Experiences with Individual Cell Equalizers ability to prevent, diagnose, and correct common battery conditions, 1988-1995

This paper identifies beliefs and misconceptions relating to the operation and testing of stationary battery banks, and the problems they present to the battery user. These problems cost millions due to the inability to prevent, diagnose; and/or correct common battery conditions. This paper also identifies how BWB Battery Corp. Ltd. has used the Individual Cell Equalizer (ICE), designed and patented by Ericsson Communications Inc., Stockholm, Sweden to prevent and correct these problems. The first installation of ICE by BWB was in 1988. Since then, we have had the opportunity to identify and study the advantages of this unique device. It has been used as a tool for maintenance, testing, and the prevention of known inherent battery conditions. ICE has provided substantial savings in all aspects of maintenance and testing. Using modern maintenance techniques that have been developed by BWB to complement the use of ICE, it is now possible to identify defective cells, measure operational life and security of battery banks at a fraction of the traditional cost. Techniques are presented to show evidence that the voltage levels of all cells will now be uniform with little or no voltage variations. Techniques are presented to show evidence that if cells are consuming a normal amount of current with ICE to maintain their set voltage level, they will be found to be within their rated capabilities