S&C Instruction Sheet 1041-540 15
Installation
Typical battery life for 5800 Series controls is five to seven years. The battery should be
replaced when capacity is reduced to 80% of capacity when new. Increased temperature
accelerates battery aging, so installations in warmer climates will have a shorter battery
life.
5800 Series controls automatically test and record battery capacity, and the only
routine maintenance they require is battery replacement. Yearly site inspection of the
BATTERY LOW LED and the physical condition of the battery is recommended for
noncommunicating controls. More frequent inspection should be scheduled for older
batteries. Batteries should be replaced every five years. Communicating controls report
“Battery Low” to SCADA when capacity is near 80%, and the battery will still power the
switch operator.
The following suggestions can help with battery maintenance:
• Store batteries at room temperature. To maximize battery life, store all gel-cell bat-
teries at or below room temperature. Once in service, the battery will probably be
exposed to higher temperatures that will affect its life. However, proper storage can
avoid accelerating the process.
• Keep stored batteries charged. Gel-cell batteries are generally designed with a 6-month
maximum shelf life. This means they can survive sitting on the shelf without being
recharged and without incurring substantial damage for 6 months. If having to store
them longer, it is critical to recharge them periodically. If recharging them every month,
they can sit on the shelf for years without significant damage. To recharge a battery,
connect it to a switch control or to an independent battery charger. See Table 8 in S&C
Specification Bulletin 1045-33 for available charger options.
• The best approach to storing batteries is to maintain the smallest inventory possible.
Make sure a procedure is in place for rotating the inventory, removing the oldest bat-
teries first.
• Use batteries known to be good. Do not install used batteries in battery-backed
equipment unless they have been properly tested. The cost of a service call to replace a
bad battery is usually higher than the cost of a new battery. Although a battery might be
good enough to provide temporary standby power, the line switch has a brief but large
power requirement that may exceed a weak battery’s ability to deliver charge rapidly.
• Avoid installing the enclosure in a sunny location. If at all possible, install the switch
control enclosure in a shady area. Because batteries do not do as well in warm/hot
environments, do everything possible to minimize the peak operating temperature.
Battery Care and
Maintenance
5800 Series switch controls are entirely software-driven. Each switch control is shipped
with control and IntelliLink software.
The Control Software
The control software is preloaded into the switch control in the factory. This software
manages the minute-by-minute functioning of the switch control. It continually monitors:
• Voltage and current on the feeder
• Incoming SCADA commands
• The position of the faceplate switches
• The condition of the battery
• Ambient air temperature inside the control enclosure
• The internal switch control clock/calendar
• The software setpoint values
• Fault and voltage loss information already stored in the control
• Various other setpoints and data values as needed
Switch Control
Software
