PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-559

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 559

JUNE 1999
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-559 - Page 29 of 34
PS 559
50
JUN 99
Dear Half-Mast,
I have some lithium batteries with expired shelf lives. They’re a Type II
shelf-life item. That means their shelf life can be extended after an
inspection and a test.
My problem is that no one knows how to perform this inspection and
test. So, when the shelf life expires, the batteries are turned in for
disposal. That’s like throwing money away.
Please help us save these bucks. What are the inspection criteria?
SPC D. S. T.
PP-8444 Battery Chargers . . .
Lithium Batteries . . .
Dear Specialist D. S. T.,
Before you test, check the Internet.
CECOM often extends the shelf life of lithium batteries based on their own
tests of wholesale assets. They publish these extensions at:
CECOM doesn’t test every battery, so units can do their own evaluations and
tests following the procedures in SB 11-6, FSC 6135 Primary Battery Supply
and Management Data.
Since the publication of SB 11-6, a new test set for the BA-5372 battery has
been approved. Information on
ordering and using this new test set is on the
web at:
If you don’t have Internet access and need any of this information,
write CECOM at:
US Army CECOM
ATTN: AMSEL-LC-P-PST
Ft Monmouth, NJ
07703-5601
Or call:
DSN 992-2270
(732) 532-2270
it's time to
chaaarge!
hen battery chargers PP-8444A/U, NSN 6130-01-443-0970, and PP-8444/U,
NSN 6130-01-427-9604, are turned on with
an adapter connected and loaded
with two batteries, the amber indicator
light should flash briefly and then glow
steadily. It should remain lit until the
charge is completed and the green in-
dicator light comes on in approximately
two hours.
If the amber light flashes while
charging, you have a bad battery or a
bad adapter.
Check the batteries first. Touch them.
They should be warm, not hot. If one
is hot, remove it from the adapter and
let it cool. Note the port location on
the adapter.
After the battery cools, try another
charge cycle with the battery in a known good adapter. If it overheats again,
dispose of the battery like your SOP says.
To check the port, use a known good battery. Restart the charging cycle. The
amber light should flash, then glow steady. If it stays flashing amber at the same
port, you have a bad adapter and should order a new one.
Note that BB-390 adapters (J-6358/P), NSN 5940-01-427-9110 serial num-
bers 400-1370 may require replacement. Questions? Call CECOM at DSN 992-
4948, (732) 532-4948 or visit the CECOM website at:
for more info.
If all batteries charge up fine, then the adapter is good.
did
somebody
say something
about
life
extension
?!
Is battery hot?
Green
light
should
come on
steady
in two
hours
Amber
light
should
flash
briefly,
then
steady
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