Checking and Maintaining the Battery
Qualified person
WARNING
Chemical burns and poisoning due to battery electrolyte
If handled inappropriately, battery electrolyte can cause irritation to the eyes, respiratory system and skin, and it can be toxic. This may result in blindness or serious chemical burns.
- Protect the battery enclosure against destruction.
- Do not open or deform the battery.
- Do not throw batteries into fire. Batteries may explode in fire.
- Whenever working on the battery, wear suitable personal protective equipment such as rubber gloves, an apron, rubber boots and goggles.
- Rinse acid splashes thoroughly for a long time with clear water, and consult a doctor.
- Install, operate, maintain and dispose of the battery according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
WARNING
Risk of burns due to flashes
Short-circuit currents in the battery can cause heat build-up and flashes.
- Remove watches, rings and other metal objects prior to carrying out any work on the battery.
- Use insulated tools for all work on the battery.
- Do not place tools or metal parts on the battery.
Check and log the status of the battery before performing maintenance work.
Transition resistances can impair the performance of the batteries.
- Ensure that the torques at the cable glands of the battery connections are correct each time that maintenance is performed.
Procedure:
- Check whether the current state of the battery corresponds to the expected state:
In the parameter group Battery > Battery > Diagnosis, select the parameter Number of battery charge throughputs and compare the value with the expected nominal energy throughput.
In the parameter group Battery > Battery > Diagnosis, select the parameter Current battery capacity and compare the value with the expected usable battery capacity.
Ensure that the requirements for the ambient temperature of the battery are met (see documentation of the battery manufacturer).
Check and optimize the battery management settings.
If you cannot determine the cause for the deviation, contact the Service ( > Contact).
- Stop the system and switch off the Sunny Island ( > Starting and Stopping the System).
- Open the load-break switch of the BatFuse and secure against reconnection.
- Check and maintain the battery (see documentation of the battery manufacturer). For this, perform at least the following steps:
Check the battery for visible damage and log.
Measure and log the fill level and acid density of FLA batteries.
In the case of lead-acid batteries, measure and log the voltages of the individual cells.
Perform and log the test routines required by the battery manufacturer.
- Quickly close the load-break switch of the BatFuse and close the BatFuse (see BatFuse installation manual).
- Switch the Sunny Island on and start the system ( > Starting and Stopping the System).
If the current state of the battery does not correspond to the expected state, carry out the following steps: