t cycle %*n t 234 an% .el*( ,rm t&is c&art it is .'ius t&at %in$ s
e-ten%s t&e useful life f t&e .atteries as *ell(
"onclusion.
By first calculatin$ &* muc& ener$y yur Glacier Bay D" refri$eratin system *ill use 9use ur
!u.lis&e% $ui%elines t $et an accurate i%ea:# an% t&en a!!lyin$ t&e !rinci!les %iscusse% in t&is !a!er
t yur .attery an% c&ar$in$ system# yu *ill see /ust &* muc& .etter ff yu are *it& t&e D" system
rat&er t&an an %irect en$ine6%ri'e( ,r t&se *& % nt min% en$ine runnin$# t&ere is still a !lace fr
en$ine6%ri'en refri$eratin( H*e'er# as yu *ill see nce yur calculatins are cm!lete# t&ey rarely
ma)e sense n a cruisin$ sail.at( At Glacier Bay# *e manufacture .t& ty!es f systems( "rrectly
set u!# ur D" system *ill use ty!ically re1uire >K; t>K< t&e %aily en$ine run time f an en$ine6%ri'en
system( By !r!erly !lannin$ an% settin$ u! yur D" system# an% cm.inin$ it *it& ener$y efficient
a!!liances suc& as refri$eratin an% *aterma)ers# .attery c&ar$e cncerns really can .ecme a
t&in$ f t&e !ast(

+he proceeding information was provided by 6lacier Bay7 Inc. engineers and manufactures
high!performance thermal management and energy control systems for marine7
transportation7 aerospace7 military7 medical7 electronics and communications applications.
http822www.glacierbay.com2-istory.asp
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