BAE TECHNICAL INFORMATION

CAPACITY TEST INSTRUCTION

1. General
This instruction is valid for stationary batteries of vented
or valve regulated design.
For vented lead-acid batteries the following instructions
have to be observed:
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTION
MIXING INSTRUCTION (in case the electrolyte
is not supplied by BAE)
COMMISSIONING
INSTRUCTION
AND
REPORT
OPERATING INSTRUCTION VLA Batteries
IEC 60896-11
For valve regulated lead-acid batteries the following
instructions have to be observed:
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTION
SUPPLEMENT TO THE INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTION (in case the cells are mounted
horizontally)
OPERATING INSTRUCTION VRLA Batteries
IEC 60896-21 and part 22

2. Load test of valve regulated lead-acid batteries

2.1 Preparation
In the OPERATING INSTRUCTION VRLA Batteries point
3.3 and 3.4 the measures for preparation are given. The
best and quickest method is charging according the IUIcharacteristic, i.e. constant current, constant voltage,
constant current charge. The final current with
1.5 A/100 Ah shall be applied until single cell / block
voltages dont increase anymore within 2 hours.
Depending on the storage time and the storage
temperature
it
takes
1-3
days.
Charging with IU-charge characteristic takes longer,
because the current reduces during constant voltage
charge to 0.05 A per 100 Ah. Approximately one week
has to be scheduled. The charging voltage of cells or
blocks should not increase further within 2 h.
If only the float voltage can be applied, it takes one to
several months until the cells are equalised.
2.2 Capacity test
Instructions are given in IEC 60896-21.
In case, the battery was charged with increased voltage
(> 2.25 V/cell), the battery needs to stay disconnected for
1 to 24 hours before discharge.
The discharge current or the discharge power, the
discharge time and the final battery voltage has to be
chosen according to the BAE specifications. Records of
the current or power, the temperature and the battery
voltage have to be made every 10 % of the expected
discharge time. The discharge is finished, if the battery
voltage has dropped below the final battery voltage.
Single cells may drop to 0.2 V below the average. If
monoblocks are being tested, single blocks voltages may
drop 0.2 V x (number of cells per block), e.g. 0.34 V for
a 6-Volt-block or 0.49 V for a 12-Volt-block. The capacity
or discharge time has to be in the first cycle 95 % of the
th
specified data, after the 5 cycle 100 %.

2.3 Charging
The recharge shall be made according to OPERATING
INSTRUCTION VRLA Batteries. Before a further test is
applied the time for a full charge has to be given, i.e. no
increase of cell or block voltages within 2 h.

3. Load test of vented lead-acid batteries

3.1 Preparation
In the OPERATING INSTRUCTION VLA Batteries point
2 the measures for preparation are given. The best and
quickest method is
charging according the IUIcharacteristic, i.e. constant current, constant voltage,
constant current charge. The final current with
5 A/100 Ah shall be applied until single cell / block
voltages dont increase anymore within 2 hours.
Depending on the storage time and the storage
temperature
it
takes
8
to
12 h.
The IU-charge takes longer, because the current reduces
during constant voltage charge to 0.05 A per 100 Ah.
Approximately one week has to be scheduled. The
charging voltage of cells or blocks should not increase
further
within
2 h.
If only the float voltage can be applied, it takes one to
several months until the cells are equalised.
3.2 Capacity test
Instructions are given in IEC 60896-11.
In case, the battery was charged with increased voltage
(> 2.23 V/cell), the battery needs to stay disconnected for
1 to 24 hours before discharge.
The discharge current or the discharge power, the
discharge time and the final battery voltage has to be
chosen according to the BAE specifications. Records of
the current or power, the temperature and the battery
voltage have to be made every 10% of the expected
discharge
time.
The discharge is finished, if the battery voltage has
dropped below the final battery voltage, single cells may
drop to 0.2 V below the average. If monoblocks are being
tested, single blocks voltages may drop 0.2 V x (number
of cells per block), e.g. 0.34 V for a 6-Volt-block or 0.49 V
for a 12-Volt-block. The capacity or discharge time has to
be in the first cycle 95 % of the specified data, after the
th
5 cycle 100 %.
3.3 Charging
The recharge shall be made according to OPERATING
INSTRUCTION VLA Batteries. Before a further test is
applied the time for a full charge has to be given, i.e. no
increase of cell or block voltages within 2 h