BCT-2000 Software and BCT-128 and BCT-256 User's Guide - Alber

2. BCT General DescriptionThe BCT-2000 Series battery capacity testing system helps ensure the reliability of the DC bus bydetermining weaknesses in the battery string and estimating when the battery should be replaced.Capacity testing is the only proven way to determine where the battery is in its life curve. TheBCT-2000 lets you determine the amount of energy remaining in the battery. The test system canalso help detect faulty intercell connections and weak cells in the battery string.During a battery discharge test, the BCT-2000 continuously records and displays individual cellvoltages, overall battery voltage, current, intertier connections and alarm parameters. Test datacan be printed using the BCT report generator or exported to other programs.The BCT-2000 monitors and displays the voltage of up to 256 cells or modules, and up to eightstrings. It can be programmed to discharge a battery under constant current, constant power(KW), or variable current (user defined) profile conditions, and has programmable alarm warningand shut down levels. The BCT controls battery discharge tests at currents up to 4000 amps, andcan print data reports upon completion of the discharge test.Data logging is accomplished with a memory-saving write-by-exception method, which internallyrecords monitored parameter changes that exceed 5 millivolts and stores all data on the harddrive. The write-by-exception method increases data point resolution and updates data faster thanother data collection methods.The BCT-2000 is available as a BCT-128 or a BCT-256 model that tests up to 128 or 256individual cells or modules respectively. Each system includes two key components: the BCT anda laptop computer. The BCT-128 or BCT-256 data acquisition device incorporates the system andrelay boards, control boards for optional Albércorp load banks, and boards to communicate withthe laptop computer.3