We are the main service provider in Ireland for Battery Impedance Testing & Specific Gravity Testing. With over 25 years’ experience working on Power Systems and Medium & High Voltage equipment, we combine our experience and expertise with the latest in technology from leading manufacturers such as Megger & Anton Paar, to offer you a quality and unrivalled service.
Battery Impedance Testing is ideal for situations where you want to avoid any interruption to operations and the costs associated with these interruptions. Unlike Battery Discharge Testing which is expensive and time-consuming where the entire process can take up to four days, Battery Impedance Testing consists of non-intrusive testing enabling testing of live working battery systems with no interruption to operations. For example, a 200V Battery System (100 x 2V cells) can be tested in approximately 4 hours.
Where to use Battery Impedance & Specific Gravity Testing service?
The importance and benefits of Battery Impedance & Specific Gravity Testing are significant. Batteries are used to ensure that critical electrical equipment is always on. There are many applications for batteries and these include:
- Electric generating stations and substations for protection and control of switches and relays
- Telephone systems to support phone service, especially emergency services
- Industrial applications for protection and control
- Back up of computers, especially financial data and information
- “Less critical” business information systems
What is Battery Impedance Testing?
Battery Impedance Testing is an internal ohmic test (resistance in ac terms). With regard to dc battery systems, impedance indicates the condition of batteries without harming or stressing them in any way. Since it tests the condition of the entire electrical path of a battery from terminal plate to terminal plate, impedance can find weaknesses in cells and intercell connectors easily and reliably.
Basically, impedance is determined by applying an ac current signal, measuring the ac voltage drop across the cell or intercell connector and calculating impedance using Ohm’s Law. In practice, not only is the ac voltage drop measured but so is the ac current. The ac current is measured because of other ac currents in a battery that are additive (subtractive). Other ac currents are present from the charger system. The test is performed by applying an ac test signal to the terminal plates. Then measure both the total ac current in the string and the voltage drop of each unit in the string by measuring each cell and intercell connector consecutively until the entire string is measured.Impedance is calculated, displayed and stored. As cells age the internal impedance increases. By measuring impedance, the condition of each cell in the string can be measured and trended to determine when to replace a cell or the string which helps in planning for budgetary needs.
Technologies Used in Battery Impedance & Specific Gravity Testing Measurement
- For Battery Impedance Testing:
The Megger BITE3 Battery Impedance Test Equipment used for Battery Impedance Testing. This Megger test equipment determines the health of lead-acid cells up to 2000 Ah by taking measurements of the most important battery parameters. The BITE3 measures cell impedance, an internal ohmic test, cell voltage, intercell connection resistance and ripple current. - For Specific Gravity Testing:
The Anton Paar DMA35 is the new generation of Anton Paar portable density meters, using the oscillating U-tube technology. DMA 35 measures the density and density-related values of your sample and shows the measuring results within seconds on the large display, ready for storage, printout or export to a PC.
Further information:
Equipment data sheets:
DMA 35 Portable Density/Specific Gravity/Concentration Meter