Equalizer Application Notes

It always seems that the thing you want to power isn't available easily in the voltage that you have available. This product line is designed to transform voltages from your battery voltage to the voltage that the thing you want to power runs at. It is also used as a battery equalizer allowing power to be taken off one battery of a higher voltage battery string without fear of destroying the batteries from charge imbalance.

We are finding the main applications for this device are when people are upgrading their inverter system, which usually means a higher voltage system, but they own expensive appliances that run at the old battery voltage like fridges, toasters, lights, etc.

Rather than buy new appliances, this inexpensive device transforms the new battery voltage to their old battery voltage to run these devices. It can easily be wired into your distribution with appropriate disconnects and fusing (it is already internally fused) as required by appropriate electrical codes. Most models come in a NEMA 4 enclosure for outdoor use or where harsh enviroments may exist.

This figure shows typical connection to DC - DC convert the voltage from a higher battery volatge to a lower load voltage. Models are available to convert almost any usual battery voltage to almost any other usual battery voltage.

This finds use for example running a 12 V fridge from a 24 V battery, 24 V fridge from 48 V battery or 12 V fridge from a 48 V battery. It can also run lower voltage water pumps, communication systems etc. Models are available to convert almost any usual battery voltage to almost any other usual battery voltage.

This Figure shows a typical connection to DC to DC convert the voltage from a battery voltage to a higher load voltage.

This finds uses running for example 24 V pumps form your 12 V battery system, 24 V telecom electronics from 12 V battery systems, etc. Models are available to convert almost any usual battery voltage to almost any other usual battery voltage.

Some systems require high current at a lower voltage, perhaps to start a large motor that is not used often like a sump pump, or perhaps lots of 12 V outdoor patio lights that are not on all the time, but require a lot of current when they are on.

When a normal DC - DC converter is used, it slams into current limit and lots of nothing happens, or just fries itself in the process.

For these systems, present practice is to take the power of the lowest voltage of a series string of batteries. For example, 12 V electric fences off of the house 24 V system or the cattle pump battery (24 V) is not uncommon, though awfully hard on your batteries.

When setup per the figure, the load can take all of the current it wants or can get from the lower 12 V battery as well as the contribution from the upper battery transformed by the DC-DC converter.