Saft SRA Series User manual

Important recommendations
■ Never allow an exposed flame or spark
near the batteries, particularly while
charging.
■ Never smoke while performing any
operation on the battery.
■ For protection, wear rubber gloves,
long sleeves, and appropriate splash
goggles or face shield.
■ The electrolyte is harmful to skin and
eyes. In the event of contact with skin
or eyes, wash immediately with plenty
of water. If eyes are affected, flush
with water, and obtain immediate
medical attention.
■ Remove all rings, watches and other
items with metal parts before working
on the battery.
■ Use insulated tools.
■ Avoid static electricity and take
measures for protection against
electric shocks.
■ Discharge any possible static
electricity from clothing
and/or tools by touching an
earth-connected part "ground" before
working on the battery.
1. Receiving the shipment
Unpack the battery immediately upon
arrival. Do not overturn the package.
Transport seals are located under the
cover of the vent plug. The battery is
normally shipped filled and ready for
installation.
■ Make sure all items have been received
by comparing with the packing list.
■ Check for damage or electrolyte
spillage. Report any irregularities
to the carrier and to Saft.
■ Remove the plastic transport seals. The
battery must never be used electrically
with the plastic transport seal in place
as this can cause permanent damage.
■ The battery is ready for installation.
2. Storage
Store the battery indoors in a dry, clean,
cool location (0°C to +30°C / +32°F to
+86°F).
■ Make sure that the transport seals
remain in place during storage.
■ Do not store in direct sunlight or
exposed to excessive heat.
■ A battery delivered charged (80 %) must
not be stored more than 3 months
(including transport).
If a charged battery has to be stored for
more than 3 months, discharge the cells
at 0.2 C5A down to 1V per cell or less.
SRA/SRA LT/SRA HT Ni-Cd Batteries
Installation and operating instructions
■ A battery delivered discharged and filled
may be stored for many years before it
is installed.
■ If storage is required prior to
commercial service, clean and coat the
metallic parts with a thin layer of neutral
Vaseline or neutral petroleum jelly
grease approved by Saft. Leave the
battery in its transport case to protect
from dust, moisture and short circuits.
3. Installation
Remove the transport seals and close the
vent plugs.
3.1. Verify that cells are correctly
interconnected and that battery
connection to the load is also correct.
3.2. Check tightness of terminal
connecting nuts. Torque applied must be:
• 10 ± 2 N.m for cells
SRA 75 to 140
SRA LT 75 to 140
SRA HT 70 to 130
• 30 ± 3 N.m for cells
SRA 160 to 375
SRA LT 160 to 375
SRA HT 150 to 350
The connectors and terminal nuts should
be corrosion-protected by coating with a
thin layer of neutral Vaseline or anti-
corrosion oil agreed by Saft.
3.3. Electrolyte
The electrolyte used is specific for each
product line:
- SRA : E 10
- SRA LT : E 34
- SRA HT : Na 15 L
4. Commissioning
Caution: during constant charging
operations, the battery box must be open.
4.1. The cells are delivered
80 % charged.
Charging and discharging should be done
at constant current.
■ For a battery stored less than
3 months at T< +30°C
No charge/discharge operation is
required before use.
■ For a battery stored for more than
3 months or at T>+30°C
• Discharge the battery at 0.2 C5A down
to an average 1V per cell.
• Maintain the battery in open circuit
during 8 hours or until the battery
temperature is between 10°C
and 30°C.
• Charge the battery at 0.2 C5A for
8 hours.
4.2. The cells are delivered discharged
Caution: even if the battery is discharged,
there remains a residual charge that may
cause an electric shock.
Charging and discharging should be done
at constant current.
■ For a battery placed into service
immediately after delivery or after less
than one year of storage:
• Constant current charge: charge the
battery at 0.2 C5A for 8 hours
Caution: during constant current
charging the battery box must be open
• Constant voltage charge: 1.55V/cell
for 20 h with the current limited
at 0.2 C5A
■ For a battery stored more than
1 year:
• Charge the battery at 0.2 C5A
for 8 hours.
• Discharge the battery at 0.2 C5A down
to an average 1V per cell.
• Maintain the battery in open circuit
during 8 hours or until the battery
temperature is between 10°C and
30°C.
• Charge the battery at 0.2 C5A
for 8 hours.
The battery is ready for use
5. Charging in service
■ 1.47 V/cell at +20°C (+68°F) with
voltage compensation:
- 3 mV/°C/cell (-1.7 mV/°F/cell)
For higher charging voltages, consult your
local Saft representative.
6. Topping-up
Frequency of topping-up must be
determined for each battery. Topping-up
shall be performed every 6 months during
the first year in order to determine the
ideal topping-up interval which depends
on the charging voltage and actual use
of the battery.
Never let the electrolyte level fall below
the minimum level mark. Use only distilled
or deionized water to top-up.
The topping-up operation must be
carried on charged cells with a rest
time of minimum 2 hours.
November 2013

Table A:
Cell type C5 Ah 0.2 C5 A Electrolyte Topper nozzle
(Ah) (A) reserve (cm3) (mm)
SRA 75 75 15 185 59
SRA 90 90 18 285 59
SRA 110 110 22 280 59
SRA 125 125 25 335 59
SRA 140 140 28 335 59
SRA 160 160 32 575 54
SRA 190 190 38 570 54
SRA 220 220 44 645 54
SRA 260 260 52 765 54
SRA 280 280 56 900 54
SRA 310 310 62 900 54
SRA 340 340 68 1085 54
SRA 375 375 75 1085 54
SRA LT 75 75 15 185 59
SRA LT 90 90 18 285 59
SRA LT 110 110 22 280 59
SRA LT 125 125 25 335 59
SRA LT 140 140 28 335 59
SRA LT 160 160 32 415 39
SRA LT 190 190 38 410 39
SRA LT 220 220 44 465 39
SRA LT 260 260 52 555 39
SRA LT 280 280 56 650 39
SRA LT 310 310 62 645 39
SRA LT 340 340 68 785 39
SRA LT 375 375 75 780 39
SRA HT 70 70 14 185 59
SRA HT 85 85 17 285 59
SRA HT 105 105 21 280 59
SRA HT 115 115 23 335 59
SRA HT 130 130 26 335 59
SRA HT 150 150 30 575 54
SRA HT 175 175 35 570 54
SRA HT 200 200 40 645 54
SRA HT 245 245 49 765 54
SRA HT 265 265 53 900 54
SRA HT 290 290 58 900 54
SRA HT 315 315 63 1085 54
SRA HT 350 350 70 1085 54
■ Batteries not equipped with a water
filling system (typical frequency of
topping-up is every 6 months):
No electrolyte level measurement is
necessary if you use a Saft cell-topper,
which allows the correct level to be
obtained by a simple nozzle setting.
See nozzle lengths in Table A.
If a cell-topper is not available, the
electrolyte level must be measured.
Insert a transparent glass or plastic tube
(alkali resistant, 5 to 6 mm in diameter)
vertically into the cell vent until it touches
the top of the plates. Close the top
end of the tube by putting a finger on
it and remove it from the cell.
The height of the liquid in the tube
indicates the electrolyte level.
Cell type Level (mm)
high low
SRA 75 to 140 66 15
SRA 160 to 375 75 15
SRA LT 75 to 140 66 15
SRA LT 160 to 375 59 15
SRA HT 70 to 130 66 15
SRA HT 150 to 350 75 15
■ Batteries equipped with water filling
system (typical frequency of topping-up
is every 12 months):
• Remove transport seals and connect
hydraulic tubing between cells up to a
maximum of 50 cells.
• Make sure that the tubes are
completely inserted for a good seal.
• The hydraulic connection of cells must
be in parallel to the electrical
connection, in order to avoid voltage
differences of more than 1.2 V between
two hydraulically connected cells.
• The hydraulic connection must be
horizontal in order to avoid siphoning.
• The water filling circuit output must not
be too close to electrical equipment,
electrical circuit, and metallic structure.
• Water filling circuit input must be
connected to the self-closing inlet.
• Topping-up can be performed by gravity
or using adapted pump with a flow rate
of 0.7 l/min at a relative pressure of
0.3 bar maximum.
7. Periodic maintenance
■ Maintenance operations (not including
the topping-up operation):
Periodic maintenance should be carried
out at least every 5 years.
For detailed maintenance, please refer to
the maintenance manual of the battery.
• Keep the battery clean using only water.
Do not use a wire brush or solvents of
any kind. Vent plugs can be rinsed in
clean water.
• Check the torque of all terminal screws.
Coat with grease or neutral vaseline all
the terminal nuts and cell connectors.
• Check charger settings. It is very
important that the recommended
charging voltage remains unchanged.
High water consumption of the battery
is usually caused by improper voltage
setting of the charger.
8. Changing electrolyte
It is not necessary to change the
electrolyte during the life time of the cells.
9. Environment
To protect the environment all used
batteries must be recycled. Contact your
local Saft representative for information.
Saft
Industrial Battery Group
12, rue Sadi Carnot
93170 Bagnolet - France
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.saftbatteries.com
Doc N° 21881-2-1113
Data in this document is subject to change without
notice and becomes contractual only after written
confirmation.
Société par Actions Simplifiée
au capital de 31 944 000
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RCS Bobigny B 383 703 873
Le Révérend Imprimeur - Printed in France - 1k
SRA/SRA LT/SRA HT Ni-Cd Batteries