Megger BITE2 Battery Impedance Tester
The BITE2 and BITE2P battery impedance testers determine the condition of lead-acid and nickel-cadmium cells up to 7000 Ah. An advanced feature set has been developed that includes Pass/Warning/Fail calculations based on a user-entered baseline value, advanced printing functions, and more.
Robust instrument with repeatable measurements... perfect for your working environment and ease-of-use!
The instruments work by applying a test current across the battery string while on-line, then measuring the total current (AC ripple and test current) and the voltage drop of each cell/jar. It then calculates the impedance. They also measure DC voltage and interconnection (strap) resistance to help determine the overall condition of the entire battery string‘s electrical path from terminal plate to terminal plate.
Megger BITE2 Key Features:
- Determines condition of lead-acid and NiCd cells up to 7000 Ah
- On-board Pass/Warning/Fail indications
- On-line testing requiring no downtime
- Enhanced printing and memory functions
- Calculates impedance automatically and stores results for on-site review
- Requires no battery discharge
- Receiver can download stored data to PowerDB software for quick, easy analysis
- Reduced test time: less than 3 seconds for each cell
- Measures impedance and dc voltage values for all lead-acid and nickel-cadmium cells up to 7000 Ah
- Stores more than 2000 sets of readings in up to 300 tests
- Checks charger condition by measuring AC ripple current
- Includes PowerDB LITE Software; this allows data to be stored and allows custom reporting. (ideal for NERC and FERC requirements)
Megger BITE2 Applications:
A battery‘s internal impedance increases with decreasing capacity due to various conditions such as age, ambient temperature, discharge history, etc. See Figure 2. Both the BITE2 and BITE2P measure impedance values and dc voltage for lead-acid and nickel-cadmium cells up to 7000 Ah capacity. Impedance finds electrical path problems due to plate sulphation, post-seal corrosion, dry-out, and poor intracell and intercell connections. This information lets the operator determine maintenance needs such as:
- Cell replacement criteria based on impedance trends
- Jumpering out a cell or two
- Clean and/or retorque intercell connectors
- Shorten the maintenance interval, etc
- Typical installations that can be tested using the BITE2 and BITE2P include:
- Electrical power generation plants
- Substations: utility, railroad, industrial
- Telecommunications facilities: CO, Wireline, Wireless, MTSO
- UPS systems
- Railroad: Signals and Communications, substation
- Aircraft power supplies
- Marine
- Military
What comes with the Megger BITE2 /2P?
- (P30044-300) Transmitter for BITE2 / (P30044-100) Transmitter for BITE2P
- (1011-313) Receiver
- (29386-4) Fused Source Leads, 20 ft (6 m)
- (2002-786) Current sensor, 2 in. (50 mm) opening with 5 ft (1.5 m) lead
- (33864-2) CT extension cable, 20 ft (6 m)
- (35340) Communication cable, 6 ft (1.8 m)
- (35341) Charger cable
- (26999) Thermal paper for internal printer
- (17032-7) AC line cord, 8 ft (2.5 m)
- (AVTM246004) Manual for BITE2 and BITE2P
The BITE2P consists of both a transmitter and hard carrying case for all standard accessories and some optional accessories. The BITE2 and its accessories fit into a sturdy canvas case with a shoulder strap.
How does the Megger BITE2 /2P Work?
The operator connects the current source leads from the BITE2 /2P transmitter to a battery string so that an ac test current is capacitively coupled through the battery. It is best to test the battery string when it is operating at full float, that is, a constant charge level.
Then the operator uses the receiver to measure the voltage drop across the cell terminals. When the voltage drop across the cell is divided by the total ac current passing through the battery, the calculated value is impedance according to Ohm‘s Law. This impedance value gives the operator an indication of the overall condition of the cell, with high impedance typically indicating an unhealthy cell.
Several factors influence an impedance value, for instance, the size and type of cell, ambient and electrolyte temperature, and state of charge. Therefore, to determine the impedance of a healthy cell, the operator should measure a large number of similar cells under similar conditions and then calculate the average value. Deteriorating cells are easily identified by their higher-than-average impedance.
The Megger BITE2 /2P also automatically measures and records the cell voltage and the time and date of the test. This voltage represents individual cell float voltage while measuring an operational string of cells.
The Megger BITE2 /2P also measures inter-cell or strap connections and stores them with the cell impedance values. The BITE 2/2P can measure and record all aspects of the electrical path of the battery, including:
- Location ID
- User ID
- Test current
- Total current
- Internal cell impedance
- DC voltage
- Inter-cell connector resistance
- Specific gravity
- Time and date
Average impedance values for different types of batteries are available. Always check the user-manual which comes with the unit.