Station Battery Conductance Testing

[dithomas]

The 6 month PM specification for station battery PM includes a conductance test.

Where can I find a test meter?

Is this test of any value?

How are the test results interrupted?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Zogzog]

You mean impedance test? I can see where this is going, hire a certified testing company. Start looking here

http://www.netaworld.org

 

[alehman]

Yes, the test is valuable. The most value is with comparison to past tests and comparisons between cells. If these are sealed cells, it is the best indicator of condition.

and what Zog said.

 

[dithomas]

Zogzog: I did mean Conductance. Where do you think this is going? What does NETA stand for "No Electrical Tests Anytime"?

Alehman: Thanks for the reply.

 

[DanEE]

There is only one company's battery conductance testing that I'm comfortable after doing extensive reading on the subject.. Alber

Their equipment is essentially an automated DC load tester with the A/D to digitize and compute internal conductance based the the amount of voltage drop seen when the load is applied and released.

Stay away from testers that use low frequency AC to measure the battery condition.. The paper below will explain why.

We have had conversations with several battery manufacturers (particularly GNB Absolyte) and the only data they will accept on a warranty claim is a DC load test.

http://www.alber.com/Products.htm

http://www.alber.com/Docs/AlberPaperFINAL2003.pdf

We use an Alber CRT-300 and have found it to be a reliable indicator of battery condition compared to extended time load tests. We use both tests at some sites based on customer requirements.

 

[Jebb]

We use a Midtronics CTE-1500 to the testing conductance testing which seems to work for us. Because we have an A & B DC system we have the ability to do a yearly "real" load test to get the max run-time without affecting our operations.

As for the Alber white paper..... Just like Homer Simpson says, "Facts are meaningless... You can use facts to prove anything.".

 

[Zogzog]

"Where do you think this is going?"

Well battery testing is dangerous work, has to be done energized and should only be done by qualified testing persons with the proper tools, PPE, and test equipment. If you have to ask questions about what the test is, how it is done, etc, I assume you are not experianced in the subject matter and should hire a testing company.

"What does NETA stand for "No Electrical Tests Anytime"?"
International Electrical Testing Assocition, they have testing standards that are also a recognized ANSI standard.

 

[ScottyUK]

'International', but only really recognised within North America. Like the baseball 'World Series' with only one nation competing.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[oldfieldguy]

Scotty--

I think we got the Canadians involved. That counts as "international", right, Canada?

old field guy

 

[Zogzog]

"'International', but only really recognised within North America. Like the baseball 'World Series' with only one nation competing."

There are many member companies in Canada, mexico, and several in South America, but it is pretty much only on this side of the pond. You guys have anything similar in Europe?

 

[ScottyUK]

Hi Zogzog,

No, we haven't got a direct equivalent, at least not in the UK. The closest is probably Gambica, although its focus is on equipment manufacture more than on maintenance and plant ops. The UK's power industry is structured quite differently to the US: until a few years ago it was a mature nationalised industry with its own internal set of standards, along with specialist maintenance and research groups focussing on batteries, transformers, protection, generators, AVR's, lines, towers, and pretty much everything else. The standards were generally very specific, well written, and combined practical experience with sound theory. Since the privatisation / decimation of the industry nothing has really stepped into the void left by the demise of the CEGB and the regional boards. It is a shame that so much of North American electrical practice is markedly different to that in Europe or NETA might find more interest over here.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!