RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VRLA BATTERIES HANDLING/MAINTENANCE

VRLA Battery is an electro chemical device and having fixed amount of capacity. Battery is a highly temperature sensitive device and performance is affected accordingly. Performance and Life of VRLA batteries depend on how frequently batteries are drained and recharged. To avoid premature failure of batteries kindly ensure the implementation of below recommendations at site. STORAGE PERIOD: a) Batteries should be stored in a cool (27C) & dry location, protected from direct sunlight and rain. b) Do not stack the packing boxes one on top of the other since this may cause damage to the batteries. c) Batteries upon storage loose capacity due to self discharge & this may increases with temperature rise & longer storage period. d) Batteries need to be charged periodically on storage for prolonged periods, failing which the battery capacity may become irrecoverable due to irreversible sulphation. e) In case of longer storage (Six Months) or fall in OCV below 2.1 volts/cell which ever is earlier, a freshening charge must be given to batteries. f) Under no circumstances the OCV of the Battery under storage shall reach a value less than 1.93 volts/celI. If reached, the battery will be permanently damaged. g) If the ambient temperature during storage is above 27C, the batteries must be given a freshening charge at shorter intervals. In general, a 7C to 10C in ambient temperature will have the storage time is reduced from 6 months to 3 months. BATTERY INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING: a) Ensure Battery installation & commissioning at the earliest (within one month). Please follow the provided General Assembly Drawing and O&M Manual before starting the Battery installation b) Operating temperature of batteries should be controlled around 27C for best performance and life. c) Battery should not be installed at an airtight area. There should be adequate ventilation. d) Keep the B.B away from heat generating sources, so as to avoid temperature variation of the cells within the battery. e) Dont use the tap connection with in the battery bank as this can influence negatively for the internal voltage variation and capacity of overall bank will degrade drastically. f) Use insulated tools during I&C. g) All vent plugs and ICCs of battery cells should be tightened properly. CHARGING CAUTION: a) Do not put tools or other equipment over the battery. b) Be sure the charger should turned off before making electrical connections between the battery and the Power Plant.

CHARGER SETTINGS: a) Float voltage: 2.25 VPC at the battery terminals at 27C. b) Boost voltage: 2.30 VPC at the battery terminals at 27C. c) Auto-Boost change over criteria: Batteries should be charged in boost voltage when the batteries are drawing a current equal to or exceeding 5% of the rated capacity (AH). SMPS should be enabled to go to boost automatically depending on the above settings. d) Auto-Float resume criteria: Charger should resume float charging only when the battery draws a current less than 3% of the rated capacity of the battery (AH). SMPS should be enabled to go to float from boost automatically depending on the above settings. e) Battery Path Current Limit: Current limit for the charging should be limited to a maximum of 20% of the rated capacity of the battery (AH). However a charging current of 10 % of the rated Ah capacity is recommended for better charging in float application. f) Low Voltage disconnect: Ensure this setting for subject system, by keeping per cell voltage equals to 1.85 Volts. g) Temperature compensation: This feature of Power Plant should be in active mode always to control the charging voltage for Battery. For each degree Celsius rise in temperature, voltage in the SMPS should reduce (at the battery terminals) @ 3mv/ cell and vice versa. Above charger settings should be ensured at sites for 100% state of charge of batteries failing which battery will work in partial state of charge (PSOC) and over the period, battery will get permanent sulphation and will result into permanent loss of capacity.

PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED FOR ACCEPTANCE TEST. a) AT of batteries should be conducted immediately after installation. b) Site should not be commissioned (on-air) before conducting the AT. c) Battery should be charged completely prior to conduct the discharge test to avoid failures. Pls refer the O&M manual for detailed charging instructions. d) Ensure the charging of batteries even after AT test.

NOTE Batteries should be charged upto 100% SOC before taking next discharge to avoid premature failure of Batteries.