TECHNICAL MANUAL RS02061 Standby Batteries for Renewable Energy Applications Installation and Operating Instructions RS02061/0514/CD www.cdtechno.
Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 3 Recommended Practices and Technical References 4 Cautions and Safety 5 Battery Room Requirements 5 Ventilation 5 Access to the Battery 5 Battery Layout 6 Location and Temperature 6 Receiving, Initial Inspection and Storage 6 Receiving 6 Initial Inspection 6 Damage and Shortage Situations 6 Storage of Charged and Wet Batteries
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Only authorized and trained personnel familiar with Photovoltaic/Standby battery installation, preparation, charging and maintenance should be permitted access to the battery. WARNING SHOCK HAZARD - DO NOT TOUCH UN-INSULATED BATTERY, CONNECTORS OR TERMINALS. BE SURE TO DISCHARGE STATIC ELECTRICITY FROM TOOLS AND TECHNICIAN BY TOUCHING A GROUNDED SURFACE IN THE VICINITY OF THE BATTERIES BUT AWAY FROM THE CELLS AND FLAME ARRESTERS. GAS PRODUCED BY THIS BATTERY CAN BE EXPLOSIVE.
Recommended Practices and Technical References These instructions assume a certain level of competence by the installer/user. Batteries are dangerous. Installers must have the appropriate knowledge and experience to safely install the batteries. The design of the battery room or enclosure, system wiring, wiring protection and safety requirements must comply with any applicable codes, other electrical fire, or environmental codes and required by the applicable enforcement agency.
Cautions and Safety Batteries can be considered a hazardous material as they contain: explosive gases, sulfuric acid, lead and large amounts of potential electrical energy. Care needs to be taken to provide personal safety in handling, storing, installing and disposing of lead acid batteries. Only trained personnel should be near batteries.
Battery Layout The layout of the batteries should be determined well before the batteries are installed. If help is needed in determining the layout consult, C & D Technologies Technical Services. When parallel strings are being used, it is important to provide an equal potential to each string. This requires that the cables between the load and the charging sources be of equal resistance.
Storage of Charged and Wet Batteries Store batteries in a cool, dry location and place in service as soon as possible after receiving. The recommended temperature for storage is 77°F (25°C), but a range of 60°F(16°C) to 80°F (27°C) is acceptable. Do not allow the electrolyte to freeze, as this will damage the battery and can cause potentially hazardous leakage.
Torque Value Chart Model 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Torque Value CPV 360, 430, 550, 660, 780, 890, 1000, 1220, 1330, 1440, 1880 & 2030 160 in-lbs 18 N-m CPV 1550, 1660, 1770, 2190, 2340, 2500 110 in-lbs 12.4 N-m VRS12-75, 88, 100, 155F, 175F, 215F 110 in-lbs 12.4 N-m VRS12-33 & VRS12-50 30 in-lbs 3.4 N-m D, K, L-CPS 110 in-lbs 12.4 N-m With batteries installed and torqued. Measure inter-cell resistance with a calibrated device and record.
Battery Operation and Charging General Principles of Operation Shallow and Deep Cycling Applications Although there are many different types of battery applications in photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems there are two main types of battery applications. The most common application is in cycling applications where the battery carries the load when the solar resource or other renewable energy source is not available. This can be during the night or during cloudy days.
Cycling Battery Charging Chart Battery Series CPV Models Daily Charge at 77°F (25°C) Weekly Charge at 77°F (25°C) 2.55 Vpc 2.50 to 2.55 Vpc 13.62 to 13.80 VDC/Unit Average 14.4 to 14.8 VDC/Unit Average D, K, L - CPS-A 2.50 Vpc 2.50 to 2.55 Vpc D, K, L - CPS-D 2.43 Vpc 2.43 to 2.47 Vpc VR Solar ® Float Applications Batteries in back-up power applications are constantly charged. In most cases, a constant voltage charger maintains the float voltage.
Charging Voltage Temperature Compensation Chart Battery Series Temperature Compensation CPV Models + 2.8 mV/F per cell below 77°F (25°C) - 2.8 mV/F per cell above 77°F (25°C) VR Solar® + 3.0 mV/F per cell below 77°F (25°C) - 3.0 mV/F per cell above 77°F (25°C) D, K, L - CPS + 2.8 mV/F per cell below 77°F (25°C) - 2.8 mV/F per cell above 77°F (25°C) Electrolyte Freezing To prevent freezing make be sure maintain a high state of charge and thus a high specific gravity in the battery.
A complete description of capacity tests on lead acid batteries is beyond the scope of this manual but is discussed in detail in current releases of IEEE STD 450 and IEEE 1188. A full-load service test to be performed not more than once every twelve (12) months to verify battery capacity at users originally specified discharge rate. Battery Degradation Properly maintained and charged lead-acid storage batteries should provide many years of trouble-free service.
Hydration A battery, which has been over-discharged and left in a discharged condition without immediate recharge, is subject to terminal damage known as “hydration.” This is a phenomenon in which the specific gravity of the electrolyte has been reduced to a level so low that it permits the lead components to dissolve into the electrolyte, totally destroying the cells. As a result, short circuits become so extensive that is almost impossible to keep the cells charged.
Watering cells and adjusting electrolyte levels in vented cells CAUTION: Do not add water or electrolyte to VRLA cells. Removal of vents from VRLA type cells voids the warranty. Adjust electrolyte levels only when cells are fully charged and stabilized at float voltage. Distilled or de-ionized water is preferred for adjusting electrolyte levels. Before adding water or acid to a battery, consider its condition and state of charge.
