C&D Technologies RS-1476 Standby Battery Vented Cell - Manual (Page 21)

5.1 Monthly battery inspection should include the following:
• float charge voltage measured at battery terminal
• general appearance and cleanliness of battery, battery rack and battery area
• charger output current and voltage – float current and float voltage
• electrolyte levels (visual check)
• cracks in cell containers or leakage of electrolyte
• any evidence of corrosion at cell terminals, connectors or racks
• ambient temperature and condition of ventilation equipment
• pilot-cell voltage, electrolyte temperature
• unintentional ground faults
• all battery monitoring systems, if installed, are operational
• record findings clearly and date entries
5.2 Quarterly battery inspection should include:
The monthly observations, plus
• voltage of every cell and battery terminal voltage measured at battery
• temperature of electrolyte in representative cell(s), typically one cell/tier distributed throughout battery
• specific gravity of any cell where the individual cell float voltage is outside of the acceptable cell float voltage
range indicated in Table 5
• check float charge current
5.3 Annual battery inspection should include the following:
The quarterly observations, plus
• cell condition and visual inspection
• inter-cell/inter-unit connection integrity, measured with DLRO (see Part 4, Sect 1.7)
• check rack and/or cabinet for proper torque and signs of acid leakage
NOTE: If the battery has experienced abnormal operation, such as severe discharge or overcharge, a
more extensive inspection should be made to ensure that the battery has not been damaged. More
information can be found in the Reference and Maintenance section, Part 4 of this manual.
Periodic inspections, as outlined above, and the subsequent corrective actions are intended to provide a properly
maintained battery that will meet its performance requirements. In addition, yearly performance tests can be used
to demonstrate the adequacy of the maintenance practices. Each of these inspections and tests should be used
as best suited for the particular needs of the application. It is the user’s responsibility to format a maintenance
inspection and testing program to optimize the benefits available.
Under specified conditions (see Part 4, section 1.3), the battery specific gravity
readings are not going to change very much over the life of the cell. Specific
gravity readings are best utilized as a trouble-shooting tool. Specific gravity will
typically increase 10 to 20 points, depending on design, as water is electrolyzed
and the electrolyte levels drop from the high to low lines. The only times that
gravity drops is when water is added to bring the levels back up, or the battery
is in a discharged state, or is being self discharged due to an internal short. Both
of these discharge situations can be determined without the need for regular
gravity maintenance readings, e.g. by low cell voltage readings or the presence
of sulfate crystals on the surface of the positive plates and/or internal connector
straps.
5.4 Watering the battery
Apart from losses due to evaporation and oxygen diffusion, the quantity of water
consumed by a battery is proportional to the amount of overcharge it receives.
Batteries manufactured with lead-antimony alloy begin life consuming relatively
small amounts of water. As they age, they consume increasing amounts of
water, with quantities reaching ten times the original as they near the end of
their life. Batteries manufactured with lead-calcium alloy, because of the purity
of their grid components, require only about one-tenth the water used by new
lead-antimony batteries of the same size. This low requirement remains constant
during their entire life.
FIGURE 2.6.1 - Taking a
hydrometer reading
PART 2
CHARGING AND OPERATION OF BATTERY (CONTINUED)
RS1476/0215/CD 19 www.cdtechno.com
NOTE: Gross charger output may be
greater than the float current
required by the battery as the
charger may also be providing
the DC system load. Measure
battery float current at the
battery terminal.