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Power Plant Maintenance is designed to ensure proper operation of all of your DC plant systems and components and to ensure that the site load has not exceeded the capacity of the AC or DC power plant. An important part of this maintenance is a thorough test of the batteries and cleaning of the batteries and inter cell connectors where required.
 
DC plant maintenance includes most of the elements of power audit with additional preventative maintenance procedures on the batteries:
 

An annual or semi-annual visit to each site to:

  • A survey of the capacity of the DC plant, to include the rectifier and battery capacities.

 

  • Determination of the configuration to ensure functionality, distribution of the plant load, AC feed, the alarm system (local and downstream) and accuracy of the DC plant meters. 

 

  • Power cycle all rectifiers (if the plant meets N+1 reliability) and verify local alarms as well as alarms to a remote alarm maintenance center (if available).

 

  • Check all battery cells and inter cell connectors for corosion or leakage. Clean any corosion from intercell connectors and clean battery terminals and batteries where required.

 

  • A discharge test of the batteries - provided the power cycle test passes - lasting at least 20 minutes and verifying the turn around voltage. This test will also look at the float current on each battery string and the individual cell voltage and string current of each battery and string on a 10 minute interval.
  • Survey/inspection of the DC grounding system to include isolated/integrated ground, ground leads, electrode, current leakage and environmental hazards.

 

  • Inspection of the AC switch gear to ensure that there are proper maintenance records and adequate access per the National Electric Code.

 

  •  
    Verification of the engine/alternator status including adequate capacity, confirmation of proper maintenance.

 

  • An inspection of all fuel and coolant systems for leaks. An inspection of oil and filters, fuel leads, exhaust venting, to verify proper maintenance.

 

  • Determine the age and condition of the engine start battey.