1. Commissioning of filled and charged batteries
Before commissioning all cells/blocks must be
inspected for mechanical damage. Assemble the
cells/blocks in accordance with their polarity. If
necessary, the contact surface of the poles and the
connectors have to be cleaned. The connectors have to
be firmly seated by tightening the terminal screws M 10
with a torque of 22 Nm.
Check the electrolyte level in all cells. If necessary top
up with purified water as specified under DIN 43 530
part 4 all cells having lower level of electrolyte. Be
aware that the electrolyte level will increase during
charging.
Connect the battery to the DC power supply, with the
charger switched off, battery fuses removed and the
load disconnected, ensuring that the polarity is correct:
Positive terminal of the battery to the positive terminal of
the charger.
Switch on the charger and charge as per point 2.2. The
first charge must be monitored to ensure that limits are
not exceeded and that no unacceptable temperatures
occur. When charging is finished switch off the charger
or switch over to operating voltage, as per point 2.3.
2.0 Operation
For the operation of stationary battery installations DIN
VDE 0510 part 1+2 apply.
2.1 Discharging
Discharge capacities, currents and voltages are
specified in 6. Never discharge the battery below the
specified final voltages. No more than the specified
capacities are to be discharged. Charge immediately
after discharge as well as partial discharge.
2.2 Charging
Charging must only be carried out with direct current.
Charging procedures with their limit values may be
employed as under
DIN 41 773: IU -characteristic
DIN 41 774: W -characteristic
DIN 41 776: I -characteristic.
The limits for charging currents and the ripple currents
(see 2.6) must not be exceeded.
The commissioning charging of a filled and charged
battery can be made as follows:
a) Using chargers with IU characteristics at an
increased voltage of (2.33 -2.40 V) x number of cells
with automatic switching to the float voltage see
2.3a standby operation). The complete charging time
will be minimum 12 h.
b) Using chargers having a boost charging stage (W
characteristic or I characteristic) with the load
switched off up to the final charging voltage of (2.60 -
2.75 V) x number of cells. The charging must be
monitored and switched off when the fully charged
state is reached, or switched over to float charging
as per 2.3a. The charging time is about 6 -8 hours.
c) Using chargers with IU characteristics with float
voltage (see 2.3.a). Full capacity finally will be
obtained after the first discharge cycle. About 95 %
of the capacity is available after one week.
The fully charged state is reached when the cell
voltages and the specific density of the electrolyte have
not risen for a period of 2 hours.
2.3 Standby operation / buffer operation
In this case, the load, the DC power supply and the
battery are connected permanently in parallel. Thereby
the charging voltage is the operational voltage of the
battery and also the system voltage.
a) During standby operation (float) the DC power
supply is always able to provide the maximum load
current and the battery charging current. The
battery only supplies current, if the DC power
supply fails. The charge voltage at 20°C must be
set for OPzS and OGi at (2,23V x number of
cells)+-1% and for OPzL (2,25V x number of
cells)+-1% measured at the batteries’ terminals.
b) During buffer operation the DC power supply is
not always able to provide the maximum load
current. The load current temporarily exceeds the
rated current of the DC power supply. During this
time the battery supplies current. The battery is not
always fully charged. Depending on the load, the
charge voltage should be set at (2,25 to 2,30V) x
number of cells.
2.4 Recharging
After a discharge the battery can be recharged at the
operating voltage (see 2.3a). To reduce the charging
time the recharging can be carried out at (2,33V to
2,40V) x number of cells with automatic reduction to the
voltage under 2.3a. The recharging times are dependent
on the charging procedure selected and on the charging
current available; as a rule they run to 12 -24 hours at
charging currents between 2 •I10 -0,5 •I10.
2.5 Equalising Charge
After deep discharge or after inadequate recharging,
equalising charge is necessary. These can be carried
out as follows:
a) at an increased voltage of (2.33 -2.40 V) x number
of cells up to a maximum of 72 hours.
b) at currents according to the I or W characteristic (
see 2.6).
Because it is possible to exceed the permitted load
voltages, appropriate measures must be taken, e.g.
switch off the load.
