Solar Battery Product & Environmental Safety
UL COMPONENT LISTING - The Sun Xtender® Sealed, Valve Regulated Lead Acid [VRLA], Absorbent Glass Mat, AGM batteries, have been tested by Underwriters Laboratories for compliance to UL 1989. They are listed by Underwriters Laboratories as a recognized systems component.
PRESSURE RELIEF SAFETY VALVES - Each cell in the AGM battery employs a pressure relief valve that incorporates a flame arrester for safety. The valve is designed to insure that in the case of severe overcharge and increased internal gas pressure in the cell that the valve will open and release the excess pressure. The gasses that escape include hydrogen and oxygen.
HYDROGEN GAS EMISSION - By design, in the Concorde Sun Xtender® batteries hydrogen gas emission is negligible. The batteries were tested by the US Navy to MIL-B-8565J for hydrogen gas emission. For flammability in air, a concentration of 4.1% or greater is required. The MIL-Spec requires a concentration of 3.5% or less to pass the test. The tests are performed after the battery has been heated to 55°C [131°F] and a 12V battery is charged to 16.1 volts. The Concorde VRLA-AGM batteries produced no more than 0.2 to 1.0% hydrogen depending on their size. These batteries are safe products and tested. In some other battery types the hydrogen can and will reach flammable/explosive levels.
EXPLOSION TESTS - Concorde has submitted its AGM batteries for testing for possible external explosion if an explosive condition exists internally. The batteries were placed in a chamber filled with highly volatile gasses and overcharged as above. Spark plugs were inserted in each cell of the battery. The spark plugs were ignited to see if an internal explosion could escape and cause the gasses in the chamber to explode. Even though internal explosions did occur no external sparks emanated into the chamber.
SHORT CIRCUIT TESTS - The batteries were tested to see what effect short circuiting would have. The fully charged batteries were set up on a monitoring system. The batteries were “crowbarred” using a knife switch. The battery voltage decreased to "0" volts while the current went to 1,500 to 2,000 amps [depending on battery size]. The batteries became warm to the touch. After 12 to 15 seconds, the current decreased to "0" amps and the batteries cooled down. The knife switch was opened with no arcing. The batteries were tested and found to have discharged less than 5% and upon internal inspection there was no damage.
The data/information contained in the Sun Xtender official website has been reviewed and approved for general release on the basis that these documents contain no export-controlled information.
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