National Instruments BP-1 User manual

NATIONAL
INSTRUMENTS®
The Software is the Instrument
®
Installation Guide
_____________________________
DAQPad™ is a trademark of National Instruments Corporation. Product and company names are trademarks or
trade names of their respective companies.
320814A-01 © Copyright 1994 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. July 1994
BP-1 Battery Pack
This guide describes how to use the BP-1 battery pack with any of the DAQPad Series DAQ
units. The BP-1 battery pack is a portable power supply for the DAQPad Series units.
Introduction
The BP-1 is a rechargeable battery pack that you can use to power any of the DAQPad Series
DAQ units instead of the A/C power supply adapter that is in the DAQPad unit kit.
The BP-1 battery pack contains a 12 V sealed lead-acid battery and a solid-state dual-stage
charger for recharging. You can use the Velcro strap that is in the kit to strap the battery pack
and a DAQPad unit together to facilitate carrying and stacking them.
You cannot simultaneously charge the battery pack and power a DAQPad unit using the supplied
charger. However, in a standby application, you can use the SCXI-1383 power supply and float
charger to simultaneously charge the battery pack and power the DAQPad unit.
What Your Kit Should Contain
There are two versions of the BP-1 battery pack kit. Each kit has a different wall-mount battery
charger: one charger is for 120 VAC; the other is for 230 VAC. In addition to the battery
charger, each version of the BP-1 kit contains the BP-1 battery pack, a Velcro strap, and the BP-
1 Battery Pack Installation Guide. If your kit is missing any of the components or if you
received the wrong version, contact National Instruments.
Detailed specifications of the BP-1 battery pack are in the Specifications section of this guide.
Recharging the BP-1 Battery Pack
Warning: Charge the BP-1 battery pack only with the enclosed battery charger. National
Instruments is NOT liable for any damage or injuries resulting from charging the
BP-1 battery pack with any other battery charger or from using the enclosed
battery charger in any other application.

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You must charge the BP-1 battery pack when you first receive the BP-1 kit and after each use of
the battery pack with a DAQPad unit. Use the following steps to charge the BP-1 battery pack
with the enclosed charger.
1. If the BP-1 battery pack and DAQPad unit are connected to each other, disconnect them.
2. Verify that the voltage rating on the battery charger matches the voltage supplied in your
area.
3. Connect one end of the battery charger into P1, the rear panel plug of the BP-1 battery pack.
Plug the other end of the battery charger into an electrical outlet.
4. The red FAST CHARGE LED on the battery charger should light up immediately.
Note: In some cases of extreme discharge, the green FLOAT LED may light up when the
battery charger is first connected to the battery pack. If the battery pack is not
damaged, the FAST CHARGE LED eventually lights up and a normal charge cycle
occurs.
A normal fast charge cycle takes up to four hours depending on the discharge state of the battery
pack. After the battery pack is charged to approximately 97% of full capacity, the FAST
CHARGE LED will turn off and the green FLOAT LED will light up. When the green FLOAT
LED lights up, continue charging the battery pack for three hours to fully charge it. After the
FLOAT LED lights up, leaving the battery pack and the charger connected for longer than three
hours will not harm the battery pack.
If neither LED on the battery charger remains lit while the battery charger is connected to the
battery pack and a live electrical outlet, check the battery pack fuse, which is accessible at the
rear panel of the battery pack. Use a screwdriver to twist open the fuse holder and check the
fuse. If the fuse has blown, replace it with a slow-blow 5 by 20 mm 2.5 A fuse, which is
available from National Instruments. If the fuse is not blown, check the wall outlet. If both
battery charger LEDs still remain unlit, contact National Instruments.
Powering the DAQPad Series Units with the BP-1
Battery Pack
Use the following steps to connect the BP-1 battery pack to a DAQPad unit.
1. Connect the battery pack rear panel plug P1 to the power jack on the rear panel of a DAQPad
unit.
2. Power on the DAQPad unit. The power LED on the DAQPad unit should light up
immediately.
The power LED does not indicate the charge status of the battery pack. Therefore, it is important
to always start with a fully charged battery pack and to time the battery usage with the DAQPad
unit to avoid losing data and possibly damaging the BP-1 battery pack. The recommended
discharge time for your particular DAQPad unit is in your DAQPad user manual.

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Taking Care of the BP-1 Battery Pack
There are several precautions that you can take to ensure a long life for your battery pack.
1. Do not discharge the battery pack for longer than the recommended discharge time given in
your particular DAQPad user manual. Repeated deep discharge of the battery pack can
reduce the life expectancy of the lead-acid batteries.
Note: As the battery pack ages, the capacity, and therefore the recommended discharge
time, diminishes.
2. Recharge the battery pack soon after using it, especially if you deep discharge your battery
pack. Failing to do this may result in extended recharging times.
3. Recharge the battery pack completely. Repeated incomplete recharging of the battery pack
reduces the capacity of the battery pack.
4. We recommend that you recharge your battery pack every 18 months of storage if the battery
pack has been stored in a low humidity, 20°C atmosphere. For less ideal storage conditions,
recharge more often.
Caution: The battery pack has a sealed lead-acid battery that contains toxic material
(lead) and corrosive fluid (sulfuric acid). Charge the battery in a well-
ventilated area away from sparks, flames, or smoke. Do not puncture,
disassemble, mutilate, or incinerate the battery pack. Dispose of the battery
pack with automotive battery scrap.
BP-1 Battery Pack Specifications
Battery type Sealed lead acid
Voltage 12 VDC
Capacity 3.2 Ah at 20 hr rate
Dimensions 1.5 by 5.8 by 8.4 in (3.8 by 14.6 by 21.3 cm)
Fuse Internally fused at 2.5 A with a slow-blow 5 by 20 mm fuse
Weight4 lb 3.5 oz
Storage temperature -15°to 40°C (5°to 104°F)
Operating temperature -15°to 50°C (5°to 122°F)
Charging temperature 0°to 35°C (32°to 95°F)