Central Battery Systems

Why central battery systems?

Central battery system based emergency lighting is ideal
for larger projects. There are many reasons for this, the
main ones being:

Simplified maintenance

Integrated Emergency lighting

Self contained emergency luminaires each incorporate

individual rechargeable batteries. The combination of
raised ambient temperature within typical luminaires and
continuous charging under mains healthy conditions
results in a normal battery life of around 4 years. At the
end of the battery life, each individual battery must be
replaced, this is a time consuming and disruptive process
often requiring the mains fittings to be dismantled to gain
access to the battery.

Static inverter type central battery systems are able to

power suitable unmodified mains luminaires at full power
during both mains healthy and mains failed conditions.
On projects with large open areas, particularly those with
high mounting heights, the use of mains fittings operating
at full output in emergency mode can greatly reduce the
number of emergency luminaires required. The use of
suitable standard unmodified mains luminaires also has
aesthetic advantages in many applications.

With a Central battery system the battery is housed in a

secure cabinet in a suitable, easy to access location such as
a plant room. The batteries in a central battery system will
typically have a 10 year design life, and when replacement
is required they can be easily and quickly replaced.
On large systems with hundreds of emergency luminaires,
Central battery systems potentially offer massive savings in
maintenance cost and disruption.

System features

Comprehensive indication
display
Shows current system status at
a glance

Modular inverter
design
Individual inverter modules
can easily be removed for
maintenance or to reduce
weight during installation
(2.5KVA and above)

Temperature compensation
with digital display
Automatically adjusts charger
voltage to optimise performance
and life in response to ambient
temperature.

Integral plinth
For ease of positioning

Note: Compact units (AC500...) differ slightly from above, contact technical sales for full details (Tel: 01302 303221)

Centralised or distributed systems

Cooper Lighting and Security manufactures a wide range
of Central battery systems. Standard products include
static inverter systems with ratings from 500VA to 30KVA.

This can considerably reduce the overall installed cost of

the system by reducing the amount of distribution wiring.
Distributed systems can also increase system integrity by
limiting the area affected by failure of an individual unit.

Smaller systems are ideal for providing emergency lighting

in small localised areas, e.g. Atriums where traditional
emergency lighting is not appropriate, alternatively
multiple small systems can be utilised, located at
convenient points throughout the building.

The compact 500VA static inverter system is ideal for use

as part of a distributed system, having a small footprint
and a lift off front cover, ideal for use in areas where access
space is limited.

Distributed systems can save on overall wiring

Choice of emergency luminaires

To complement the range of Central systems, a wide
selection of slave luminaires and conversion modules is
also available, which have been specifically designed to
ensure compatibility with Cooper Lighting and Security
central systems. Alternatively ACM1 modules can be used
to enable suitable normal unmodified mains luminaires to
be utilised for both normal and emergency lighting
operation.

Normal mains healthy condition

Local Switched
Supply

ACM1

ACM1 modules can either be mounted inside the

designated luminaire, or housed in a remote enclosure.
When housed in a remote enclosure, the ACM1 can either
be used to control an individual luminaire or a series of
luminaires, that all share a common switched live under
normal mains healthy conditions.

Combined
Mains/Emegency
Luminaire

Mains only
Luminaires

OR

Local Switched
Supply

The operation of the ACM1 module is described opposite.

ACM1

Cooper Lighting and Security offer dedicated slave

luminaires, that have been purpose designed to operate
with static inverter systems, they have a light output and
distribution that has been optimised to provide typical
emergency lighting design values.
The use of these efficient low power luminaires can
significantly reduce the physical size, output rating and
cost of the static inverter system compared to the use of
adapted normal mains luminaires. ACM1 units can also be
used to control dedicated slave luminaires if either local
switching (see above) or non maintained operation is
required.

Combined
Mains/Emegency
Luminaire

Mains only
Luminaires

Failure of normal lighting final circuit

Local Switched
Supply

ACM1

For non maintained slave operation, the ACM1 can be used

to hold off the supply to the dedicated emergency
luminaires until a mains failure occurs.

Combined
Mains/Emegency
Luminaire

Mains only
Luminaires

This is achieved by simply not adding a switched live

connection to the ACM1.
Total mains failure
Local Switched
Supply

ACM1

Combined
Mains/Emegency
Luminaire

Mains only
Luminaires

KEY
- LIVE
- DEAD

Addressable testing
Where ACM1 modules are utilised to allow standard mains
fittings to also operate as emergency luminaires, special
addressable versions are available which have the same
functionality as normal ACM1 modules, but in addition
can be controlled by Easicheck for automatic testing
purposes. An additional interface is fitted to each central
battery unit to allow Easicheck to monitor critical
parameters and to activate discharge testing as required.

Legislation demands that emergency lighting systems

are regularly tested and maintained in full working order.
The Easicheck Addressable testing systems can greatly
simplify the testing and maintenance regime, by
automatically carrying out complete automatic testing of
the entire emergency lighting system and raising an alarm
when remedial work is required.
Easicheck removes the need for expensive, time consuming
manual testing of emergency lighting systems, and ensures
that a thorough, consistent test regime is implemented.
As well as carrying out regular testing of all connected
emergency luminaires, the Easicheck system continually
monitors the status of the central battery units to ensure
that key parameters such as battery voltage and charge
current are at the correct level.

Control panels can operate on a stand alone basis or can

be networked together to form a single integrated system.
In addition, software and hardware packages are available
to allow Easicheck systems to connect to a computer to
provide either a text based or graphical user interface for
ease of monitoring on large sites.
The diagram below represents a typical wiring
arrangement for a networked Easicheck system connected
to a Central battery system. A comprehensive installation
planning guide is available on request to assist with the
detailed planning of an Easicheck installation.

The Easicheck system consists of a control panel (or series

of control panels on large projects) and an addressable
interface added to each emergency luminaire and control
device. An individual Easicheck panel can monitor and
control up to 250 addressable interfaces, each of which
could be either a luminaire, a control device or Central
battery system.

Supply to emergency fitting

Data cable

Network Cable
Optional PC
Interface

Static inverter detailed technical specification

The system includes all necessary features to comply with the requirements of BS EN50171: 2001 for Central System Supplies.
Inverters are able to start the full load of a previously un-powered system, within the response time of EN1838 in mains
failure mode.

Charger and Controls

Mains Supply:

230 10% VAC 1 phase 50hz

Input Control:

MCB to BS3871 Pt. 1, or BS4752 Part 1

Fusegear:

HRC type to BS88

Terminals:

DIN rail mounted near to cable entry

Transformer:

Double wound with earth screen to BS171

Rectifier:

Full wave controlled thyristor/diode bridge

Display Panel:

Comprehensive LED and LCD display (see below for details)

Contactor:

Standard contactors comply with the requirements of EN 60947-4-1

Charger:

Constant voltage, current-limited type with electronic solid-state controller. Voltage is controlled to
within 2% of setting at up to 10% mains supply variations.

Temperature
Compensation:

Fitted as standard on all units with lead acid cells. The charger voltage is automatically adjusted
with reference to ambient temperature to optimise charging and battery life.

Boost Control:

Manual boost/commissioning push button is fitted to units with vented batteries.

Test Push-button:

Simulates mains failure

Inverter
Output voltage:

Pre-settable in the range 220-240VAC. Unless otherwise advised, the output will be set at 230VAC.
The voltage tolerance is 2% on loads of 0-100% of system rating.

Frequency:

50 or 60hz. 0.01%. Standard setting 50hz

Waveform:

Sinusoidal

Voltage Regulation:

Static 2%, dynamic 6%

Isolation:

1.5kv rms between input and output terminals

Total Harmonic
Distortion:

Less than 3% into a linear load

Power Factor:

Will supply loads in the 0.3 lag - 0.3 lead range (0.7 lag - 0.7 lead for AC500 units)

Overload:

200% for 10 seconds, 125% for 20 minutes without reduction in output voltage

Start-up Time:

Standard 30mS

Noise Level:

Less than 55dBA at 1 metre

Efficiency:

85-89%

Protection:

DC input and AC output MCBs

DC input reverse polarity protection
Short circuit protection
Reverse-fed mains proof

Low voltage shut

down:

The inverter automatically shuts down when the battery discharges to a pre-set level. Re-set is
following a combination of the restoration of the mains supply and an increase in battery voltage
above the disconnect threshold level. Residual current drain when the disconnect circuit has
operated is less than 1mA per module

Technology:

Pulse width modulation with high frequency switching

Display Indication
Power On

Indicates that mains power is supplied to the charger, and to all connected sub-circuit monitors
(LK1), and that no brown-out has occurred.

Maintained lights

Indicating that mains power is supplied to the Maintained circuit, and that any switching
connected to LK2 is closed

Float mode*

Indicating that the charger is working in the constant voltage mode (and hence the charge current
is low or falling). Unless the Boost Mode indicator is also lit (see below) this indicates that the
battery voltage is at the preset float voltage

Current limit*

Indicating that the charger is in constant current mode (and hence the battery voltage is rising).

Full charge*

Indicating that the charger is in constant voltage mode (at float voltage unless the boost indicator
is also illuminated), and that the current has dropped to a low level (generally below 10-20% of
current limit)

Boost mode*

(Not applicable to Valve Regulated Lead Acid types of batteries) - Indicating that the unit is
charging towards a target voltage about 20% higher than the preset float voltage. Depending on
options selected at the design stage, this can be initiated automatically or manually. If automatic,
it shall start and finish on preset voltage thresholds. If initiated manually, it shall be terminated
either manually or by a timer. Manual operation shall be by means of two push buttons on the
internal PCB.

Mains fail*

Indicating that mains power has failed (or dropped below the brown-out threshold) either to
the unit or to one of the sub-circuit monitors connected to it. The charger will then not be
operating, and the output will be supplied from the battery

Charge fail

Indicates that battery voltage and charge current are both low.

Battery high volts

Indicating that the battery voltage has risen above a preset threshold, normally 5% above float
voltage

Battery low volts

Indicates that the battery voltage has dropped below a preset threshold, normally 5% below float
voltage

Earth fault*

Indicating some leakage to earth (resistance approximately 5kohms or less) on any circuit
connected to the battery positive or negative.

Deep discharge
protection

Indicating that the deep discharge protection circuit has operated, cutting off the output to avoid
damage to the battery. It shall remain illuminated until mains power has been restored AND the
condition has been acknowledged by pressing the Deep Discharge Protection Reset button

Inverter running

Indicates that the inverter is providing an output of nominally 230VAC

Display current

Changes the digital meter display from battery voltage to battery current

Display Temp*

Changes the digital meter display from battery voltage to battery temperature

Mute buzzer

An internal buzzer sounds when any alarm condition occurs, which can be silenced with this button

LCD Display

Displays Battery voltage by default, will display charge/discharge current or ambient temperature
if above buttons are operated

* Not fitted on compact static inverter units (AC500...) See page 10 for details.

Selecting the correct sized unit

3) Fittings with a low Power factor have a much higher
circuit VA than fittings with a high power factor.
Using low power factor fittings on a static inverter will
increase the size and cost of the static inverter unit.
4) Ensure any fitting selected for use as an emergency
fitting complies with the product standard for
emergency fittings (EN60598-2-22) note, that to
comply with this standard glow starters, or lamps
with built in starters must not be used, (use electronic
starters instead).

Use the following procedure to select a correctly sized

static inverter:
1) Make a list of all the luminaires to be connected to the
static inverter.
2) Note the quantity of fittings of each type.
3) Establish the electrical supply details for each luminaire
type (the circuit watts and the circuit VA).
4) Multiply each of these by the quantity of luminaires
5) Add together the total Circuit wattage requirement
and the total circuit VA requirement.
6) Add an allowance (recommend a minimum of 20%)
for future expansion.
7) Select an inverter unit from the list opposite which is
capable of supplying both the required VA rating and
the required wattage rating.

Worked examples
In the following examples the same fitting types have been
used in both cases, however in the first example, switch
start gear has been used as the basis for calculation, the
second example, is based on HF gear. These examples
illustrate how the use of HF gear results in a smaller and
cheaper static inverter unit.

Notes
1) Make sure you use the circuit watts of the fitting not
the lamp watts (with a switch start fitting, there can be
as much as 40% difference between the lamp wattage
and the actual circuit wattage of the fitting)
2) The circuit wattage of a HF fitting will be normally be
substantially lower than that of an equivalent switch
start fitting. If HF fittings are used instead of switch
start fittings, the resulting inverter is likely to be
significantly cheaper and smaller.

Calculate the correct sized static inverter to support the

following load:
55 x 58W battens
21 x Twin 58W Weatherproof fittings
20 x 8W Exit signs

Example 1 (Switch start gear)

Qty

Type

Circuit VA (ea)

Circuit VA (Tot)

55

1 x 58W Switch start batten

79.3

4361.5

69

3795

21

2 x 58W Switch start weatherproof

158.6

3330.6

138

2898

20

8W Exit sign (HF)

220

11

Circuit Watts (Ea) Circuit Watts (Tot)

180

Total connected load

7912.10

6873

Plus 20% spare

9494.52

8247.60

Example 2 (HF gear)

Qty

Type

Circuit VA (ea)

Circuit VA (Tot)

55
21
20

8W Exit sign (HF)

Circuit Watts (Ea) Circuit Watts (Tot)

58W High frequency batten

56.1

3085.5

55

3025

2 x 58W High frequency weatherproof

112.2

2356.2

110

2310

11

220

180

Total connected load

5661.7

5515

Plus 20% spare

6794.04

6618

Having calculated the required system size, select a unit from the list below which has sufficient capacity to support the
required load (including the spare capacity), note bolts and VA wattage must be checked.
Cooper Lighting and Security offers a wide range of static inverter systems, with ratings from 500VA to 30KVA. The list below
shows a number of popular sized units are available on short delivery lead times. For requirements outside this range, please
contact out central battery systems technical sales department, who will be pleased to provide further details.

Part Number

Easicheck compatible

Max output VA

Max output Watts

Standby hrs

1AC500VAM3

No

500

400

1AC500VAM3EC

Yes

500

400

1ACSLX12503AP

No

1250

1065

1ACSLX25003AP

No

2500

2000

1ACSLX37503AP

No

3750

3200

SK-AC4KVA-SLR3

No

4000

3400

SK-JAC4KVA-SLR3*

Yes

4000

3400

SK-AC5KVA-SLR3

No

5000

4250

SK-JAC5KVA-SLR3*

Yes

5000

4250

SK-AC7-5KVA-SLR3

No

7500

6375

SK-JAC7-5KVA-SLR3*

Yes

7500

6375

SK-AC8KVA-SLR3

No

8000

6800

SK-JAC8KVA-SLR3*

Yes

8000

6800

SK-AC10KVA-SLR3

No

10000

8500

SK-JAC10KVA-SLR3*

Yes

10000

8500

* contains Easicheck interface

Contact technical sales for details of cubicle dimensions (Tel: 01302 303221)

Head Office
Cooper Lighting and Security Ltd, Wheatley Hall Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 4NB
Sales

General

Major Projects London

Export

T:
F:
E:

+44 (0)1302 321541

+44 (0)1302 303220
technical@cooper-ls.com

+44 (0)1992 787999

+44 (0)1992 787222
london@cooper-ls.com

+44 (0)1302 303250

+44 (0)1302 303251
export@cooper-ls.com

+44 (0)1302 303303

+44 (0)1302 367155
sales@cooper-ls.com

10

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