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Can I test my Ni-Cd batteries with a conductance battery tester?
See AnswerAnswer
If you have a Celltron Advantage, you can select a jar voltage of 1Volt in the test setup to test Ni-Cd batteries.
Why am I getting 140% of the reference?
See AnswerAnswer
You need to update the reference value.
How does the CELLGUARD System communicate?
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CELLGUARD communicates through its Base Coordinator Unit (BCU) module via a network connection to a server hosting the companion CELLTRAQ software. Alternatively, the system can communicate via ethernet directly to a local PC that has been loaded with the CELLTRAQ software. If a network connection is unavailable or if a local PC is undesirable, the system will also work with a GPRS (cellular) modem connected to the internet.
How are alarms/alerts sent from the monitor?
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CELLGUARD, through its companion CELLTRAQ software, sends alerts via email, text message, or SNMP traps. An unlimited number of users can be notified.
Are there any network/firewall security risks will CELLGUARD?
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Security was of the utmost concern when the system was designed. As a result, the system communicates only outbound to the network, so that outside malicious interface with the system is impossible.
What network configurations are required?
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A static IP address for each Base Coordinator Unit (generally 1 per system, although some systems allow for sharing), the subnet mask, the default gateway and the resident IP address for the CELLTRAQ software (if it is being placed on a network server).
The CELLGUARD Sensors have vent openings. Does this present any risk with flooded or vented battery systems?
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No. The concentration of acid fumes in the vicinity would need to be at a level beyond safe for there to be any impact to the sensors—making this concentration a much larger concern than the sensor operation. The normal levels generated by both flooded and VRLA batteries will not have an impact on the sensors. However, the sensors, like any electronic component, should not be directly exposed to spilled liquids, including electrolyte during a refilling or specific gravity testing process. The sensors are “hot swappable,” so they can be disconnected during this process and reconnected immediately following for an added measure of protection.
How does the Cellguard System capture a discharge event? And what do the results mean?
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We use a current transducer. When it exceeds 10 Amps of discharge, we collect a voltage and temperature sample once per second in every jar for the first 5 minutes and once every 10 seconds for the entire discharge after. Using the combined jar voltage graph in Celltraq, you’ll be able to see the individual discharge curves of every jar to find under performing jars.
What kind of measurement variance is acceptable from week to week, when measuring conductance with the Cellguard system? And why does this conductance measurement variance occur?
See AnswerAnswer
Batteries are electro chemical devices and are not resistors. When a battery is on float charge and current is passing through the cells, causing very small, but continuous fluctuations in the electrical state of the jar, from capacity to state of charge. These chemical reactions along with additional factors such as changes in temperature, rectifier outputs, and battery state-of-charge may all contribute to variations in conductance measurements from week to week. Since Midtronics conductance measurements are extremely sensitive due to the nature of the digital signal processing, the measurements will detect these minor electrical changes in the battery. Based on the Cellguard hardware design specifications a 2% variation in conductance measurements from week to week is acceptable. When you add in the above factors, during normal conditions, a 5% variation in conductance measurements should not be cause for alarm. If there are variations in conductance measurements greater than 5% from week to week then you need to investigate further to identify if the measurements are varying due to system issues or environmental issues. A trend review is very helpful in assessing the change. The Celltraq Enterprise Software makes it very simple to conduct this trend assessment.
What is the expected lifetime of a Cellguard System and what issues are most commonly seen on these systems?
See AnswerAnswer
The expected lifetime of the system is the lifespan of the battery string or 10 years. Network issues are the most common issues encountered.
How does Adaptive Reference work in a Cellguard System? Why is this concept valuable to me as a customer?
See AnswerAnswer
As batteries develop overtime, we take the highest conductance reading that the battery has every performed. We measure degradation based on the best it’s ever been, instead of a generic reference value. This is valuable because we can see the actual 30% degradation instead of 30% of the generic value.
Is the system UL listed? What other certifications does it hold?
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CELLGUARD battery monitoring system hardware has been extensively tested and verified to comply with the following standards: • IEC 61000-4-2:2001 • IEC 61000-4-2:2008 • IEC 61000-4-3:2006 • IEC 61000-4-4:2004 • IEC 61000-4-5:2005 • IEC 61000-4-6:2006 • IEC 61000-4-11:2004 • CENELEC EN 55011:2007 • CENELEC EN 55022 2006+A1:2007 • CENELEC EN 61326-1:2006 • CENELEC EN 61326-2:2006 • FCC PART 15 CFR TITLE 47:2007 • FCC PART 15 CFR TITLE 47:2009 • ICES-003: 2004 DIGITAL APPARATUS (INDUSTRY CANADA) • ETSI EN 300 328 V1.7.1 (2006-2010) • ANSI C63.4-2003 • 2004/108/EC EMC DIRECTIVE • Japan MIC Radio Law (131, 1950)
What kind of useful reports can I retrieve from Celltraq?
See AnswerAnswer
• Measurement Degradation - Displays a record for every battery that has experienced a certain percentage of degradation for three consecutive readings • Battery Specification - Displays the latest battery measurements by manufacturer and model. • Site Quarterly Report - Detailed site report automatically generated on the last day of each quarter and emailed to contacts: March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st. • Alert Comparison - Allows users to compare alerts by site, manufacturer, or model number • Active Alerts - Displays all active alerts within Celltraq at the battery or string level • Measurement Import - All sites/plants/strings that had their latest measurements uploaded during the selected date range will be displayed • String Health Report - displays the number of alerts and other string specific information for every string within the Celltraq System. • Battery Analysis – shows the status (latest measurements and alerts) of every battery within a site.