Saft
26 quai Charles Pasqua
92300 Levallois-Perret
FRANCE
www.saft.com
Doc. n°21787-0124-2
- January 2024 - Information in this document is subject to change without notice and becomes contractual only after written
confirmation by Saft. Photo credit: Saft - Cap 1048
• For a battery stored for more than 3 months
or at T > +30°C, or more than 6 months at
T > +20°C:
• Discharge the battery at 0.2 C
5
A down to
an average 1V per cell.
• Maintain the battery in open circuit for 8
hours or until the battery temperature is
b10°C and +30°C.
• Charge the battery at 0.2 C
5
A for 8 hours.
5.2. The batteries are delivered discharged
Caution: even if the battery is discharged,
there remains a residual charge that may
cause an electric shock.
Charging and discharging should be done at
constant current.
• For a battery placed into service immediately
after delivery or after less than one year of
storage:
• Preferred solution: constant current
charge; charge the battery at 0.2 C
5
A for
8 hours. Caution: during constant current
charging the battery box must be open.
• Other solution: Constant voltage charge:
1.55V/cell for 20 hours with the current
limited at 0.2 C
5
A.
• For a battery stored more than 1 year:
• Charge the battery at 0.2 C
5
A for 8 hours.
• Discharge the battery at 0.2 C
5
A down to
an average 1V per cell.
• Maintain the battery in open circuit for 8
hours or until the battery temperature is
b10°C and +30°C.
• Charge the battery at 0.2 C
5
A for 8 hours.
The battery is ready for use.
6. Charging in service
• 1.47 V/cell at +20°C (+68°F) with voltage
compensation:
-3 mV/°C/cell (-1.7 mV/°F/cell).
For higher charging voltages consult your
local Saft representative.
• Boost charge according to IEC62973-2.
7. Topping-up
Before topping-up operation, the water filling
circuit of the battery must be checked for
tightness (no leaks) using a pressure test (a
kit may be supplied by SAFT).
Use only distilled and deionized water for
topping-up.
Connect distilled water tank to the self-
closing inlet. Topping-up is completed when
an excess of 1 litre of water is measured at
the outlet of the water filling circuit.
Topping-up can be performed by Saft’s gravity
kit or by using Saft’s water filling stations.
If charge at constant current: operation must
be carried on charged cells with a rest time
of minimum of 2 hours.
If charge at constant voltage on the train, the
topping-up can be carried out at any time.
Topping-up can be performed every 6 years
(if the annual average cell temperature is
below +30°C and the battery is used as a
back-up battery) by gravity or using adapted
pump with a flow rate of 0.7 l/min at a relative
pressure of 0.3 bar maximum.
Topping-up frequencies need to be confirmed
with real application conditions (Temperature,
number of cycles, DOD, real charger
dispersion).
8. Preventive maintenance
In addition to the topping-up, a periodic
maintenance shall be carried out up to every
10 years if the annual average cell temperature
is below +30°C and the battery is used as a
back-up battery.
For detailed maintenance, please refer to the
maintenance manual of the battery.
• Keep the battery clean using only water. Do
not use a wire brush or solvents of any kind.
• Check torque of all terminal screws. Coat
with DW33 anti-corrosion greasy film all
terminal screws and connections.
• Check charger settings. It is very
important that the recommended charging
voltage remains unchanged. High water
consumption by the battery is usually
caused by improper voltage setting of the
charger.
It depends on the charging voltage and
actual use of the battery. Refer to section 7
concerning topping-up.
9. Electrolyte
Do not change the electrolyte during the life-
time of the cells.
10. Environment
To protect the environment all used batteries
must be recycled. Contact your local Saft
representative for information.
Table A
Rated
capacity
(Ah)
Charging
current
(Amp)
70
14
80
16
90
18
100
20
115
23
130
26
145
29
160
32
180
36
200
40
230
46
260
52