Lucent Technologies Round Cell Batteries
7 - 16 Operation and Maintenance Issue 3 December 1999
Perform Discharge Capacity Test
Interval Perform this procedure at 5-year intervals, if required, or when an
accurate measurement of capacity performance is needed.
Guidelines The discharge capacity test is the best way to determine if sufficient
reserve power is available. It is not required for routine maintenance,
since the capacity of the Round Cell under float conditions increases
with age. The discharge capacity test should be run directly off float
charge without prior boost charge. Cells to be tested should have been
on float for at least 1 month without a boost charge and without a power
failure exceeding 30 minutes.
Procedure Perform the following steps for a complete discharge capacity test:
Discharge Capacity Test
Step Action
1
Refer to the tables in Section 8, Discharge and Power Data,
and select a discharge rate and end of discharge voltage to be
used for the discharge test.
2
Just prior to the discharge capacity test, record the following
for the cells to be discharged:
• Cell float voltage
• Electrolyte temperature
• Temperature-corrected specific gravity
• Presence or absence of lead-sulfate crystals
3
Perform the discharge by applying the load recorded in Step 1
directly from float. It will be necessary, particularly at the
beginning of the discharge, to monitor the discharge current
and adjust the load bank as necessary to maintain a constant
load of the battery as it drops in voltage.
4
Record individual cell voltages and discharge current
periodically throughout the test to establish a smooth discharge
curve and to verify that the discharge current was properly
maintained.
5
Record the time (in minutes) required to discharge the battery
to the end of discharge voltage selected in Step 1.
Continued on next page.
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