Batteries replacement every year ???

[Benzerari]

One of our customer sites, have Gent network of 5 panels 34000 series of Gent, and many repeaters, interfaces and power supplies all around the site..., they use Beacons within the master alarm circuit, the beacons look a bigger size than the usual ones...

The main issue is, every year we replace all batteries of panels, repeaters, power supplies, interfaces..., because they don't last longer..., what could be the problem? Since it looks unusual to replace the batteries every year isn't it?

[Graeme]

what enviroment are all the units in?

i.e does the control panel have a heater underneath ? etc

[Benzerari]

what enviroment are all the units in?

i.e does the control panel have a heater underneath ? etc

No really! I know the parameter of heat makes the batteries drawing current efficiently, but run them out quickly too...

Most of repeaters and panels in main area corridors open to air..., some interfaces inside electric rooms, cupboards... etc

[David Rooney]

hard to believe all the batteries in so many different panels are failing so often....

When you say they are "not lasting" what do you mean.... how are you measuring this ??

[Wiz]

Has someone previously 'adjusted' the battery charging rate incorrectly and now the batteries are actaully overcharging? This will cause the problem that you have i.e failing after a year or so.

[Benzerari]

hard to believe all the batteries in so many different panels are failing so often....

When you say they are "not lasting" what do you mean.... how are you measuring this ??

Displayed with many battery faults in many outstations..., even the power supplies shows the yellow lights as well, when testing the interfaces batteries most of them don't give reading due to insufficient current to power up the battery tester either...

[Benzerari]

Has someone previously 'adjusted' the battery charging rate incorrectly and now the batteries are actaully overcharging? This will cause the problem that you have i.e failing after a year or so.

No idea, but good guess

[kurnal]

Are you buying good quality batteries?

[Benzerari]

Are you buying good quality batteries?

No, normally Yuasa, they are good quality though..., my guess is three things:

1  -  The use of large size beacons which draw two much current
2  -  The whole system is getting old ( installed 1997 ) so the whole ampedance is getting high too..., so the first recomended battery's size wouldn't be ideal any more, we may have to use larger ones in terms of capacity (Ah)...
3  -  The batteries size were wrongly calculated in the first place...!

What do you think?

 

[Graeme]

Are you buying good quality batteries?

No, normally Yuasa, they are good quality though..., my guess is three things:

1  -  The use of large size beacons which draw two much current
2  -  The whole system is getting old ( installed 1997 ) so the whole ampedance is getting high too..., so the first recomended battery's size wouldn't be ideal any more, we may have to use larger ones in terms of capacity (Ah)...
3  -  The batteries size where wrongly calculated in the first place...!

What do you think?

 

1- you should be doing current readings as a normal service so do some re-calculations and see what ah is required.
2- Check all the charging voltages
3- Cheap batteries can give you problems.
4-if not too many try recommending swapping the Xenon beacons to led's

[Graeme]

what enviroment are all the units in?

i.e does the control panel have a heater underneath ? etc

No really! I know the parameter of heat makes the batteries drawing current efficiently, but run them out quickly too...

Most of repeaters and panels in main area corridors open to air..., some interfaces inside electric rooms, cupboards... etc

benz


At higher temperatures, the electrical (Ah) capacity of a battery increases and conversely at lower temperatures,the electrical (Ah) capacity of a battery decreases

so

higher ambient temperatures will reduce service life.

[GregC]

I think they are being overcharged but on multiple panels its unlikely, for a battery to fail completely in a year indicates a very serious problem.

My guess would be your battery testers broken.

I would also be returning the batteries to the supplier and asking them to investigate why they are not providing a reasonable lifespan of operation.

I wonder that your customer hasn't complained.

[Graeme]

Good point Greg

Benz  there is a certain type of battery tester that will give you false reading unless it is at the same temperature as the room with the batteries,so if it's been in the car all night in the winter chances are it won't give you an accurate reading.