Overcharging your inverter batteries is a very real possibility.
While there are several variables to be concerned with when charging a deep cycle battery, the results will always be the same.
If you continuously overcharge your battery it will die.
In fact, it can even explode spewing acid and metal as it does.
So it’s critical to address the problem rather than ignoring the issue.
Before we go into too much detail, I just want to clear up a few things about inverters and batteries.
What you are probably talking about is an ‘inverter charger’ which has a battery charging capability built-in. As you know, they’re very useful as you don’t need to use a separate charging unit.
With that clearer up, together we’ll go through everything you need to know about overcharging inverter batteries.
Can Inverters Overcharge Batteries?
As I just mentioned, an inverter can’t actually charge a battery. What you are actually asking is – can an inverter charger overcharge batteries?
And the answer is, yes! Although there will be safety protections built-in there is still the possibility that your equipment has malfunctioned or has been installed incorrectly.
It is quite a rare occurrence but overcharging an inverter battery can happen. And it will quickly lead to damage. You need to correct the issue before it kills your equipment and becomes a safety threat.
How Do I Know If My Inverter Battery is Overcharged?
It’s quite easy to spot the symptoms of an overcharged battery.
The first thing to do is to check the temperature on the sides of your battery. A tell-tale sign of overcharge is a hot battery! The shell will feel warm or hot to the touch. If this is the case turn off your system immediately to stop any more energy from being sent into the battery.
If you don’t spot this heat in time, the next thing to happen will be a swelling and melting in the battery. This is because the excess energy is starting to boil the battery acid and water. Hydrogen gas can start to accumulate inside the battery cells which is why you might notice a swelling.
This is a particularly dangerous sign, as when this hydrogen becomes exposed to oxygen it will become extremely flammable. A small spark could then be enough to cause an explosion. And sparks are likely to fly, considering we’re using overcharged electrical systems. You need to shut things down and move away immediately.
An explosion of a battery is very very dangerous with plastic, metal, and acid being sent flying! It’s almost like a balloon filling up with air until it pops. Except, the battery is filling up with energy… and is made of metal, not rubber…
How to Stop a Battery Overcharging
You can check and stop any battery from overcharging by taking a voltage reading. Use a multimeter to check the voltage level of your battery. The higher the voltage the more energy in a battery.
For instance, a 12V battery is not always 12 volts. It varies between 10V and 14V depending on charge level. If you are getting a reading of over 14.8 volts then you have overcharged your battery.
A battery charger will also have a voltage regulator to stop overcharging. Adding to this all inverters should have overvoltage built-in so if it senses the voltage being too high from the battery it will cut out to protect itself.
If your battery charger is overcharging your equipment then it is faulty. Modern technology will have protections against these issues and yours isn’t working. You should repair or replace your charger immediately.
Final Words of Inverter Overcharging Batteries
Overcharging inverter batteries is dangerous.
It can wreck your equipment and pose a safety threat if ignored.
That’s why I always install a separate battery monitor so I can quickly check battery voltage at any time without.
If you spot any abnormally high voltage readings or hot to touch sides to your battery then stop charging immediately.
Overcharging will be due to a fault inverter charger or incorrect installation.
Don’t try to continue using your equipment. Have it checked by a professional and replace any faulty components.
