2v Batteries

[Beanyboy57]

I have been offered at a bargain basement price 12 x 2v 500Ah batteries that are ex government use, 4 years old. They are 60cm x 40cm x 25. It is policy for the communications company to change these batteries every 4 years regardless of their condition. What should I look for when I inspect them? I guess the obvious would be cracks, damaged cells, no fluid in the cells.
Cheers
Jon

[Sunking]

Are they flooded lead acid or sealed?

There are a couple of things you need to know.

1. Telecom batteries are constructed much like a An auto cranking battery. What that means in layman terms is they are designed to deliver very high discharge rates, and be charged at very high charge rates. To do that the plates are made very thin and spongy like to maximize surface area to get the internal resistance as low as possible. OK what that means to you is they have very few charge/discharge cycles of at best maybe 150 to 300 cycles.

2. Although I do not think it applies to you in this case because of the size and numbers. When you buy and install batteries with 500 or more pounds of electrolyte, you are required to buy a permit from the Employment Prevention Agency, and they in turn notify local emergency responder agency most notable the local fire department so they can make inspect the system to make sure it meets all electrical codes, has spill containment, and all the required HAZ MAT signage and Warnings. When that permit is granted, they are on hook for all responsibility until they are properly disposed of by a licensed and approved disposal agency or change of ownership. It cost big bucks to dispose of the batteries and a lot of Red Tape.

So how this relates to someone like yourself, when you buy them you saves the Telco big disposal bucks and RED TAPE, and now you are on the hook to the EPA as it is now YOUR PROBLEM.

[Beanyboy57]

Telecom Batteries

Thanks for that info, I will have a look at them on the weekend and ask those questions. If they are the cranking type of battery I surely do not want them, if they are difficult to dispose of I don't want them either!
We do have a waste management facility that will take used car batteries of any type but I am not sure if these ones would be accepted or not! Lots to consider now.

[Sunking]

Car batteries have polycarbonate (plastic) cases. Station batteries if they are VRLA have steel cases and I doubt the recycle center cannot process them.

[Sunny Solar]

I think they will be be deep cycle flooded lead acid if same as what most telcos use in Australia . If used carefully you can get another 4 yrs use out of them as they are very rarely discharged below 90% and usually kept in float. I dont guarantee that to be correct but the ones I have seen and in use were like that and used like that.
And have know people that have"obtained" them and got good use out of them.
I have never heard or seen of any permit needed to remove them. The main problem is finding a transport co that will carry them as most know if any acid spills the floor of the truck gets eaten away,and the drivers have a dislike for handling them as they know acid burns are not nice.
And most telcos seem to have the rooms they are stored in as inaccessible as its possible to do.

Most rubbish disposal stations have a section that will take any quantity or size of battery.

[Beanyboy57]

2v batteries

Had a quick look at the batteries.
Yuasa 2volt 550amp hour lead acid with a vent. I wil try to find them on a website.
They have 2 positive terminals and two negative terminals.
The body of each battery looks to be made of plastic and in new condition.
They are registering 2.04v - 2.06v.
What percentage are they discharged?
Are they worth using? The guy only wants $60 each.
I need to make a decision within a week or so.
Thanks in advance for you comments.

[Sunny Solar]

They are very discharged ,,about 80% discharged. They need recharging very soon. Are the cases clear enough to see the plates? If they look ok ,not buckled and there is not a lot of "sludge" at the bottom then they would be worth the $60 ea in my opinion.

Transporting them may have its own problems.. My suggestion is use a trailer and hose it out really well after each trip.

[Sunking]

Had a quick look at the batteries.
Yuasa 2volt 550amp hour lead acid with a vent. I wil try to find them on a website.
They have 2 positive terminals and two negative terminals.
The body of each battery looks to be made of plastic and in new condition.
They are registering 2.04v - 2.06v.
What percentage are they discharged?
Are they worth using? The guy only wants $60 each.
I need to make a decision within a week or so.
Thanks in advance for you comments.

What is the model number? Yuasa most notable product line is AGM batteries made for UPS. Model number will tell the tale. If they are UPS I would pass. At 2 volts indicate they have sat a very long time off a charger.

[Beanyboy57]

Products
Standby Power

UXL550-2FR Battery

To see a larger image, click on the picture.


Features
UXL Series Brochure


For more info, download the UXL Series brochure.

Telco Networks
UXL550-2FR
Profile

The UXL Series is a very reliable, longer life battery. UXL Series batteries have been developed to meet business battery requirements – longer life, greater reliability and minimised maintenance.

The UXL Series is suitable for a wide range of standby power applications.

Conforming to regulations

The UXL Series conforms to UN2800 Special Provision A67 in IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and is not subject to IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.
Special features

15-year design life (UXL over 150AH)
10-year design life (UXL under 100AH)
Non-spillable battery - no free acid.
Flame retardant version available – UL 94VO grade (UXL 165-2 and up).
Maintenance-free – no water topping up needed.
Valve regulated.
No gas emissions under normal floating operation.
Fitted with explosion-proof filter.
No equalising charge needed.
Excellent high-rate discharge performance.
Low self-discharge.
Easy to handle.
Compact in size

[Sunking]

They are UPS batteries, which means they can be discharged at very high rates. The downside as the description indicates they are Standby Batteries which means not many charge/discharge cycles.