Conductance Measurement

as an Aid to Determining
Replacement Strategy
- Its application worldwide -

Youngdae Jun
Korea Thermo-Tech Co.,Ltd. Korea
March 30, 2004

Lead-Acid Battery
Chemical Reaction
+

ANODE

H2SO4

CATHODE

ANODE

PbO2

H2 O

Pb

PbSO4

LEAD
DIOXIDE

Sulfuric Acid
& Water Electrolyte

LEAD

LEAD
SULPHATE

PbO2 + Pb + 2H2SO4

CHARGE
DISCHARGE

CATHODE

H2 O

PbSO4
LEAD
SULPHATE

2PbSO4 + 2H2O

Battery Routine Inspection

1. Visual Inspection
2. State of Charge (SOC)

Open Circuit Voltage (OCV)

Specific Gravity (S.G.)

3. State of Health (SOH)

Percentage of Capacity
Over 90% - Excellent
Over 80% - Good
Below 80% - No Good

IEEE Standard 1188-1996

Degradation is indicated when the battery capacity
drops
more than 10% from its capacity on the previous
performance tests, or is below 90% of the
manufacturers
published ratings. (p.6)
A capacity below 80% shows that the battery rate
of
deterioration is increasing even if there is ample
capacity to
meet the load requirements. (p.9)

Battery Capacity Testing

Automotive

Standby

Motive Power

Functio
n

Short period of time, big

current to start engine

Long period of time, stable

current when power is out

Long period of time, stable

current for driving forklift,
etc.

Rating

-18 Cold Cranking

Ampere

Ampere-Hours (Ah)

Ampere-hours (Ah)

e.g.: 200Ah, 10h rate

e.g.: 100Ah, 10h rate

Time Discharge Test

Time Discharge Test:

Room temp. 20A load

Room temp. 10A load

Discharge 10h see V drop

Discharge 10h see V drop

e.g. 500CCA
CCA Discharge Test:

Testing

Decision

Room temp. 250A load

Discharge 15s see V
drop
12V Battery

9.6V

No Good

2V Cell

1.75V

No Good
Capacity 80% N.G.

2V Cell

1.75V

No Good
Capacity 80% N.G.

Conductance Measurements
It is a measure of the plate surface which
determines how much chemical reaction or power
the battery can generate.
The battery state of health can be diagnosed by
the change of the plate surface.

Conductance and Discharge Test

e.g. A bottle has 500 ml of water how do you know if
the bottle has less than 400 ml of water 80%
a)

by cup measure
b)

c)

by weight
By water level

Conductance measurement is like weight or water

level measurement to monitor the loss of water and
calculate the remaining volume of water (capacity).

How Conductance Test Is

Performed (IEEE Standard 1188-1996)

Conductance measurements can be performed by applying a

voltage of known frequency and amplitude across a cell / un
and observing the AC current that flows in response to it.
The conductance is the ratio of the AC current component
that is in-phase with the AC voltage, to the amplitude of the
ac voltage producing it. (p.15)

Significant changes in the value typically indicate a significa

change in the cell, which may be reflected in its performance
(p.15). Changes in ohmic values in excess of 20% should
be considered significant.(p.15)

Conductance Test
1.

A low voltage A/C Signal is

Impressed across the battery
terminals (VAC)

2.

2.

3.

3.

The A/C Current (IAC)

Response is measured
Conductance (G) is
calculated using Ohms Law:
G = IAC/VAC

Plate Surface Area

% Original Value

% Rated Capacity

Linear Relationship
100
95

% Rated Capacity

90
85
80
130
120
110
100

Conductance

90
80

10

20

Source: Johnson Controls Form 41-7271 Rev. 8/94

30

40

50

% Life

60

70

80

90

100

Conductance Correlation with Battery Capacity

Application in Auto Industry

N.
America

Europe

Japan

Others

GM

Opel

Fiat

Toyota

SGM

MCR-410

MCR-411

MCR-360

MCR-440

MCR-430AP

FORD

BMW

Renault

Nissan

Hyundai

MCR-490/390

MCR-560

MCR-330

MCR-620

MCR-570

Chrysler

Mercedes

Audi/VW

Mitsubishi

Proton

MCR-420

MCR-717

MCR-340

MCR-530

MCR-500AP

Volvo

Land Rover

Mazda

MCR-320

MCR-393

MCR-491

Saab

Jaguar

Honda

MCR-311

MCR-394

MCR-540

Application in Battery Industry

Exide
MCR-350
GNB

Yuasa
MCR-417

PSM-2

Furukawa

CPS-3000

MCR-430AP

ACDelco

Varta

MCR-400

Napa
Interstate
MCR-500LBSA

Shanghai

MCR-400

MCR-450

Delphi
MCR-460AP

Wal-Mart

Century Yuasa

MCR-500

MCR-400

Application in Standby Industry

Power / Utility

Wireless & Broadband

Ameren, Inc.
British Columbia Hydro
Carolina Power and Light
ComEd
Conneticut Yankee Nuclear Pow.
Consumers Power Company
Edmonton Power
Entergy Operations, Inc.
GPU Nuclear Corporation
Houston Lighting & Power Co.
Illinois Power Company
New York Power Authority
Niagra Mohawk Power
Ontario Power Generation
Siemens Stromberg-Carlson
Southern California Edison
Union Electric
Wisconsin Electric

AirTouch Paging
Ameritech Cellular
Bell South Mobility
Bell South Wireless Data
Cellular One
Clearnet
Cox Communications
Digiph PCS
GTE Mobile Comm.
Media One
Metropolitan Fiber Systems
Perfect Wireless
Rogers Cantel
Southern Maryland Cable, Inc.
Sprint PCS
Telus Mobility
Time Warner Comm.
Vodaphone - PrimeCo

Telecom
Ameritech
AT & T
Bell Atlantic
Bell Canada
Bell South
British Telecommunications
China Telecom
GTE
MCI WorldCom
New England Telephone Co.
Maritime Tel. & Tel. Co.
Pacific Bell
Pacific Telecom, Inc.
Phillipines Long Distance
PTI / Century Telecom.
Quest Communications
SBC
Southwestern Bell
Sprint
U.S. West

Railroad/Transportation
Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Rail
Gateway Western Railway
National Air Traffic Services (UK)
O'Hare International Airport
Union Pacific Railroad
UPS and CO End Users
Amoco Petroleum
City Of Los Angeles
Exide Electronics
Lockheed Technical Operations
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Walt Disney World Co.
Power and Network OEMS
C & D Charter Systems
East Penn Battery
Exide Corporation
FIAMM Technologies
Lucent Technologies
Marconi Communications
Northern Battery
Teligent Communications

Internal Ohmic Measurements

Impedance measurements can be performed by passing a current of
known frequency and amplitude through the battery and measuring
the resultant ac voltage drop across each cell/unit.
Conductance measurement can be performed by applying a voltage
of known frequency and amplitude across a cell/unit and observing
the ac current that flows in response to it.
Resistance measurements can be performed by applying a load
across the cell/unit and measuring the step change in voltage and
current.
Impedance and resistance are inversely related to conductance.

Among the three ohmic testing

methods, why customers choose
Midtronics conductance tester
not impedance or resistance
On-line Test Data: Reliable and Repeatable
Easy of Use and Reasonable Price
Company Reputation and After-sales Service
New Technology & Product Research & Development

Electric Power Research Institute

(USA)
Battery Performance Monitoring by Internal Ohmic
Measurement
Testing performed as part of this project indicates that
a linear relationship appears to exist most often
between conductance and capacity. The practical
implication of this observation is that an inverse
relationship should exist between impedance or
resistance and capacity. (2-19)
EPRI TR-108826, December 1997

British Telecom Paper at Intelec 1998

Impedance/Conductance Measurements as an Aid to
Determining Replacement Strategy
Conclusions:
This paper has shown that two particular parameters,
namely conductance/impedance monitoring and
temperature/time/life factors can be effective in
forecasting battery replacement timescales.
(In 1999 British Telecom (BT) purchased 500 units of
Midtronics Micro Celltron tester to equip its
technicians. By the end of 2001, BT had purchased
700 units of Midtronics Micro Celltron tester.)

France Telecom Paper at Intelec 2001

Measurement of Impedance and Conductance: Myth
and Reality Tested in the Field
Analysis and Conclusion
In a power system architecture serving telecommunications
equipment, batteries are used in an emergency through lack
of normal electrical supply, generally the mains. It is therefore
absolutely impossible to disconnect them to test their residual
capacity by measurement of conductance or impedance.
These must be carried out online. Consequently, as soon as a
battery is made up of more than one string, it is necessary to
take into account the correction factor.
(p. 419, Analysis and Conclusion)

France Telecom Paper at Intelec 2001

Measurement of Impedance and Conductance: Myth
and Reality Tested in the Field
(continue from previous page)

For test apparatus A, measuring conductance, measurement and

the correction factor are reliable. It applies power to the terminals
of the tested monobloc and measures the current. These two
parameters are therefore mastered.
For test apparatus B, measuring impedance, it is not adapted to
multi-string batteries in a traditional telecom context. It applies a
current that is divided into all the strings of the battery. The
current then developed at the terminals of the tested monobloc is
usually too weak to be correctly measured by the tester (Table 6).
(p. 419, Analysis and Conclusion)

France Telecom Paper at Intelec 2001

Measurement of Impedance and Conductance: Myth
and Reality Tested in the Field
(continue from previous page)

Regarding the conductance measured with apparatus A, the fault

thresholds determined from measurements on more than
1200 monoblocs (AGM 12 V 75 Ah) are as follows:
Loss of conductance less than 30%
= loss of capacity less than 20%
Loss of conductance more than 40%
= loss of capacity more than 20%
(p. 420, Measurement Results)

Time Warner Telecom

(USA)

Letter of Product Recommendation

Feb. 29, 2000

A simple, fast, economical, and relatively accurate tool

is required as a result of the increasing need for the
testing and maintenance of the batteries being
utilized in our network.
Several battery testers have been tested in our lab and
in the field. In terms of accuracy, cost, ease of
operation, safety and reputation for good product
support, we have determined that Midtronics Micro
Celltron Conductance Tester is the recommended
battery tester for TWTC.

NEXTELL
(USA)

DC Power and Battery Plant Optimization and Periodic Battery

Plant Preventive Maintenance Procedure Rev. 1.1 April 10,
2001

8.0 Estimating Battery Runtime Load/Conductance Testing

The ability of the battery plant to support the load should be
performed annually after all other maintenance procedures
have been completed.
The runtime available from a battery plant can be determined in
two ways. One method is to simply shut down the rectifier and
let the site run on battery power. While this is easy, it runs the
risk of dropping the site if the batteries are defective.
Conductance testing produces more accurate results, and has
no risk of dropping the load from the plant.

Bell Atlantic
(USA)

Product Selection Notice Midtronics Micro Celltron Battery

Conductance Tester
Transport Technology Planning Group
Document Number 1999-00204-OSP, April 15, 1999

The purpose of this Product Selection Notice is to inform the field of

the selection of the Midtronics Micro Celltron Conductance Battery
Tester for use in Bell Atlantic. The Micro Celltron is used for
maintenance testing of valve regulated batteries in the outside
plant, at customer locations or in other applications where valve
regulated batteries are used. The Micro Celltron Tester provides a
quick and accurate way to identify battery deficiencies by
imposing a small signal during test and measuring the resulting
AC current against a reference value. The test causes little
change o the dynamics of the battery and can therefore be
repeated as desired. The Micro Celltron Tester replaces the
Midtronics Celltron Plus Tester for new purchases for in-service
measurements of the condition of valve regulated batteries.

Verizon
(USA)

Battery Conductance Testing M&P (method and procedure release)

April 23, 2002

This M&P is emphasizing the importance of battery conductance

testing at remote terminal sites and customer premise locations
equipped with battery backup. The Midtronics Micro Celltron
conductance Meter is the test set of choice for battery testing
because it is non-intrusive, intuitive, accurate, and quick
compared to other forms of battery testing. Consequently,
these test results will provide reliable battery health data, which
will enable Verizon to manage its annual budget forecast more
efficiently.
Battery Vendor will charge the battery for a period of 72 hours
before shipping to site, and prior to shipment, will test each
battery with a Micro Celltron Conductance test set. Additionally,
the vendor will place a label on the battery with the following
information: conductance reading, PO#, battery type, related
volt reading and amp hour capacity.

Micro Celltron CTM-300 Kit

CTM-300 Complete Kit includes:

CTM-100 Micro Celltron

Protective Carry Case
IR Printer
Two Test Cables
Spare Batteries
Spare Fuses

Celltron Ultra BSU-6000 Kit

BSU-6000 Complete Kit includes:

BSU-600 Celltron Ultra

Protective Carry Case
Two Test Cables (Clamp & Probe)
Spare Batteries & Spare Fuses
IR Printer
Temp Sensor

80% Capacity versus %

Conductance

Battery Industry

Capacity 80%

Midtronics Conductance 70%

Replace
Warning

60% Replace
B.T.

Conductance 65%

Warning

55% Replace
France Telecom Conductance 70% = Capacity 80%
Conductance 60% = Capacity 80%

Guidelines on Measurement
a) - The battery tested should be under stable
conditions (Not in the process of charging and
discharging)
b) - The battery should be tested under the same
condition. (We compare apple with apple, not apple
with orange);
c)

- The test probes should be placed as close as

possible to the battery posters (to avoid the impact
from other metal accessories)

d) - The test can identify good or bad cells

What is New?

New Technology:

DFIS (Discrete-Frequency
Immittance Spectroscopy)

New Products:

onGUARD & inGEN

Thank You!
Are there any questions?
www.batterytestsystem.com
Contact:
kthermo@batterytestsystem.com