ENHANCED BATTERY CHARGING & LOW VOLTAGE PROTECTION ON VEHICLES.

Fig1. Adverc Battery Management unit (left) and Guardian Low Voltage Protection Device (right).

In less than ten years, the growth in electrical and electronic equipment on vehicles has been extraordinary, albeit anticipated. Front-line A & E ambulances draw in excess of 100amps from the batteries "on a shout", for example, whilst supermarket vehicles, involved in a multi-drop scenario, with tail-lifts, diesel heaters and telephones the norm, have run into considerable logistical problems due to inadequate battery charging.

The manufacturers’ response has been to increase battery capacity, in the first instance, followed by the fitting of larger alternators. The 35amp alternator of yesteryear has been superseded by 60amp and even 80amp output models.

This seemingly logical approach has not solved the problem.

Many, but not that many, ambulance and fleet engineers have recognised the limitations of the conventional alternator charging approach and have turned to more sophisticated solutions, which, whilst being a little more expensive, are, in logistical terms, extremely cost effective.

Two avenues have been explored:

1.) A Battery Management System can be employed, where the charging performance from the alternator is enhanced, without stressing the alternator, batteries or electrical system. The effect is to double or even treble the available battery capacity, without having to resort to extra batteries or bigger alternators. On a supermarket tractor unit, with a 24v electrical system, using ADVERC Battery Management, a 55amp alternator and 170A.Hr. batteries will amply accommodate a typical multi-drop regime using tail-lifts etc.

2.) A Low Voltage Protection Device (LVPD) works on the basis that, using a predetermined low battery voltage threshold, an isolator or heavy-duty solenoid cuts off the electrical supply to the vehicle distribution panel or, in our case, effects complete isolation of the batteries, the intention being to conserve sufficient energy in the batteries to permit engine starting.

ADVERC BM Ltd. and E-T-A have pooled technical and equipment resources to create a quality, heavy-duty, MOD approved battery isolator, coupled to an ADVERC GUARDIAN Low Voltage ‘trigger’, adjustable to meet the demands of different regimes and applications.

Which system is the better one?

Given the choice of a one or the other option, ADVERC Battery Management would be more suitable for ambulance and general fleet operations whilst the GUARDIAN LVP isolator would be a better proposition for, say, hire vehicles, which, it is accepted, are inevitably abused by the hirer, with electrical equipment being left on etc. Gritters, mobile libraries and police or fire brigade incident vehicles, in a spasmodic use scenario, would benefit from this device.

There is not much difference in the individual price of each system. Ideally, though, at a total cost of around £500 per vehicle plus installation, both together (See Fig1. above) would provide a belt and braces approach with a virtual guarantee against vehicle non-starting or logistical problems created in a typical fleet operation duty-cycle.

ADVERC BM Ltd., 245, Trysull Road, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV3 7LG. Tel: 01902-380494. Fax: 01902-380435. E-mail: techsales@adverc.co.uk. Internet: http://www.adverc.co.uk.

E-T-A Circuit Breakers Ltd., Telford Close, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 3DG. Tel: 01296-420336. Fax: 01296-488497. E-mail: info@etacbe.co.uk. Internet: www.etacbe.com.

Back to top