BATTERY LVD PROTECTOR

The telecom equipments are designed to operate at a potential of -48v DC. To provide interrupt
free service a battery bank with 24 cells is used for backup. Normally it is in float condition at a voltage
of -54.1 V ie. 2.25 v per cell. When power fails the battery bank starts discharging to take load. To keep
the battery healthy, it should not be allowed to discharge below 1.75 v per cell ie. -42v for battery
terminal voltage.
To achieve this, a LVDS (Low Voltage Discharge Switch) is utilized in power plant. LVDS is a dc
contactor. The battery is connected to load through LVDS contact. The LVDS is controlled by power plant
control circuit. It continuously monitors the load voltage during battery discharge. When the voltage
drops to -44.4 v (1.85 v per cell), the LVDS contact is opened to cut the load for battery. Hence the
battery is protected from deep discharge (Low Voltage Discharge). Generally the LVD setting is
adjustable from -44.4v to -45.6v (1.85v to 1.90v per cell).
But the practical problem is that in many of the power plants the control circuit is not working.
Hence the LVDS contact is bypassed to get the battery backup. So in NBSNL BTS sites , where daily
manual attention is not possible more chances are there for deep discharge of battery sets. This severely
reduces the battery life.
To overcome this problem a simple circuit is developed to disconnect the load when the voltage
reduces to -45.6 v using the existing LVDS of power plant. But it not depends on power plant control
circuit. Hence the battery can be protected from deep discharge even though the control circuit is not
working.
Also it uses R4A-12W-K as main component, which is miniature relay used in CDOT
LCC/CCM/TWT cards as Test Access Relay. The TWT cards were used in CDOT 128 boards for trunk
circuits. Now these cards are being idle only. In each card 8 such relays are available, so we can develop
8 LVD protector circuits from one card. Also we can make use of relays from LCC / CCM cards which are
in beyond repairable condition.
The complete component costs along with a plastic enclosure is less than Rs.150/- only.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

+VE

RA4-12W-K ‘SYSTEM BYPASS’

(RELAY) (TOGGLE SWITCH)

‘BATTERY
ISOLATION’ (TOGGLE
SWITCH)

1N5367B LVDS
22K 1W

LOAD 2A

BTY 1A
‘SYSTEM OK’
‘LVD’
‘SYSTEM BYPASSED’
‘BATTERY ISOLATED’

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION:-
The RA4-12W-K is operating at 12v dc. By practical study it is found that the relay
engages at 6v dc itself and disengages only at 2.6v dc. This property of relay is mainly utilized. 1N5367B
is a 43v 5w zener diode. The combination of the zener and relay makes the relay to engage at 49v (43+6)
and disengage at 45.6v (43+2.6). The LVDS coil is powered up through this relay contact. So the LVDS
engages at -49v dc and disengages at -45.6v dc.

NOTE :-
According to the tolerance of zener and coil property of relay the operating point of the
circuit may slightly vary. By practical testing of the circuits the value ranges from -45.6v to -46.1v.
SCEMATIC BLOCK DIAGRAM:-

The circuit is connected

LOADas shown in Block Diagram. Supply voltage for the circuit is taken from
LOAD bus and another supply from BATTERY bus is taken for indication. The LVDS contactor coil
connection which is from control card has been disconnected and the same is connected to the LVDS
point of new circuit.
POWER
When PLANT
the power plant SMPS module BATTERY
LVDS is switched on and the supply crosses above -49V DC, the
LVDSSMPS UNITSis energized and the Battery bus is connected to LoadSET
contactor bus. Hence the power plant gives
supply to load as well as charges Battery. ‘SYSTEM OK’ indication will be there.
When the Power Plant module is switched of due to power failure or module fault or by
manually the battery starts discharge through LVDS contact to supply Load. While the battery discharges
BATTERY LVD
the voltage starts reducing. When the voltage drops below -45.6V DC the LVDS is opened by the circuit
PROTECTOR
and the load is disconnected from Battery. So the Battery is prevented from discharging below -45.6V .
‘LVD’ indication will be intiated.
Since the supply for indication is taken from Battery bus the status indication will be there even
after LVDS open. After that when the SMPS module switched on and the voltages crosses above -49v dc
the LVDS is closed automatically and Battery starts charging.
Suppose there is a failure in the circuit there is a chance of LVDS is permanently open even in
healthy condition, there by the Battery backup will not be there. In such times we can use ‘SYSTEM
BYPASS’ toggle switch to bypass the circuit. When the bypass is initiated a warning indication ‘SYSTEM
BYPASS’ will be there.
Another toggle switch ‘BATTERY ISOLATION’ is introduced to disconnect the battery for any
maintenance purpose. ‘BATTERY ISOLATED’ indication will be there for warning the battery unavailable
status.