User Guide

Programming Battery Setup for the BDS
18-14
18.5. Battery Setup: System (BDS)
String View > Setup|Battery|System
The Thermal Runaway and Hardware parameters are used to trigger system events.
Thermal runaway can be a very destructive and serious condition on standby batteries if not
identified in the beginning of the development stages. If thermal runaway is ignored, severe
damage to the battery as well as surrounding equipment can occur resulting in costly repairs
or worse, injury to personnel. In all cases, thermal runaway can lead to abrupt system failure
and disruption of service if not detected. A proactive method of some form must be instituted
to deal with a thermal runaway condition. Furthermore, as described in the International Fire
Code (IFC), VRLA battery systems shall be provided with a listed device or other approved
method to preclude, detect and control thermal runaway (IFC 608.3)
1
.
Figure 68. Battery Setup - Thermal Runaway (BDS)
High Float Current (in mamps) A float current threshold, which is independent of the Float
Alarms - Float Current threshold, can be set. Entering a value of 0 will disable this parameter
from the analysis for thermal runaway. Otherwise, a value from 1-5000ma can be entered.
Seeing an abnormal rise in float current can be an indication of a thermal runaway condition.
However, normal conditions like charging after a discharge can and will show elevated float
currents for a period of time. The length of time and the amount of this elevated float current
is difficult to predict as the depth of discharge and type of battery will affect this. Due to this,
this parameter will be temporary disabled for making thermal analysis for 72 hours following
a discharge.
1
ICC, 2012 ICC International Fire Code® (IFC)