ML-COVER-3LI

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Lithium battery power bank for off-grid data loggers

The ML-COVER-3LI is a power provision cover fitting our ML-417 off-grid 2G/3G/4G data loggers to power a data logger from up to 3 D-Size Lithium SAFT LSH20 batteries safely, with a combined lossless capacity of 39000mAh.

Although our off-grid data loggers are designed to be as low power as possible, running it from just one single Lithium battery, due to the power demand of mobile communication, has its limits. If you have an application requiring 1 or 2 remote data updates each day a single battery powered data logger can run for years. When you need multiple remote data updates each day, then our data logger with tiny integrated 1Wp solar panel has proven to be a very suitable solution, assuming the data logger can be mounted outside facing the sun. If for obvious reasons a solar powered solution is not possible, then you could consider the use of a lithium battery pack. This is however something to consider with caution!

ML-COVER-3LI
Good to consider

Usage of lithium batteries for your data logger

Lithium batteries are having a high energy density and when used without caution, they can turn into dangerous devices. If you put multiple Lithium batteries with all having the same state of charge in parallel, then it could work, but using it like that is strictly discouraged by the battery manufacturer.

The common save way to put batteries in parallel is by using diodes, but they come with a price. Although battery capacity is specified in mAh’s, it stores energy (mWh’s) and the diodes will dissipated a serious portion of this precious energy. The nominal voltage of a SAFT LSH20 is 3.6V@2mA, but during data logger operation load the voltage drops to 3.5V. A Shottky diode has a forward voltage of 0.3V, so a single diode will dissipate 8.5% of the stored energy. And because the voltage towards the logger drops, the electronics need to draw at least 8.5% more current to compensate the voltage drop. So using diodes will virtual reduce the capacity of a battery by over 10%.

Introduction to smart diode

The solar energy industry is experiencing the same kind of problems as blocking and by pass diodes are causing significant system losses. The semi-conductor industry reacted by developing a so called “smart diode”. A “smart diode” is a chip containing comparators, a FET and a regular diode. When the input voltage is lower than the output voltage the FET will not conduct, the battery will not contribute to the energy demand and the regular diode will block the possible reflux from other batteries. When the input voltage is higher than the output voltage, the FET will start to conduct and the battery will contribute to the energy demand. The forward voltage over the FET is just 26mV instead of 300mV.

The ML-COVER-3LI is making use of such “smart diodes” and having three D-size battery holders. You can choose the insert one, two or three Lithium batteries to reach a combined capacity of 39000mAh. When even more capacity is required, multiple boards can be arranged in parallel as well.

Please use our online Data logger power consumption calculator to estimate the battery life of your application.

Specifications

  • Power bank
    • 39000 mAh capacity (when using 3 batteries).
    • 3x D-size heavy duty battery holder.
    • 3x “smart” diode for lossless safe operation.
    • Reverse battery protection.
    • Designed for 3.6V SAFT-LSH20 or GEBC-ER34615M lithium batteries or equivalents only.
    • Batteries are not included.
  • Enclosure
    • IP68 (30min@2m) waterproof enclosure.
    • UV stabilized polycarbonate.
    • 130x120x40mm, 215g.
    • Silicone gasket
    • 4x stainless steel (A2/W4/304) M4 bolt (25mm)

Discover the possibilities

Want to know more about what YDOC can do to help you with your quest for the right data logger? Do not hesitate to get in contact.