How to Build a Battery Backup System With an Inverter
If you want to install a renewable energy (RE) system, and expand it to include a battery backup system, you will need to use deep-cycle batteries and then connect them to the AC power inverter. You can then connect the power inverter to a power strip or breaker box. This will help better prepare you for when there is a power outage.
- Wire the system to the charge controller. It will depend upon what type of system you are using, such as hydro, wind or solar, as they all have different methods of connecting the input wiring, however, in most cases, you will use 12-gauge AWG (American Wire Gauge) wire for your connections. You can program the charge controllers depending upon the specific load capacity of the battery system to prevent overcharging. This will help prolong the life of the battery.
- Connect the output terminals from the charge controller to the deep cycle battery terminals, using 12-gauge AWG cable. You may need to purchase specialized battery cables, or you can make your own by soldering terminal eyelets on the ends of 12-guage wires.
- Use battery cable or 8-guage wires to connect the batteries into the series circuit configuration. You should connect the positive terminal of one battery to the negative terminal of the next battery. Continue connecting this way until you have two terminals left to connect.
- Connect the last two terminals to the AC power inverter. Use a heavy-duty extension cord to connect to the power inverter, and then connect the cord to a power strip. The power inverter should be sitting next to the battery bank.