FAQ:  initial charging for 12V batteries in simple systems

Question: I want to make a simple installation with a 12V/90AH LP battery, solar regulator, solar panel and DC/AC inverter. How should I make the initial charge for the battery? Do I really need to buy a battery charger only because of one charging?

Answer: It is strongly recommended that the battery is charged to full before using the battery. This is called the initial charging. In other words: the battery should be always charged first before starting discharging. It is ideal to make the charge using the 12V charger (charging to using the laboratory power supply.  

Some users will say they wish to save money and do not want to buy the charger only to make a single before initial cycle. Well, such customers may find some other charger locally or borrow a charger from friends or arrange for charging some other way.  However the basic rule keeps valid: the first charging should be done properly.

Note: the initial charging should be done each time the system was not used and the battery was left unattended for weeks or months. Also before stopping using the system the battery should be charged to full and completely disconnected from any electronics. For all these types of charging, the 12V charger is recommended.  We think it is worthy to have the proper charger available.