Safety Instructions Important Safety Instructions READ AND SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS! This manual contains important safety instructions for the NorthStar NSB BLUE+ ® battery. These instructions are in addition to the safety instructions published for use with all OutBack products. ® Read all instructions and cautionary markings on the NorthStar NSB BLUE+ battery and on any accessories or additional equipment included in the installation.
Introduction Audience This manual is intended for use by anyone required to install and operate this battery. Be sure to review this manual carefully to identify any potential safety risks before proceeding. The owner must be familiar with all the features and functions of this battery before proceeding. Failure to install or use this battery as instructed in this manual can result in damage to the battery that may not be covered under the limited warranty.
Installation and Operation Materials Required Tools (use insulated tools only) Digital voltmeter Socket wrench Torque wrench calibrated in inch-pounds Box end wrench Battery lifting equipment (handles) and fork lift to lift pallets of batteries Rubber gloves Full face shield Plastic apron Portable eyewash Spill kit Fire extinguisher (class C)
NorthStar NSB BLUE+ Batteries Self-Discharge All NorthStar NSB BLUE+ ® batteries will discharge over time once charged, even in storage. Higher storage temperatures increase the rate of self- discharge. Fully charged, the natural (“rest”) voltage of all NorthStar NSB BLUE+® batteries is approximately 13.0 Vdc.
Installation and Operation State of Charge ® The NorthStar NSB BLUE+ state of charge (SoC) can be determined by two methods. One is to measure its voltage. This method is typically used when batteries are in storage. This is accurate only if the batteries are left at rest (no charging or loads) for 12 hours at room temperature (77°F or 25°C).
NorthStar NSB BLUE+ Batteries Battery Configurations Load + Load – Load + Load – Series String (24 Vdc) Series String (48 Vdc) Batteries are placed in series (negative to positive) for additive voltages. Batteries in series are known ® as a “string”. A string of two NorthStar NSB BLUE+ batteries has a nominal voltage of 24 Vdc and can be used for 24-volt loads.
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Installation and Operation Batteries are placed in both series and parallel for both additive voltage and amp-hour capacity. Series strings placed in parallel have the same nominal voltage as each string. They have the same amp-hour capacity of each string added together. Two parallel strings of two NorthStar NSB BLUE+ batteries in series have a nominal voltage of 24 Vdc, twice the nominal voltage.
NorthStar NSB BLUE+ Batteries DC Wiring CAUTION: Equipment Damage Never reverse the polarity of the battery cables. Always ensure correct polarity. CAUTION: Fire Hazard Always install a circuit breaker or overcurrent device on the DC positive conductor for each device connected to the batteries. CAUTION: Fire Hazard Never install extra washers or hardware between the mounting surface and the battery cable lug or interconnect.
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Installation and Operation Applying Grease to Terminals Electrical grade conductive grease is applied directly to the battery terminals as a corrosion preventative measure during manufacturing. In typical indoor installations no additional grease is required to protect the terminals and other electrical connections after installation. The bus bars and other hardware provided with the batteries are plated to protect from corrosion.
NorthStar NSB BLUE+ Batteries connection at the load or elsewhere in the cable system so that any resulting spark does not occur in the battery enclosure. Once hardware is installed and batteries are properly aligned, torque all connections to the appropriate value for the battery model.
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Installation and Operation NOTES: 900-00264-01-001 Rev A...
NorthStar NSB BLUE+ Batteries Charging ® NorthStar NSB BLUE+ batteries are usually charged using a “three-stage” charging cycle: bulk stage, absorption stage, and float stage. However, not all chargers are designed or programmed the same way. The settings should be checked and changed to match the recommendations below if necessary.
Installation and Operation Not all chargers measure this in amperes. Many chargers hold the absorption for a timed period (often two hours), assuming that the current will taper down by then. However, if the charge ends before the current tapers to the desired level, the battery may not reach 100% SoC. Repeated failure to charge the batteries to 100% will result in decreased battery life.
NorthStar NSB BLUE+ Batteries Temperature Compensation Battery performance will change when the temperature varies above or below room temperature (77°F or 25°C). Temperature compensation adjusts the charging to correct for these changes. When a battery is cooler than room temperature, its internal resistance goes up, the voltage changes more quickly, and the charger reaches its voltage set points more easily.
Installation and Operation Improper Use CAUTION: Equipment Damage Read all items below. Maintenance should be performed as noted on page 22. Failure to follow these instructions can result in battery damage which is not covered under the NorthStar NSB BLUE+ warranty.
Troubleshooting and Maintenance Table 1 Troubleshooting Category Symptom Possible Cause Remedy Normal life cycle Replace battery bank when (or before) capacity drops to unacceptable levels. Reduced operating time Defective cells Test and replace battery as necessary. Excessively cold battery Carefully warm up the battery. Undersized cabling Increase cable ampacity to match loads.
Maintenance Periodic Evaluation Upon replacement of a battery, all interconnect hardware should be replaced at the same time. To keep track of performance and identify batteries that may be approaching the end of their life, perform the following tests during on a quarterly basis following commissioning (see page 13).
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NorthStar NSB BLUE+ Batteries Cleaning Batteries shall only be cleaned using a dry soft cloth or cloth moistened with water — any other substances should not be used or sprayed on the batteries. The plastic used for the batteries is sensitive to many solvents and other substances.
Specifications Table 2 Specifications NorthStar NSB BLUE+ ® Cells Per Unit Nominal Voltage 12 Vdc Cycle Life (50% DoD) 2,050 cycles Absorb Voltage (25°c) 14.1 Vdc Absorb Time 4 hours Float Voltage (25°c) 13.6 Vdc Float Time Continuous Equalize Voltage & Frequency 14.4 Vdc for 4 hours every 12 months Re-Bulk voltage 12 Vdc...
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