Getting longevity and profitability out of your battery system
Battery systems are the heart of your business. They keep your workplace functioning and operational, allowing you to maintain order and processes for maximum profitability. As such a crucial part of a lot of industry business, it’s hard to fathom that battery systems and their corresponding testing and maintenance are often forgotten about as they continue to work in the background, while other more pressing issues can arise. Businesses need to take the testing and maintenance of their battery systems seriously. Failure to dedicate time and resources to them could result in unscheduled downtime and potential losses for the business.
Proactivity in testing your battery system
No matter the capacity of your battery system, they require regular maintenance and testing to determine their optimal performance curve. Testing your battery system gives you a full picture about your batteries performance over time, where faults lie within the system and the likely longevity of the system overall. Capacity testing can be completed on industrial style batteries from 12V right up to 240V systems. Advancements in technology have allowed battery technicians to gain a more accurate reading from their instruments of battery systems and make recommendations in the best interests of the business.
Benefits of load testing on industrial battery systems
Having your industrial battery system regularly load tested has many positive benefits to your business, not only at a productivity level, but financially as well.
Predicted lifespan of your battery system
Regularly scheduled load testing allows technicians to determine the health and performance of your whole battery system as well as the individual battery cells. These performance results allow technicians to predict an accurate representation of the systems’ lifespan, giving businesses definitive timeframes for repair or replacement. Having this data available allows businesses to prepare for the financial outlay that a repair or replacement system may hold, gaining approval for the release and allocation of relevant funds within the business.
Identifying faults
Regular and scheduled load testing on a battery system allows technicians to identify potential faults and weak cells within the battery. With recognition, accurate recommendations can be made to the business which reduces the risk of future faults occurring and unscheduled downtime for the business, resulting in potential loss of income.
Ensures compliance with Australian standards and regulations
Major industrial battery systems that involve storage components must be installed in line AS 5139-2019 and must be regularly checked and tested to ensure that they continue to meet minimum Australian standards and compliance. By having your battery storage system regularly tested, you forego the worry of maintaining compliance, as this is checked and verified at every testing interval.
Maximise business profitability and continuity
Regular load testing on your industrial battery system ensures that your business continues to run smoothly and are functioning to their maximum capacity. By verifying the stability of your battery system, as a business, you don’t have the added stress of worrying about unnecessary and unscheduled downtime and interruptions to the day-to-day activities of the business. Your business remains functional and profitable.
Real battery testing vs battery emulator testing
Many battery technicians, especially for smaller systems, may encourage an emulator battery test at closer intervals to monitor ongoing performance and a full battery system test at further apart intervals for overall assessments and recommendations.
Battery emulators are used to emulate the performance of a battery rather than connecting to the whole battery system. When configured, they provide technicians with an accurate reading from the emulator which is representative of the potential reading that may have been produced on the actual battery system. There are many benefits for using battery emulators to test battery systems including:
Reduction in testing time
Testing a real battery system is very time consuming and requires the technicians to perform preparations at every step of the process. Batteries must be charged and then discharged, allowed to rest and then finally, tested. The preparation time for a battery emulator is significantly lower with less time needed to distribute to each step of the process and producing reliable results in a quicker time frame.
Repeatable results
Over time, battery systems become worn out and as such, can supply inconsistent results when tested. The age of the battery, temperature and usage all contribute to the potential lifespan of the battery and manual testing of an ageing system can deliver inaccurate results. Battery emulators are designed to mimic the performance of a battery system but don’t have the manual applications that wear it out. As such, emulators can produce consistent results test after test.
Improved safety for technicians
Battery systems, when installed and maintained correctly are relatively safe, if they stay within normal ranges. When a battery system is exposed to over-charge and discharge, which can be present during testing, it increases the risk of injury and accident for technicians performing scheduled tests. Utilising a battery test emulator creates a safe working environment without the concerns that arise from real life battery system testing.
Considerations when comparing battery emulator testing vs real life testing
Emulator testing, while productive and safe, is not always the best choice for all battery systems and is not something that is recommended in replacement of traditional real life battery testing. It is a useful tool for battery system testing at in-between intervals of your main maintenance and testing services. While it gives good data and results, real life battery testing is the only surefire way to accurately read your battery system performance.
The importance of battery systems testing
Ultimately, whether your business is in the manufacturing, mining, transport or energy industry, or any industry for that matter, battery systems play a crucial role in keeping your business functioning to the best possible capacity. Your battery system needs to be maintained and tested in order to keep it operating as efficiently as possible. When looking for an experienced technician to service, test, and maintain your battery system, always look at their methods, equipment, reviews and industry knowledge before engaging. JPAC Batteries has over 40 years’ experience working with battery systems. With experience across multiple industry sectors and with various capacity battery systems, JPAC is your local technician with the no-how to help your business succeed. Get in touch with the JPAC team today to discuss your industrial battery load testing requirements.
