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IEEE Std. 1188-2005 requirements and Battery Tester capability | Download PDF

IEEE Recommended Practice for Maintenance, Testing, and Replacement of Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA)Batteries for Stationary Applications. This standard is available and can be purchased from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE). The IEEE can be reached by telephone at1-800-981-IEEE.For on-line access to IEEE standards information, please click here: http://www.standards.ieee.org/ This paper discusses the highlights of this standard and is not intended to substitute for informationcontained within the complete standard. For detail and comprehensive information, Please refer to the standard.

The old type as “Flooded batteries” be checked by “Measuring Specific Gravity” and “Visual Inspection” and etc. But, there is no accurate method of assessing the condition of a VRLA battery other than doinga load test, IEEE Std.1188-1996 at first and IEEE Std.1188-2005 revised IEEE Practice for Maintenance,Testing, and Replacement of Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) Batteries for Stationary Applications.

It is overstatement to say that “VRLA batteries” is called as “Maintenance Free Batteries” because propermaintenance will prolong the life of a battery and will aid in assuring that it is capable of satisfying itsdesign requirements.

1. Scope

IEEE Std. is limited to maintenance, test schedules, and testing procedures that can be used to optimizethe life and performance of VRLA batteries for stationary applications.

2. Inspection

All inspections should be made under normal float conditions if possible, and all measurement andobservations should be recorded for future comparisons.

2.1 Monthly

A monthly general inspection should include a check and record of the following.

a) Overall float voltage measured at the battery terminals.

b) Charger Output current and voltage.

c) DC float current (per string) and etc

2.2 Quarterly

A quarterly inspection should include the “Monthly” and a check and record of the following:

a) Cell/unit internal ohmic values.

b) Temperature of the negative terminal of each cell/unit of battery.

c) Voltage of each cell/unit.

2.3 Yearly and initial

The Yearly inspection and initial inspection should include the Monthly and Quarterly:

a) Cell-to-cell and terminal connection detail resistance of entire battery.

b) AC ripple current and/or voltage imposed on the battery.

3. Corrective actions immediately

a) If connection resistance readings are more than 20% above the installation value or above a ceilingvalue established by the manufacturer, re-torque and re-test.

b) When cell/unit internal ohmic values deviate by a significant amount from either the installationvalue or from the average of all connected cell/unit, additional actions are needed.

4. Battery replacement criteria

This recommended practice is to replace a cell/unit or the battery if its capacity, as determined in specificCapacity Test Method, is below 80% of the manufacturer’s rating.

5. Thermal runaway

When a VRLA cell is operating on float or overcharge in a fully recombination mode, there is no netchemical reaction and almost all overcharge energy results in heat generation. However, if therecombination reaction gives rise to a rate of heat evolution that exceeds the rate of heat dissipation, thebattery temperature will rise and more current will be required to maintain the float voltage.

6. Ripple current

A battery charger with low electric noise levels must be used for VRLA batteries to limit the ripple current. An acceptable charger is one that does not raise the average fully charged battery operating temperature, as measured at the negative terminal, by more than 3‚ÑÉ (5‚Ñâ) above ambient in a free-standing condition.

7. Cell/Unit internal ohmic measurement

The internal ohmic properties of a cell consist of several factors, including the physical connection resistances, the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte, and the activity of the electrochemical process occurring at the plate surfaces.

The techniques for measuring internal ohmic properties are not standardized. As Different manufacturersuse various frequencies and amplitudes and measure the resultant signal differently, the cell/unit ohmic values measured will vary with the specific measurement techniques and the conditions under which the measurements are taken.

When internal ohmic measurements are taken, the type of test equipment used, the test points selected, cell/unit voltages, and cell/unit temperatures be recorded. Significant changes in the values typically indicate a significant change in the cell that may be reflected in its performance. Typically, a change of 30% to 50% from a baseline is considered significant.

8. Connection detail resistance measurements

It is very important that the measurement procedure be consistent to detect upward changes that could becaused by corrosion or loose connections.

The desire contact point for each micro-ohmmeter probe is onthe terminal post rather than on the intercell connection hardware.

Depending on the cell design, it might be difficult to obtain measurement directly onto the terminal post. If this is the case, contact the battery manufacturer for guidance.

9. Summary of IEEE Std. 450-2002, IEEE Recommended Practice for maintenance, Testing, and Replacement of Vented Lead-Acid Batteries for Stationary Applications

- Internal ohmic measurement can provide possible indication of battery cell problem and may identifythose cells that have internal degradations.

- As the measurement data will differ with each style and model of instrument, the consistent use of thesame type and model of instrument will provide the most consistent results.

- Baseline measurements should be taken within 6 months of installation, and significant changes (e.g.,over 100% for impedance and resistance measurement and 50% for conductance measurement) inthe internal ohmic values of a cell are an indication of internal cell degradation.

10. IEEE Std. 1188-2005 requirement and Battery Tester capability.

As upper table, IBEX is only the Portable Battery Tester available to measure all requirements of all IEEEStandards for VRLA and Flooded Stationary batteries.