1. Telecom Battery Maintenance vs IEEE
Presented by Curtis Ashton
CenturyLink Sr Lead Power Maintenance Engineer
Phoenix Plaza
February 4-8, 2019

2. Overview
IEEE Recommendations for Battery Routine Frequencies are Generally Overkill for Telecom
Comparing IEEE 450 (VLA), 937 (PV lead-acid), 1106 (NiCd), 1184 (UPS), (VRLA), and P2685 (Engine Starting) to ATIS
For Engine Start Batteries a Comparison to NFPA 110 Recommendations was also done
ATIS was Developed in Response to an FCC Order on 911 Reliability (Derecho) that asked us to follow “manufacturer’s routine practices”
Manufacturer and IEEE Practices Default to the Most Critical application (Typically Nuclear Generation), which is overkill for Telecom
Next Edition of IEEE 1188 Hopes to Address The Criticality/Frequency Issue With an Annex
Missing Items from IEEE Standards that are Covered in ATIS Document
Perhaps the various IEEE WGs listed above should Add some?
Battery Monitors (see IEEE 1491) Can Reduce Visit Frequency?
Something for the various IEEE WGs listed above to Consider?

3. Remoteness of Many Telecom Sites

4. Meaning of the Frequency Acronyms
W = Weekly
M = Monthly
Q = Quarterly
S = Semi-Annually (once every 6 Months)
A = Annually
2 = bi-annually (every 2 Years)
3 = once every 3 Years
5 = once every 5 Years
n/a = Not Applicable
TBD = still To Be Determined (standard in progress/process)
never = Not Done
rare = only on demand
see prior = follow guidelines of IEEE 450, 1106, and 1188, as applicable
? = not really absolutely “required” or there are alternatives
? = probably needs to be added to this particular document?

5. Battery Maintenance Tasks Frequency Comparison for DC Plants and UPS (page 1)
450
1106
1188
1184
937
ATIS
Post Corrosion, AntiOxidant, Cleaning M Q
see prior S
Leaks & Cracks
Room Ventilation & Pilot Cell (if used) Temperature
Add Water
n/a
Float Current (more important for Sb/Se & VRLA) A
Check Battery Terminal Voltage and Charging Settings
Ground Current Leakage (for ungrounded strings) ?
LVD SetPoint Check (when LVBD used)
Read Cell/Unit Voltages
Individual Cell/Unit Temperatures

6. Battery Maintenance Tasks/Tests Frequency Comparison for DC Plants and UPS (continued – pg 2)
450
1106
1188
1184
937
ATIS
Internal Ohmic Readings (primarily for VRLA) A?
n/a Q S A
Verify Battery Monitor Operation/Readings M ?
Pilot Cell or 10% s.g. readings (primarily for Antimony?) Q?
never
Specific Gravity readings for All Cells (primarily Antimony?)
“excessive” Case Bulge (more important on VRLA)
see prior
Battery Stand/Rack/Cabinet Integrity / Bolt Tightness
Visual Inspection of Internal Plates, Sediment, etc.
Ripple Current (primarily a UPS thing)
InterCell/Unit Resistance/Torque
Performance Test (Full Discharge) 5
2-3
rare

7. Telecom Annual Partial Discharge Test Prediction for VLA (Telcordia/Bellcore Patented Algorithm)

8. Engine Start Battery Systems Maintenance Tasks/Tests Frequency Comparison
NFPA 110
P2685
ATIS
Add Water to Cells (as needed and applicable)
W/M
TBD S
Post Corrosion Check/Clean M
Check start/control Battery Charger(s) A
start/control Battery Voltage(s)
Specific Gravities (if possible)
never
Clean Batteries Q
Charger and Low Voltage Alarms
check Temperature Compensation (primarily for VRLAs)
Battery Heater Pad proper operation (as applicable)
check/Trend Starter(‘s) Current draw
OverCrank Settings
Connection Tightness

9. Battery Items in ATIS List but Not in IEEE Documents
Task
ATIS frequency
Check De-Ionizer Cartridge(s) - (if used, for wet cells only) S
Check Battery Disconnects (if used), including Alarming of them A
Test/Calibrate Room Hydrogen Detector (where used)
Proper Spacing Between VRLA Multi-Cell Units (Blocs) - especially Top-Teminal
Proper Temperature Compensation Settings (primarily for VRLA)
Local & Remote Battery / Charger Alarms
Adequate Battery Capacity for the Load
Backup Battery Monitor Programming and Change Primary Button Cell Backup Battery 5

10. Safety Items in ATIS List but Not in IEEE Documents
Task
ATIS frequency
check Apron, Goggles, Faceshield, and Battery Gloves (mostly for VLA batteries) S
check Spill Kits, and ensure Spill Procedures Posted A
ensure Safety Warning Signs for Battery Room are Posted
Re-Stock First Aid Kit (as needed) M
ensure Eyewash is Not Expired (and works and is clean if plumbed)

11. Battery Monitors Reduce Site Visit / Task Frequency Need?
For Example, we went from Quarterly UPS VRLA Ohmic Readings to Annual when Battery Monitor was Installed
Annual Ohmic Check Simply to Verify Accuracy of Monitor Readings
If a Permanent Monitor is Monitoring All my Battery Temperatures and Voltages, Why Do I Need to Doublecheck them by Hand Any More Frequently than Annually?