RBMS Plus Installation and Opera
RBMS Plus Installation and Operation Manual
Alpha Technologies Ltd. | www.alpha.ca
PAGE 16
0370260-J0 Rev B
3.
Sensor Installation
CAUTION!
Lethal voltages may be present on the battery strings. If you are not fully trained to work safely
around batteries and our monitoring system, leave the installation to a certified technician. Read the sensor
installation instructions carefully.
CAUTION!
Be sure to disconnect the rectifier or charger before installing the sensors. Failure to do so could
result in sensor damage.
3.1.
Installation
This section provides installation information common to installing sensors on a battery string. The cables used to connect
the sensors to each other and to the RBMS Controller are standard CAT5 cables. A cable is provided with each sensor and we
recommend that you order the appropriate Cable Kit for each battery string. We recommend that you do not make your own
sensor cables. A single improperly made cable can destroy an entire string of sensors. The sensor uses all 8 wires in the cable.
Many cable testers do not test all 8 wires and we have found cables that were tested as good and still damaged the sensors.
The use of an improperly made cable may void the warranty. If you need cables of a length other than those provided, please
contact Alpha Technologies.
CAUTION!
Be certain that the battery string is isolated from earth ground, and that no lethal voltages are
present during this operation. The battery circuit breaker should be switched off or the string should be
isolated from the DC power bus and the charger.
NOTE:
The sensor module is supplied with a red plastic insulating sleeve over the lug that will connect to the
jar’s positive terminal. Do not remove this sleeve until instructed to do so. Failure to observe this could result in
the lug accidentally contacting another electrical point in the battery system during installation. This could
damage the sensor and void the warranty.
NOTE:
NOTE: To obtain consistent admittance readings, it is recommended that the sensor lugs be located in
the same position on each jar terminal. Generally, the sensor should be installed on top of the existing strap or
lug and under the washer.
CAUTION! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL THE SENSORS WHILE THE UPS IS ONLINE OR
WHILE THE TRAYS ARE ASSEMBLED. ATTEMPTING TO DO SO COULD CAUSE AN
INADVERTANT SHORT CIRCUIT THAT MIGHT LEAD TO ELECTRIC SHOCK OR EXPLOSION.
Do not remove the plastic cap on the end of the sensor wire(s) until instructed to do so. The
cap prevents the sensor wire from shorting to battery terminals or other metal parts and
damaging the sensor.
Loosen the negative terminal bolt on the first jar which will have a sensor installed and place
the black wire of the two-wire sensor on the negative terminal. If the sensor is connected with
the wrong polarity the sensor fuse will blow. Tighten the terminal bolt to the jar
manufacturer’s recommended torque setting (typically 100-120 inch/oz).
CAUTION!
Failure to tighten the connections to the manufacturer’s recommended torque can result in jar
terminal failure during a power outage, damage to the terminal, or inconsistent admittance measurements.
Loosen the positive terminal bolt on the same jar. Remove the red plastic insulating cap that covers the lug at the end of
the red wire on the sensor. Place the lug between the washer and the positive cable on the positive jar terminal. Use
