Our measuring devices with lithium-ion batteries

This is how we ensure the highest possible level of safety when transporting our appliances.

Description Lithium-ion battery

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries have a decisive advantage over the long-established nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries: they have no memory effect. This means that such lithium-ion batteries can be fully charged and discharged again and again without losing capacity, even after multiple partial discharges.

The handling of devices with Li-ion rechargeable batteries is no different from those with Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries. However, there are some regulations to be observed when shipping such devices. This regulation has been in force since 2003 and is a globally valid United Nations test that is “a prerequisite for the transportation of a product by road, rail, sea or air”.
In order to meet these requirements, the batteries must be subjected to a transport test – UN 38.3.

Transport test UN 38.3: What is tested?

Eight different individual tests are carried out in this transportation test. It should be noted that these tests are carried out in correlation with the type of lithium batteries or cells. Several test specimens are used for each individual test in order to obtain a meaningful result. The number of test specimens used depends on their weight. Test 1 to Test 5, for example, are carried out with rechargeable Li batteries (under 12 kg) with 8 batteries each. In the course of this, 4 batteries must be cycled 50 times each beforehand. If the batteries are heavier than 12 kg, the number of test specimens is halved.

Individual tests according to UN 38.3:

• T1: Altitude simulation / Altitude
• T2: Thermal test
• T3: Vibration
• T4: Shock
• T5: External short circuit
• T6: Impact
• T7: Overload test / Overcharge
• T8: Forced discharge

This transport regulation comes into effect if:

• the battery is shipped individually,
• battery and device are shipped together, or
• battery is permanently integrated in the device and cannot be removed or replaced by the end user.

Sources:
[1] https://www.pressebox.de/pressemitteilung/jauch-quartz-gmbh/Herausforderungen-im-Umgang-mit- Lithium batteries/boxid/746950
[2] http://www.sgs-cqe.de/de/un-transport-test-un383.html
[3] http://www.ponytest.com/english/aboutpony.asp
[4] http://www.tuv.com/en/greater_china/about_us_cn/press_3/pressreleases_gc_en news_content_en_220368.html