Offgridtec 2-01-008240 200Ah C10 GEL Battery 12V Instruction Manual

Offgridtec 2-01-008240 200Ah C10 GEL Battery 12V

Security guidelines and security measures

General rules:

• Please follow these instructions and keep them near the lithium-ion battery for future reference. Work on the LiFePo4 battery should only be carried out by an expert.
• Maintain temperature range.
• Protect from heat development.
• Fire, open light and smoking prohibited! Avoid sparking when handling cables and short circuits – Make sure that the cables are fastened firmly and sufficiently during installation.
• The Smart-Pro series is not waterproof. If there is a risk of splashing water, use a special battery box. Always keep dry!
• Never try to open or disassemble the Smart-Pro battery. The electrolyte is highly corrosive. Under normal working conditions contact with the electrolyte is impossible. If a cell is damaged, do not touch the leaking electrolyte as it is highly corrosive.
• Avoid damage of any kind, e.g. by dropping or attempted modifications.
• Ensure that the Smart-Pro is connected correctly (observe polarity!)
• Check the Smart-Pro after receipt for external damage. If there is any damage, do not operate the battery and contact your dealer.

DANGER OF EXPLOSION AND FIRE.

• The connections of the lithium battery are always live. Never place objects or tools on the lithium battery. Avoid short circuits. Use insulated tools. Do not wear metal objects, watches, bracelets, etc. on your body. Use a class D fire extinguisher, foam or CO2 fire extinguisher.
• Non-compliance with the operating instructions, repairs with other than the original components or unprofessional repairs will void the warranty!

Transport information

The Smart-Pro series must be transported in its original packaging or in an appropriate package. The batteries must be tested according to the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, subsection 38.3 (ST/SG/AC.10/11/version 5). With regard to transport, the batteries belong to category UN3480, class 9, packing group II. The corresponding regulations must be observed. This means that for transport by land or sea (ADR, RID & IMDG) the Smart-Pro series must be packed according to packing instruction P903 and for air transport (IATA) according to packing instruction P965. The original packaging meets these requirements.

Disposal

Batteries marked with the recycling symbol must be handed in at recognized recycling centers. They can also be returned to the manufacturer after consultation. Lithium batteries must not be disposed of in household or industrial waste.

Product description

Our Smart-Pro series is a lithium ion phosphate technology.
The lithium ion phosphate (LiFePO4) battery is the safest of the regular lithium ion battery types. The nominal voltage of a LiFePO4 cell is 3.2V (lead acid: 2V/cell). A 12.8V Smart-Pro battery consists 4 cells connected in series.
The big advantage of a LiFePO4 battery is efficiency.
In numerous applications (especially in off-grid solar and/or wind power plants), the energy efficiency can be of crucial importance.
For example, the energy efficiency of a charge cycle (discharge from 100% to 0% and recharge to 100%) of an average lead-acid battery is about 80%. With the Smart-Pro, on the other hand, it is 92%. The Smart-Pro can be used with CC/CV or IU charging methods: our Smart-Pro series can handle a wide range of charging voltages, you can use it in almost any system or replace the existing lead-acid battery.
Flexible :
Smart-Pro batteries are easier to charge than lead-acid batteries. The charging voltage can vary between 13.8V and 14.6V (as long as there is no more than 3.65V on any cell). In addition, these batteries do not need to be fully charged. It is sufficient to charge the battery only up to 80%, which is even beneficial for the battery life. Nevertheless, after certain intervals a charge to 100% should take place, so that any differences in charge of the cells can be better balanced.
Function of the BMS (Battery Management System):

• Protection of the cells against undervoltage
• Protection of the cells against overvoltage
• Protection of the cells against overload
• Short circuit protection
• Protection of the cells from too low or too high temperatures
• Compensation of cell voltages (passive compensation)

Important information / danger of deep discharge in inactive systems

• LiFePo4 batteries can be damaged by too deep discharge or overcharge.
• a “deep discharge” can occur when small loads such as alarm systems, relays or standby current of certain loads, but also the reverse current flow from chargers or the charge controller slowly discharges the battery while the system is not in operation.
• After the BMS has been switched off, a residual current of approx. 1/100 of the capacity remains in the battery – if this residual current is removed, the battery will be damaged.
• Practical example: If a 200Ah battery is left in a discharged state for more than 8 days while a residual current of 10mA is applied to the battery, this can damage the battery.
• Tip for prevention: in case of uncertainties regarding residual current consumption, remove all loads from the battery by disconnecting the battery positive pole when the system is not in use.

Installation

• Visual control:
  After receiving your Smart-Pro battery, check it for external damage, e.g. from transport.
  Make sure that the polarity is correct when connecting the battery. Connect your positive cables to the positive pole and your negative cables to the negative pole of the Smart-Pro. Our Smart-Pro series also supports parallel or series connection (configurations up to 48V systems). The connection terminals have an M8 hole, so most standard connections work well with our batteries.

• Parallel connection:
  Multiple Smart-Pros can be mounted in parallel to increase the current capacity of the system. When batteries are mounted in parallel, the voltage does not change, but the current doubles.
  Example: two 12.8V 100Ah Smart-Pros together give a capacity of 200Ah at a system voltage of 12.8V. The continuous discharge current can be increased to 200A. The peak discharge current remains limited to 500A.

• Series connection:
  Two identical Smart-Pro batteries can be connected in series to increase the system voltage up to 24V. When the batteries are connected in series, the current capacities and discharge current remain the same, but the system voltage is additive. Setting charge voltage of 28.8V and a float voltage below 27.2V.
  Example: two 12.8V 100Ah Smart-Pros together give a capacity of 100Ah at a system voltage of 25.6V. Nothing changes at the current output or input..

Mounting

• The Smart-Pro series can be installed standing upright or lying down.
• Make sure that the mounting is sufficient and solid! Avoid direct sunlight!

Commissioning

On delivery the batteries are about 50% charged and ready for immediate use. But to get the most out of the Smart-Pro, we recommend an initial charge first.

• A LiFePo4 battery should be fully charged before first use (discharge) to compensate for possible differences in charge of the cells.
• First, the batteries should be charged with C/20 or lower at 14.6V.
• For series or parallel connection, it is absolutely necessary to fully charge all batteries to be connected together!
• When charging batteries connected in series, the voltage of the battery or cell with the highest initial charge status will rise higher while other batteries or cells are still behind. This can then lead to an overvoltage at the battery or cell. The BMS then interrupts the charging process.
• In order to equalize the cells as completely as possible, a constant voltage phase of several hours at min. 14.4V is recommended. Cell balancing does not start until the charge voltage exceeds 14.4V.
• Devices connected to the battery must be protected by an appropriate fuse. Place the fuse as close as possible to the battery.

Optimize performance/balance cells manually:
Discharge the Smart-Pro to 20 – 30% (do not discharge to the low voltage protection), then charge to about 90% and let the battery “rest” for 30 to 60 minutes. Then discharge again to about 30% and recharge to about 100%. The charging voltage must be higher than 14,4V.
App viewer for Android and iOS — Akkuviewer Smart:
Download the free Akkuviewer Smart app from the App Store or Play store for an overview of

• current battery voltage
• current current
• SOC
• number of cycles
• temperature
• remaining runtime
• and much more

Operating Mode

Loading and unloading

For charging, use chargers with CC/CV or IU charging methods. If a VRLA-GEL battery was already in use, you can usually replace it 1:1 without any problems and without having to change any settings. If you are uncertain, please contact us.

• Recommended charging voltage: 14.4V (+/- 0.2V) or 28.8V for a 24V system.
• Charging voltage range: 13.8V – 14.6V
• Constant voltage duration: 2 h for a 100% charge, or a few minutes for a 98% charge.
• Maximum charging voltage: 14.6V or 29.2V
• Equalization voltage: >14,4V or >28,8V
• Float charge voltage: 13.5V – 13.8V
• Storage voltage: 13,2V
• Maximum discharge voltage: 10V
• Temperature range charging: -5 – 45°C
• Temperature range discharging: -20 – 60°C

Note:
The cells within the battery or batteries connected in series may become imbalanced due to high discharge currents and short charge retention voltage periods. The available battery capacity will then be reduced and an overvoltage or under voltage alarm may occur. Then carry out the procedures described in Section 2.3 to fully charge and balance the cells.

Storage

• The Smart-Pro series can be stored up to 6 months.
• Store the Smart-Pro series at 50-60% charge level (approx. 13.2V). The temperature range should be between 0 and 20°C with a relative humidity of 5 – 65%. Recharge the battery every 2-3 months.
• If stored for longer than 6 months, a complete cycle must be completed. (complete discharge with subsequent full charge)

Technical data

On our homepage you will find the individual data sheets for the respective batteries.

Notes / Support

Warning against unauthorized maintenance

• Never exceed the permissible charging voltage!
• Never exceed the permissible discharge current!
• Only operate the battery within the specified temperature range.
• Opening the battery is strictly forbidden and is reserved for trained employees or service providers to be appointed by us.
• Opening the battery leads to the expiration of warranty and guarantee claims against Off gridtec GmbH.
• In the event of technical faults or problems, always contact customer service with a detailed description of the fault, as well as your customer and order number, by e-mail to info@offgridtec.com.

Troubleshooting

The BMS interrupts the charging or discharging process in the following cases:

• As soon as the voltage of a cell reaches more than 3.9V – the BMS switches the charge on again as soon as the cell voltage reaches 3.6V.
• As soon as the voltage of a cell reaches less than 2V – the BMS allows a current drain again as soon as the voltage reaches 2.5V.
• Switch-off due to overload – please refer to the specifications of the individual batteries, sometimes high starting currents of capacitors in inverters or other consumers must be taken into account — the overload lock is cancelled 8 seconds after the load is switched off.
• The charge/discharge process is interrupted when the battery temperature reaches 65°C – the error is automatically cleared when the temperature reaches 50°C.
• If the maximum permissible pulse discharge current is exceeded, it is possible that the BMS will find the “Short circuit” error in a continuous loop between “Short circuit” and “Short circuit aborted”. If this error message does not end itself, the battery function can be restored by disconnecting the loads and simply charging (>13.8V).
• If an error is not automatically cleared and the battery remains in error mode, please send an error message to info@offgridtec.com, if necessary with screenshots from the app or other meaningful image material.

Problems with the Bluetooth connection:

• Battery voltage above 11V?
• Is the correct app being used? ? “Battery Viewer Smart”
• Bluetooth active on smartphone/tablet?
• Smart-Pro in the immediate vicinity (distance max. 2m)?
• All permissions (location, network, etc.) granted for the app?
• Is the Smart-Pro displayed in the Bluetooth pairing list of the smartphone/tablet?
• Android operating system 5.0 or higher?
• For Apple: iOS 9.0 or higher?
• Bluetooth module 4.0 or higher?

OFF gridtec GmbH
Im Gewerbepark 11 84307 Eggenfelden Deutschland
Tel: +49(0)8721 91994-00
Mail: info@offgridtec.com 

References

• Solaranlage: Photovoltaik kaufen, Solar Panel von OFFGRIDTEC

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