Operator`s manual

37
Manual
Power Supply
Figure 14: Constructed State of Charge (SoC) versus Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) Given 12.9 V at SoC 100%
Given this individual SoC-OCV relation, the user can now assess the SoC of a known lead acid battery. To this end,
follow the below instructions:
Disconnect the battery from the load and/or charge;•
If the battery is being charged or discharged, wait 20 minutes for the battery to stabilize;•
Contact the volt meter’s lead to the positive and negative terminals of the battery, and read the voltage;•
Compare the reading to individual SoC-OCV relation for the particular battery.•
Never discharge a sealed lead acid gel batteries below 40% SoC as this may negatively affect the life span of the
battery.
To keep track of their performance and state, each battery should be numbered and marked and an individual log
should be kept, indicating:
Date of purchase / delivery;•
Initial OCV;•
Dates of charge and OCV in fully charged state;•
Period of use including name of station and average load;•
SoC and OCV at end of period of use;•
Irregularities / remarks.•
Annex 5 presents a sample form for a battery log.
Always make sure that the log is kept accurately. A duly kept logbook is invaluable in assessing the condition and
state of a battery. It will indicate if a battery is reaching the end of its life span and needs to be disposed of and
replaced. Timely replacement will ensure continuous station operation, without unexpected power failures, which
may result in data loss, or worse, damage to the equipment.
BUOY_METSTAT also includes a routine for measuring the battery voltage on a daily basis. However, the user
cannot easily evaluate this information while on site, as it requires some data processing. Instead, these battery
voltage recordings need to be examined after transfer of the data to the office PC. The reader is referred to Annex 4
for detailed guidelines for assessing battery performance using the daily voltage record.
The solar panel continuously charges the battery. If the solar fails to charge, the battery would still function for
at least two months. A discharge below a SoC of 80% will negatively affect the life expectancy of the battery. It is
therefore advised to follow the below guidelines:
Visit the meteorological station on a monthly basis;•
Visually check if all wires are connected properly, and if all contacts are clean and not corroded;•
Connect the CR10KD Keyboard and check the state of the battery using “star-six” mode; input location 1 is •
assigned to battery voltage;
If the voltage is below the initial OCV minus 0.05 volt, a problem has occurred with the power supply; check the •
performance of the solar panel and regulator; make sure to identify and fix the problem;
If the voltage is below 12.5 volt, replace the battery with a fully charged one;•
Take the battery to the Office and immediately recharge it slowly with the CH12R charging unit; follow the •
instructions under ‘recharge’.
4.2.4 Recharge
If the SoC of a battery falls below 80%, it should be returned to the office for recharge. Proper recharge will
significantly increase the life span of the battery, while improper recharge can destroy it. The user is therefore
advised to carefully read the guidelines in this paragraph.