LVC (Low voltage cutoff) and its significance for batteries
During regular use, batteries charge and discharge countless times. A common mistake most users make with their batteries (lead-acid or Li-ion) is overcharging and over-discharging, also known as deep discharge.
Batteries are charged with the help of an inverter/UPS. The manufacturer preprograms these chargers to cut off the charging process once the battery has attained the required voltage level, say 14.4V or any other. Charging the battery beyond this cutoff level overcharges it, which is not suitable for the health and lifespan of the battery.
Frequent overcharging damage the battery; this is why you often see bulged or swollen batteries. To prevent overcharging, manufacturers program the inverters to stop the charging process when the battery is charged to the right voltage level.
While overcharging is terrible for the batteries, over-discharging or deep discharge is equally detrimental to the battery’s health and lifespan. Deep discharge occurs when the entire charge of the battery has been drained.
Similar to the cutoff level specified to prevent overcharging in Lead acid or Lithium-ion batteries, a high-performance UPS/Inverter comes with a voltage cutoff feature to prevent over-discharging.
The purpose of specifying cut-off voltage is to maintain the health of the batteries during discharging. You will know more about this feature and how it helps your battery and UPS/inverter’s performance and life in the below article.
What is a low voltage cutoff?
A battery’s Low voltage cut-off (LVC) is the voltage level at which the charger disconnects the load from the battery. It is when the battery stops powering your fans, lights, refrigerators, and other loads in the house. The function of the cutoff voltage is to prevent the battery from entering the deep discharge stage.
Usually, the low voltage cutoff (LVC) for a 12V battery is 10.5V. It means the battery will stop running the load when it comes down to 10.5 V. This LVC can be set even higher, such as 11V, to improve the battery’s life and reduce all chances of deep discharge. The higher the LVC, the better the battery’s life, whether lithium-ion or Lead acid.
Our Premium range UPS comes with a Safe Discharge or higher LVC feature. A higher voltage cutoff at 11V means the battery will be disconnected from the load as soon as it attains the 11V level instead of the lower value of 10.5V, which is the industry standard right now. Safe discharge means the inverters are programmed with AI to protect your battery by setting a higher LVC, which diminishes the chance of deep discharge.
Benefits of setting a higher LVC for the battery
Low voltage cutoff or safe discharge immensely help increase the health and life of the battery. If there is no over-discharge detection feature, the battery will keep discharging to the level it goes bad completely. The frequent deep discharge decreases your battery’s life considerably.
Some ways it helps the battery include:
Prevents deep-discharge
Imagine a situation where a low battery disconnects from the load, followed by two or three days of a prolonged power cut. The battery will continue to self-discharge. If it’s LVC is not set at a higher level, say 11V, it will over-discharge, making it impossible for your inverter to recharge.
This is why you see people taking their batteries to electricians to get them charged with a special charger. Setting a higher LVC prevents the battery from over-discharging even after self-discharge and improves the battery’s life.
Provides you with additional backup
A higher cutoff voltage allows you to get additional power in an emergency. Our premium range UPS comes with the option to set the cutoff voltage at either 10.5V or 11V. If you set it at 11V, it will create a power reserve in your battery. This reserve is similar to the reserve tank you have in your cars and bikes. In emergencies like those times when you have to keep your PC on for sending an urgent email, you can set the cutoff at 10.5V and get some additional hours of backup without the risk of deep discharge. Keeping the low voltage cutoff at 11V increases your battery’s life by six to eight months.
It helps kick start the charging process
There is a common misconception among ordinary people that grid power starts the inverters. In reality, the inverter starts with the battery voltage only. If the self-discharge stage has drained all the juices in the battery, the inverter won’t start as the battery has used its reserve power too. Setting the LVC at a higher level ensures that when the grid power is restored, even after two or three days, your battery still has some juice to start the inverter and its charging process
What causes your battery to over-discharge?
Our mistakes often cause the battery to reach the deep discharge level, costing us the battery and the UPS/inverter. Here is a common battery-related mistake that causes the battery to over-discharge.
The inverter turns off when the battery voltage reaches a pre-determined low level. But it is too common for the users to restart the inverter/UPS multiple times to extract any power remaining in the battery. Meanwhile, the battery over discharges to dangerous levels.
Also, you might reduce the load to keep the battery running with the bare minimum load. For instance, if your battery has been powering two fans and multiple lights at its full charge, after restarting the inverter, you might reduce the load to a small 10-watt light bulb or a fan only.
At this stage, this load is running while the inverter is already signaling a low battery. This small mistake reduces your battery and inverter’s life manifold. Therefore, it is strictly prohibited to drain the battery reserves and use the battery once the inverter signals a low-battery mark.
Conclusion
Like overcharging, over-discharging is detrimental to the health of the battery too. Over-discharging reduces the battery’s life and affects the charging ability of your inverter. Adding an over-discharge protection feature to the inverter by setting a higher LVC (Low voltage cutoff) prevents the battery from going into the deep discharge state and overworking itself. A higher LVC is beneficial for the battery. The higher the LVC, the longer the life of the battery.
Kunwer Sachdev: A Pioneer of India's Power Backup Industry Kunwer Sachdev, a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of Su-kam Power Systems, is widely recognized as the "Inverter Man of India" for his revolutionary contributions to the country's power backup industry. His journey from a humble background to building a multi-crore enterprise is a testament to his resilience, innovative spirit, and unwavering determination. Born on November 16, 1962, in a middle-class family in Delhi, Sachdev's early life was marked by financial challenges. He attended a government school in Punjabi Bagh and initially aspired to become a doctor. However, after failing to secure a spot in medical college, he pursued a degree in Statistics from Hindu College, Delhi University, and later a Bachelor of Laws degree. From a young age, he displayed an entrepreneurial streak, helping his elder brother sell pens door-to-door. This early exposure to business ignited his ambition to create something of his own. Sachdev began his professional career in the cable TV industry, where he founded a company in 1988. While his cable business was profitable, a personal experience with a malfunctioning inverter sparked a new idea. He identified a significant gap in the market for reliable and efficient power backup solutions. This insight led him to pivot his career and delve into the nascent inverter manufacturing business. In 1998, with a modest investment, Kunwer Sachdev founded Su-kam Power Systems. He set out to solve the problem of frequent power outages in India by creating high-quality, reliable, and aesthetically pleasing inverters. Under his leadership, Su-kam pioneered several groundbreaking innovations in the sector, including the introduction of the country's first plastic-body inverter and DSP sinewave inverters. The company quickly became a household name, expanding its footprint not only across India but also to more than 90 countries, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. At its peak, Su-kam's annual turnover reached a remarkable Rs. 1,100 crore, establishing it as a leader in the power backup and solar energy markets. Despite its success, Su-kam's journey was not without significant challenges. The company faced a series of financial difficulties, eventually leading to a default on a substantial bank loan. This triggered a corporate insolvency process which led to the company's liquidation. As a result, Kunwer Sachdev was forced to part ways with the company he founded and was no longer associated with Su-kam Power Systems Ltd. This marked the end of an era for the pioneering company and severely impacted its distributors and customers. Following this setback, Sachdev's entrepreneurial spirit remained undeterred. He embarked on a new chapter, founding Su-vastika Systems Pvt. Ltd. This new company, referred to as the "Solar Man of India," is focused on the future of energy storage, including lithium-ion batteries and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). His new venture continues his legacy of innovation and commitment to providing sustainable energy solutions. Kunwwer Sachdev's story is an inspiring one of an individuals who saw a problem and worked tirelessly to create a solution, forever changing the landscape of the Indian power backup industry.
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