Copyright © 2010 PowerShield Ltd.
Sentinel Battery Monitor settings for
90NET UPS in PFC Mode
Introduction
The Sentinel battery monitoring system was designed to monitor stationary batteries in float
applications like UPS systems. The PFC mode uses an intermittent charging regime instead of float
charging and the Sentinel was not suited to handle the charger off state and the large monoblock
voltage fluctuations that can occur when the string goes on charge.
The Sentinel system has been enhanced to handle intermittent battery charging regime to ensure
the appropriate limits are applied with respect to battery state.
Please perform the following procedure to change a Sentinel system from float charging to
intermittent charging.
Procedure
Step 1 - Upgrade Sentinel Firmware
Via Hyper terminal or the PowerShield upgrader update the firmware on the Sentinels to version
5.4.40.
Step 2 – Obtain a new version of Config
Upgrade your computer with a new version of Config version 2.0.0.x or version 2.1.0.x.
Step 3 – Format Sentinel memory
Connect with Config to the Sentinel and format the memory.
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Step 4 – Set charging regime
Set the charging regime to ‘Intermittent charge’ on the Monitor system tab as show below.
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Step 5 – Update String Configuration
Set Ohmic measurement string state option and monoblock type. The settings are highlighted below
by the red eclipses.
Repeat the above for all the strings on the system.
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Step 6 – Update String limits
Update the ‘Minimum String Voltage – Float Mode’ limit to a value using the following formulae:
Minimum String Voltage – Float Mode = N° of monoblocks in string x 13.45V
Update the ‘Minimum Voltage – Idle mode’ limit to 6 x 2.05V/Cell = 12.30V
Below is an example of a configuration with 40 12V monoblocks per string.
Repeat this step for each configured string.
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Step 7 – Update Monoblock limits
Update the existing monoblock voltage limits using the Monoblock Limits dialog.
The Create Limits panel provides some suggested values. Adjust the maximum ‘Float’ limit to be the
same value is the maximum ‘Discharge’ limit.
Below an example of suggested monoblock limits for 12V VRLA battery.
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Step 8 – Current transducer settings
1. Select the current transducer that is installed, the new version of Sentinel firmware now
retains the current transducer selection.
2. Recalibrate the current if required by clicking the ‘Calibrate’ button.
3. Check the ‘Discharge Threshold’ and ‘Float Threshold and Limit’ values and adjust them to
the values shown below.
Repeat the above steps for all the used current inputs on the Sentinel system (Master and slaves).
Step 9 – Save Sentinel configuration
Go to the monitor system page and click “Save Configuration”.
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