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SPH Ni-Cd batteries
Installation and operating instructions
March 2013
Important recommendations
■
Never allow an exposed flame or
spark near the batteries,
particularly while charging.
■
Never smoke while performing any
operation on the battery.
■
For protection, wear rubber gloves,
long sleeves, and appropriate
splash goggles or face shield.
■
The electrolyte is harmful to skin
and eyes. In the event of contact
with skin or eyes, wash immediately
with plenty of water. If eyes are
affected, flush with water, and
obtain immediate medical attention.
■
Remove all rings, watches and
other items with metal parts before
working on the battery.
■
Use insulated tools.
■
Avoid static electricity and take
measures for protection against
electric shocks.
■
Discharge any possible static
electricity from clothing
and/or tools by touching an
earth-connected part "ground"
before working on the battery.
1. Receiving the shipment
Unpack the cells immediately upon
arrival. Do not overturn the package.
Transport seals are located under the
cover of the vent plug.
The cells are normally shipped filled,
discharged and ready for assembly.
The cells must never be charged
with the plastic transport seal in
place as this can cause permanent
damage.
2. Storage
Store the cells indoors in a dry, clean
and cool location (0°C to +30°C /
+32°F to +86°F).
■
Do not store in unopened packing
crates. The lid and the packing
material on top of the cells must
be removed.
■
Make sure that the transport seals
remain in place during storage.
■
Do not store in direct sunlight or
exposed to excessive heat.
■
Cells delivered discharged and filled
may be stored for many years before
it is installed.
■
Cells delivered exceptionally 80%
charged (for starting application)
must not be stored more than
3 months (including transport).
3. Electrolyte
The electrolyte to be used is: E4
When checking the electrolyte levels, a
fluctuation in level between cells is not
abnormal and is due to the different
amounts of gas held in the separator
of each cell. The level should be at least
15 mm above the minimum mark (lower)
and there is normally no need to adjust it.
When the cells are charged, the
electrolyte level can be above the
maximum level mark (upper).
4. Installation
4.1. Location
Install the battery in a dry and clean
room. Avoid direct sunlight, strong
daylight and heat.
The battery will give the best performances and maximum service life when
the ambient temperature is between
+10°C to +30°C (+50°F to +86°F).
4.2. Ventilation
At normal float charge the gas
evolution is very small but some
ventilation is necessary.
Note that special regulations for
ventilation may be valid in your area
depending on the application.
4.3. Mounting
Verify that cells are correctly
interconnected with the appropriate
polarity. The battery connection to load
should be with nickel plated cable lugs.
Recommended torques for connecting
nuts are:
• M 10 = 10 ± 2 N.m
• M 12 = 15 ± 2 N.m
The connectors and terminal nuts
should be corrosion-protected by
coating with a film of neutral vaseline.
Remove the transport seals and
close the vent plugs.
Install the IP2X protections according to
the assembly instructions in Appendix A
to have the battery compliant to IEC
62485-2/EN 50272-2 standards for IP2
level protection against electrical shocks.
5. Commissioning
Verify that the transport seals are
removed, the vents are closed and
the ventilation is adequate during
this operation.
A good commissioning is important.
Charge at constant current is
preferable. If the current is limit lower
than indicated in the table A, charge
for a proportionally longer time.
■
For filled and discharged cells
stored up to 1 year,
a commissioning charge is normally
not required and the cells are ready
for immediate use.
A commissioning charge as described
in the following section is only
recommended if full performances
are necessary immediately.
■
For cells stored more than 1 year
or for charged cells stored more
than 3 months,
a commissioning
charge is necessary:
• Constant current charge:
charge for 8 h at 0.2 C
A.
5
When the charger maximum voltage
setting is too low to supply constant
current charging, divide the battery
into two parts to be charged
individually.
• Constant voltage charge:
1.50 V/cell minimum for 24 h with
current limited to 0.2 C
with current limited to 0.1 C
A, or for 48 h
5
A.
5
Please note: if cells have been stored
in charged conditions for more than
3 months (including transport), or if
cells have been stored for a few years
or show difficulties in recovering
performance, constant current
charging becomes necessary and the
following values are recommended:
a) 15 h charge at 0.2 C
b) Discharge at 0.2 C
A
5
A down to
5
1.0 V/cell
c) 8 h charge at 0.2 C
A
5
d) The battery is ready for use.
For capacity test purposes, the battery
has to be charged in accordance with
IEC 60623 section 4.
6. Charging in service
At continuous parallel operation, the
battery is on continuous charge and
has only occasional discharges.
Recommended charging voltage
(+20°C to +25°C / +68°F to +77°F):
■
for dual charge level:
• Float level: 1.40 ± 0.01 V/cell
• High level: 1.45 ± 0.01 V/cell
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SPH Ni-Cd batteries
■
for single charge level:
1.41 ± 0.01 V/cell.
In case of frequent deep discharges
(cycling), the charging voltage values
should be increased. Contact Saft for
more details.
For use at temperature outside
+10°C to +30°C (+50°F to +86°F),
the correcting factor for charge
voltage is – 2 mV/°C/cell
(–1.1 mV/°F/cell).
7. Topping-up
No electrolyte level measurement is
necessary if you use a Saft filling-pistol,
which allows the correct level to be
obtained by a simple nozzle setting.
See nozzle lengths in tables.
If a filling-pistol is not available, the
electrolyte level can be checked by
transparence or measured in the case
of flame retardant containers.
Insert a transparent glass or plastic
tube (alkali resistant, 5 to 6 mm in
diameter) vertically into the cell vent
until it touches the top of the plates.
Close the top end of the tube by
putting a finger on it and remove the
tube from the cell.
The height of the liquid in the tube
indicates the electrolyte level above
the plates.
■
Level (mm) high low
SPH 16 B to SPH 47 B 25 5
SPH 11 25 5
SPH/F 16 to SPH/F 52 55 5
SPH/F 60 to SPH/F 80 70 5
SPH/F 90 to SPH/F 190 65 5
SPH/F 220 to SPH/F 320 55 5
8. Periodic maintenance
■
Keep the battery clean using only
water. Do not use a wire brush or
solvents of any kind. Vent caps can
be rinsed in clean water if necessary.
■
Check visually the electrolyte level.
Never let the level fall below the
minimum level mark. Use only
distilled or deionized water to top-up.
Experience will tell the time interval
between topping-up.
Table A:
Capacity Charge current Electrolyte per cell Terminal Length of cell
Cell type C
(Ah) (A) (kg) (l) (mm)
Standard range:
SPH 11
11 2.2 0.07 0.25 M 10 45
SPH/F 16
SPH/F 21
SPH/F 24
SPH/F 28
SPH/F 36
SPH/F 45
SPH/F 52
SPH/F 60
SPH/F 70
SPH/F 80
SPH/F 90
SPH/F 100
SPH/F 115
SPH/F 130
SPH/F 150
SPH/F 170
SPH/F 190
SPH/F 220
SPH/F 250
SPH/F 280
SPH/F 300
SPH/F 320
16 3.2 0.13 0.44 M 10 65
21 4.2 0.11 0.38 M 10 65
24 4.8 0.10 0.35 M 10 65
28 5.6 0.16 0.54 M 10 65
36 7.2 0.24 0.84 M 10 65
45 9.0 0.22 0.76 M 10 65
52 10.4 0.20 0.70 M 10 65
60 12.0 0.26 0.89 M 10 50
70 14.0 0.24 0.82 M 10 50
80 16.0 0.21 0.71 M 10 50
90 18.0 0.46 1.60 M 12 45
100 20.0 0.44 1.50 M 12 45
115 23.0 0.38 1.30 M 12 45
130 26.0 0.44 1.50 M 12 45
150 30.0 0.55 1.90 M 12 45
170 34.0 0.64 2.20 2 x M 12 45
190 38.0 0.61 2.10 2 x M 12 45
220 44.0 1.39 4.80 2 x M 12 55
250 50.0 1.31 4.50 2 x M 12 55
280 56.0 1.21 4.20 2 x M 12 55
300 60.0 1.16 4.00 2 x M 12 55
320 64.0 1.10 3.80 2 x M 12 55
Compact range:
SPH 16 B
16 3.2 0.06 0.20 M 10 45
SPH 21 B
21 4.2 0.04 0.15 M 10 45
SPH 28 B
28 5.6 0.14 0.47 M 10 45
SPH 36 B
36 7.2 0.11 0.39 M 10 45
SPH 47 B
47 9.4 0.08 0.28 M 10 45
Note: Once the battery has been
filled with the correct electrolyte at
the battery factory, there is no need
to check the electrolyte density
periodically. Interpretation of density
measurements is difficult and could
be misleading.
■
Check the charging voltage.
It is of great importance that the
recommended charging voltage
remains unchanged.
The charger should be checked and
recorded at least once yearly.
If a cell float is found below 1.30 V,
high rate charge is recommended to
apply to the cell concerned.
■
Check every two years that all
connectors are tight.
Ah 0.2 C5 A Solid Liquid per pole topper nozzle
5
The connectors and terminal nuts
should be corrosion-protected by
coating with neutral vaseline.
■
High water consumption of the
battery is usually caused by improper
voltage setting of the charger.
9. Changing electrolyte
Due to the sintered electrode plastic
bonded technology, it is not necessary
to change the electrolyte during the life
time of the cell.
10. Environment
To protect the environment all used
batteries must be recycled.
Contact your local Saft representative
for information.