Sparks Electrical News March 2021

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

10

Maintaining backup battery systems for maximum usage and reliability

Innovative electrical product saves contractors time and money

S tandby battery backup systems play a critical role in keep- ing essential operations functional in the event of a utility outage. Facilities like data centres; hospitals; airports; utilities; oil and gas facilities and railways can’t operate without 100 percent backup pow- er reliability. Even standard commercial and manufacturing facilities have backup power systems for their emergency systems; alarms and controls; emergency lighting; steam and for control systems. Most backup power systems use an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and a string of batteries. The UPS backs up the digital control system (DCS) to keep control of plant operations until systems can be safely shut down or until the auxiliary generator kicks on. Although most batteries used in modern-day UPS systems are ‘maintenance free’, they are still susceptible to deterioration from cor- rosion, internal shorts, sulphation, dry-out, and seal failure. This article outlines best practices for keeping these ‘battery banks’ at optimum performance so that, if an outage does occur, the backup is ready. Internal resistance is a lifespan test, not a capacity test. Battery re- sistance stays relatively flat until the end of life draws near. At that point, internal resistance increases and battery capacity decreases. Measuring and tracking this value helps identify when a battery needs replacing. Only use a specialised battery tester designed to measure battery resistance while the battery is in service. Read the voltage drop on the load current (conductance) or the ac impedance. Both results will be in ohmic values. A single ohmic measurement is of little value without context. Best practice requires measuring ohmic values over months and years, each time comparing them to previous values on record to create a base line. Discharge testing Discharge testing is the ultimate way to discover the true avail- able capacity of a battery but can be complicated to perform. In discharge testing, a battery is connected to a load and discharged over a specified period. During this test period, current is regulated, and a constant known current is drawn while voltage is measured periodically. Details of the discharge current, the specified time pe- riod for discharge testing, and the capacity of the battery in ampere hours can be calculated and compared to the manufacturers’ speci- fication. For example, a 12 V 100-amp-hour battery may require a discharge current of 12 A for an eight-hour period. A 12 V battery would be discharged when the terminal voltage is 10.5 V. Batteries cannot support critical loads during and immediately af- ter a discharge test. Transfer critical loads to a different battery bank until well after the test is complete and then reconnect a temporary comparably sized load to the batteries under test. In addition, before conducting the test, prepare a cooling system to compensate for a rise in ambient temperature. When large batteries discharge, they re- lease a significant amount of energy expended as heat. T he Cat range of rugged smart and feature phones are designed to challenge expectations of what a phone can and should do. They are ideal for more demanding work environments, such as the signage, printing, rigging and manu- facturing industry. Every external surface of the Cat S42 has been enhanced with advanced antimicrobial product protection, making it the first anti-bacterial phone. Every exterior component of the product has been treated with Biomaster antimicrobial technology and tested to ISO 22196. Based on the inclusion of silver ions during manufactur- ing, the process creates a permanent level of product protec- tion, inhibiting the growth of microbes on the phone surface and therefore reducing microbial levels on the surface. Research shows that our phones are home to thousands of Top two indicators of battery health: Internal battery resistance

R eal Innovative Products was start- ed by three partners in 2010. The electrical junction box idea was born out of a real need for one of the partners, who at the time was working in his own electrical business. Making open electrical connections compliant was time consuming and often hard work in hot, confined spaces such as roofs. At the time, the only available way was to use the standard connector box, a de- sign that had been around for over 100 years. There had to be a better way. Contractors nowadays are using more and more FT&E and this is where a new electrical innovation comes in, the Ripbox. The creators of the product noted that electrical companies who do ‘compliance’ work when a home or factory is sold, are the biggest users of Ripbox. Often open connections are left, for instance in the roof void, making the Ripbox invaluable for electrical contractors. Ripbox is designed and manufactured locally here in South Africa and is intend- ed to be used when joining FT&E or Sur-

fix cables (round as opposed to flat) up to 2.5 mm in size or even Cabtyre cable needs to be joined. Alternatively, they are commonly used to enclose open electri- cal connections in roof spaces. The intention right from the start was to create an electrical junction box to simplify the joining of cables, making it faster and cheaper, thus saving time and money. Instead of using the old conven- tional method of buying a round junc- tion box, a round lid, two glands and two screws, then having to fiddle and insert all of this into the box, the Ripbox offers an easier solution. In short, the connec- tion of the cables can be made first, and then the Ripbox is simply clipped over the connection. Two identical halves of the product clip together over a new or existing electrical wire connection, thus forming a compli- ant junction box without having to dis- connect and reconnect the wires. The product is available in wholesale packs of 10 units per pack and 25 packs per box.

Healthy batteries should maintain a capacity above 90% of the manufacturer’s rating; most manufacturers recom- mend replacing the battery if it falls below 80%. When conducting battery tests, look for these indicators of failure: • Drop in capacity of more than 10% compared to the baseline or previous measurement. • 20% or more increase in impedance compared to baseline or previous. • Sustained high temperatures, compared to baseline and manufacturer’s specs. • Degradation in plate condition. How to conduct standard battery tests: 1. Float voltage • Isolate the battery or batteries from the charging sys- tem and the load. • Measure the individual cell voltage or string using a digital multimeter or battery analyser such as on a monthly basis. 2. Charger output • Measure the charger output voltage at the charger output terminals using a digital multimeter or battery analyser such as the Fluke 500 Series Battery Ana- lyser on a monthly basis. • Observe the output current shown on the charger cur- rent meter or use an appropriate dc current clamp meter. Measure monthly. 3. DC float current • Refer to manufacturer’s specifications for approximate values for expected float currents. • Use an appropriate dc current clamp meter to meas- ure expected float current on a monthly basis. • Internal ohmic values. • Use a battery analyser such as the Fluke 500 Series to measure the individual battery ohmic values on a quarterly basis. • Establish reference values and maintain in the battery database.

Enquiries: sales@ripbox.co.za

Enquiries: sales@comtest.co.za

Phone enhanced with advanced antimicrobial product protection

er devices in the Cat phones range later in the year. Tested to Cat phones’ demanding rugged stand- ards, the Cat S42 features MIL SPEC 810H and IP68 and IP69 ratings, and surpasses their rigour- ous and repeated drop testing from 1.8 m onto steel, including multiple drops onto every side and corner. It is fully waterproof, tested submerged in water at depths up to 1.5 m for 35 minutes. Like all Cat smartphones in the range, it is also put through vibration and tumble tests, salt mist conditions, and it is built to operate in high and low extremes of temperature and to survive thermal shocks. Take it with you anywhere and everywhere. It is built tough to help you thrive in challenging outdoor work situ- ations and extreme leisure pursuits alike. Key specifications: • Powerful 4200 mAh battery. • Water/dust proof (IP68, IP69), Drop tested to 1.8 m onto steel, MIL SPEC 810H, Corning Go- rilla Glass 5. • Waterproof smartphone – up to 1.5 m for 35 minutes. • 5.5” HD+ 18 x 9 display optimised for outdoor use with a touchscreen that can be used with wet fingers or when wearing gloves. • Android 10 (with upgrade to 11).

germs, with one University of Michigan study find- ing in excess of 17 000 bacteria on handsets. We interact with our mobile devices many times a day – around 47 times, on average, according to research from Deloitte. Furthermore, researchers at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, can survive for up to 28 days on com- mon surfaces including banknotes, glass (such as that found on mobile phone screens) and stainless steel. Mobile phones are handled and pressed to our faces, meaning that any bacteria or other microor- ganisms can easily transfer back and forth between the hard surfaces of your phone and your skin. The Biomaster active antimicrobial agent is proven to inhibit bacteria cells from replicating, in testing a reduction of over 80% within 15 minutes was shown and 99.9% within 24 hours. Combined with the ex- isting Cat phone rugged credentials that ensure the device can be thoroughly and regularly washed with soaps and water, sanitisers, and even bleach, the Cat S42 represents the next generation of hygienic prod- uct protection in smartphone design. The Biomaster-treated Cat S42 will be available from early 2021, with the treatment coming to oth-

• 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Expandable Storage (microSD). • Mediatek Helio A20 MT 6761D chipset, 1.8GHz quad-core processor. • 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera. • Programmable Shortcut Key useful for Push to Talk (PTT), SOS (Lone worker app), or to easily launch its torch or camera. • Bluetooth 5.0, NFC. • 3.5mm audio jack (waterproof). • Curated apps and content catalogue. • Dual SIM – Nano SIM + microSD. • Android Enterprise support. • Security updates cover for 3 years. • Zero-touch support. True to their innovative manufacturing, Bullitt Group, the manufacturer of Cat phones, has won the Ruggedised Manufacturer of the Year category in the Mobile Industry 2020 Awards. Running for more than a decade, the Mobile Industry Awards represent the gold standard of excellence in the industry. • LTE Cat 6, VoLTE, VoWiFi. • Textured, extra grip design.

Enquiries: www.catphones.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MARCH 2021