Technical Manual

Document No. 6-0101 Rev. F Page 14 of 40
CHAPTER 5 - COMMISSIONING AND SERVICING INSTRUCTIONS
5.1 Storage
Lifeline® Batteries are charged at the factory before shipment to the distributor. For warranty
coverage, batteries need to be properly boost charged while in storage and installed within 12
months of the original factory ship date. Batteries should be stored in the coolest environment
available, preferably not exceeding 68°F (20°C). The higher the temperature, the faster the
battery will self-discharge and require boost charging. See Appendix C for data on storage time
versus temperature.
While in storage, batteries should be boost charged every 90 days or when the open circuit
voltage (OCV) drops to 12.5 volts for a 12-volt battery (6.25 volts for a 6-volt battery and 2.08
volts for a 2V battery). This OCV corresponds to approximately 75% state of charge. Boost
charge batteries using a constant voltage charger set at 14.4 to 15.0 volts for a 12-volt battery
(7.2 to 7.5 volts for a 6-volt battery and 2.40 to 2.50 for a 2 volt battery). The boost charge
should be applied until the charging current falls below 0.5 percent of the battery’s 20 hour rated
capacity (0.5 amps for a 100 Ah battery).
5.2 Installation
Lifeline® AGM batteries are designed to be installed upright (terminal facing upwards). For
installation in non-upright orientations, contact Concorde for assistance.
Be sure there is adequate ventilation in the area where the batteries are to be installed. Refer to
Section 6.1 for specific safety hazards associated with the emission of hydrogen gas. The space
surrounding adjacent batteries should be at least 0.25 inch to permit airflow around each
battery.
Batteries may be connected in series (voltage adds, capacity stays the same), in parallel
(capacity adds, voltage stays the same), or a combination of series and parallel (both voltage
and capacity add). Each of these connection options are illustrated in Figures 5-1 through 5-3,
respectively. Be sure to torque the terminal bolts to the values given in Section 4.2.
Always use batteries of the same size and condition in multi-battery installations. Connect
batteries using cabling that is sized for the maximum load of the system. The voltage drop on
the cables during charging should not exceed 0.2 volts at full output. Protect the battery
terminals from shorting during installation. When replacing batteries, it is best to replace the
entire set of batteries so they remain balanced.