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How do I use lithium batteries with the Schneider Electric 865-4048 Conext SW Inverter/Charger?

Posted by Frank Molina, Stellavolta on Jun 2nd 2020

How do I use lithium batteries with the Schneider Electric 865-4048 Conext SW Inverter/Charger?

Select custom battery type for lithium batteries. You'll then see a separate submenu where you can custom program the inverter per the manufacturer's battery specifications.

You don't need the the Lithium Ion Application Note to program the inverter. This is only provided as additional information. The instructions necessary to program the Conext SW inverter can be found in the instruction manual (975-0638-01-01 Rev G) on page 4-20.

When the inverter starts up, there is a large start-up surge for a second or two so that the inverter can charge up its capacitors.

When the inverter was originally designed around a lead acid battery, lead acid batteries have a higher internal resistance, so the lead acid batteries resistance will slow down the surge, however lithium batteries have a very small internal resistance compared to lead acids, so the inverter is wanting to pull in a massive amount of energy to charge up the capacitors, but the lithium battery won't deliver.

There are some lithium battery manufacturers that have built-in a pre-charge resistor in their battery that will add a high level of resistance to slow down the start-up surge required to charge the capacitors. They might run the battery current through a resistor or relay for the first 3 – 4 seconds.

Schneider recommends a 250A circuit breaker which will provide a means of disconnect (your overcurrent protection) that protects the wire between the inverter and the battery.